May reduce up-front equipment expenditures for SS7-Based 56K/ISDN dial-up Internet access and let smaller ISPs and CLECs enjoy the cost savings of SS7 technology.

by Wayne Kawamoto [May 3, 2001]

Ariel Corporation, a supplier of Linux and Windows NT network access solutions, announced its new BypaSS7 Signaling Service, which is designed to reduce up-front capital equipment expenditures involved in deploying SS7-based switchless 56K/ISDN dial-up service.

The new BypaSS7 Signaling Service may enable ISPs and CLECs to offer SS7-based switchless Internet access without having to purchase and operate an expensive SS7 infrastructure.

In the past, ISPs who wanted to offer dial-up access leased T1/PRI lines from the nearest Class 5 switch to receive subscriber calls. Larger ISPs and CLECs who needed to ensure Class 5 port availability had to purchase their own switches at a cost of roughly $600-$800 per port.

BypaSS7 is designed to let ISPs and CLECs receive subscriber calls directly from the carrier's tandem network via Inter Machine Trunks, which should eliminate the need for a terminating Class 5 switch.

BypaSS7 combines an SS7 signaling gateway with one or more Linux network access servers (NAS). The gateway is designed to perform all the call control functions needed to terminate 56K/ISDN subscriber calls destined for the NAS, and communicates with the NAS via an IP-based Frame Relay transport network. The NAS receives subscriber calls from the carrier via Inter Machine Trunks.

According to Ariel, subscribers to the new BypaSS7 Signaling Service need only procure the IMT lines from their carrier and purchase and maintain the NAS. Ariel installs the gateways at its Network Operations Center (NOC), handles the provisioning of ISUP SS7 Services, maintains the signaling gateway, and provides 24 x 7 gateway monitoring. Ariel also arranges for the provisioning of the Frame Relay connection between the gateway and the NAS located at the ISP/CLEC's facility.

BypaSS7's Network Access Systems utilize an IBM xSeries 340 server equipped with Ariel's 96-port RS4200 56K/ISDN PCI cards. The rack-mountable system, which may cost 40 percent less than dedicated remote access concentrators on a per-port basis, is designed to accommodate up to 192 remote access sessions originating from any combination of V.90-compatible modem or 64-kbps basic rate ISDN customer premises equipment.

"Our new BypaSS7 Signaling Service lets smaller ISPs and CLECs enjoy the cost savings of BypaSS7 without having to purchase our signaling gateway or provide their own SS7 infrastructure," said Dennis Schneider, president and CEO of Ariel. "The ISP/CLEC need only purchase the 56K/ISDN network access servers and lease Inter Machine Trunks (IMTs) from the carrier. Ariel does the rest, operating the SS7 infrastructure and providing a signaling link for the ISP."

Availability and pricing
The cost for Ariel's BypaSS7 Signaling Service is $7 per month per port plus the cost of the customer's portion of the Frame Relay link.

The NAS, priced separately, costs $125 per port in 192-port configuration.

Ariel products are available through channels listed here.

—End