Agere Systems unveiled a Layer 4 technology for providing per-service protection in broadband access networks. Agere’s “Unbreakable Access,” which is an algorithm that runs on the company’s network processors, identifies premium traffic streams entering the network and sets up back-up IP paths through the transport network. If a network path for a protected service, such as VoIP, IPTV or VOD, should fail, the system would restore the service using the alternate path. Agere said this restoration occurs up to 20 times faster than existing alternatives, which currently would require restoring BGP routing tables or PNNI. The technology also reduces operational expenses by consolidating equipment platforms, such as digital loop carrier (DLC) equipment functions within DSLAMs.
The Unbreakable Access chip set started as an innovation at BT as part of its 21st Century Network initiative. Fujitsu and Marconi supply access equipment to BT. Fujitsu already utilizes Agere’s traffic management network processor chips, and Marconi plans to integrate them into their next-generation gear to complement other processors.
Other types of equipment targeted for use with Unbreakable Access include media gateways; Ethernet switches and services such as VoIP telephony; IP/MPLS VPNs; Ethernet virtual local area network; and wireless local area networks. http://www.agere.com
