RAD Data Communications has unveiled the market's first complete solution for delivering maximum Ethernet bandwidth over low-speed E1/T1 PDH lines. RAD's solution pairs its Egate-100 Gigabit Ethernet aggregation gateway with its RICi-16 Network Termination Unit (NTU).

"PDH is a veteran technology that was designed before the advent of Ethernet, back when data rates were slow in comparison to today’s needs," explains Ami Barayev, Product Line Manager at RAD Data Communications. "But given that PDH reaches virtually everywhere, it can, with bonded E1/T1circuit technology, be turned into an excellent Ethernet transport mechanism anywhere over the service path, both for incumbents that wish to use the deployed infrastructure for new Ethernet services and alternative operators whose fiber networks are not extensive enough to reach all potential customers (off-net)."

"The solution is also ideal for backhaul of WiMAX traffic as well as IP DSLAMs extension," Barayev adds.

Deployed at a carrier's central office, the Egate-100 transports Ethernet over STM-1/OC-3 links to the point of presence (POP). From there, the Ethernet traffic is sent over E1/T1 lines directly to the customer premises, where a RICi-16 has been deployed to serve as an Ethernet access device and as a demarcation point between public and private networks.

NG-PDH Encapsulation and Bonding
RAD's complete Ethernet-over-PDH solution incorporates the latest next generation PDH standards, including generic framing procedure (GFP), virtual concatenation (VCAT) and link capacity adjustment scheme (LCAS). These protocols allow service providers to dynamically allocate bandwidth to their customers by simply changing the number of E1 or T1 links bonded to the virtual group without having to replace the device or stop the service. By featuring such enhanced capabilities, the Egate-100 and RICi-16 offer numerous benefits, among which are scalable bandwidth provisioning, higher user throughput, better link utilization, minimal service disruptions and delays, and easy interoperability with third-party equipment.

"Service providers can now provide high-speed Ethernet when ordinary E3/T3 links do not exist or are otherwise unavailable," notes Barayev. "RAD's complete Ethernet-over-E1/T1 solution is a truly ingenious way to dramatically reduce capital (Capex) and operating expenses (Opex)," he concludes.

RAD's Egate-100 is MEF-9 EPL (Ethernet Private Line) certified, and the RICi-16 is MEF-9 and MEF-14 EPL and EVPL (Ethernet Virtual Private Line) certified.

EtherAccess Product LineRAD's Egate-100 and RICi-16 are elements of its EtherAccess product line for delivering both Ethernet and emulated services over any infrastructure. EtherAccess is designed to provide carriers and their customers with a cost-effective, standards-based system for delivering a uniform