Profile: Sonus Networks Inc (SONS.O)

Sonus Networks, Inc., incorporated in August 1997, is a provider of voice infrastructure solutions for wireline and wireless service providers. Its products are a generation of carrier-class infrastructure equipment and software that enables voice services to be delivered over Internet protocol (IP) packet-based networks. Its target customers include both traditional and emerging communications service providers, including long distance carriers, local exchange carriers, Internet service providers, wireless operators, cable operators, international telephone companies and carriers that provide services to other carriers. On April 18, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of Atreus Systems, a supplier of service provisioning software for VoIP and IMS-based services.

The Company’s voice infrastructure solutions allows wireline and wireless operators to build converged voice over IP (VoIP) networks. Its products are built on the same distributed, IP-based principles embraced by the IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) architecture, as defined by the third generation partnership project (3GPP). Sonus Networks, Inc.’s IMS-based solution product suite includes the GSX9000 Open Services Switch, GSX4000 Open Services Switch, SGX Signaling Gateway, the PSX Call Routing Server, the ASX Call Feature Server, the NBS Network Border Switch, the Sonus Insight Management System, the IMX Application Platform and the mobilEdge Wireless Access Node.

GSX9000 Open Services Switch

The Sonus GSX9000 Open Services Switch enables voice traffic to be transported over packet networks. The GXX9000 is compliant with network equipment building specification (NEBS) Level 3, the requirement for telecommunications equipment used in the North American Public Switched telecommunications network. Its carrier-class hardware is designed to provide reliability. It is powered from -48 virtual data center (VDC) sources standard in central offices and attaches to the central office-timing network. The basic building block of a GSX9000 is a shelf. Each shelf is 28 inches high, mounts in a standard 19 inches or 23 inches rack and provides 16 slots for server and adapter modules. The first two slots are reserved for management modules, while the other 14 slots may be used for any mix of other module types. It supports interfaces, which include T1, T3, E1, OC3, 100BaseT, 1000BaseT and OC12c/STM-4.

The GSX9000 is designed to deliver voice quality equal to that of the circuit-switched public network. It is designed to support the multiple encoding schemes used in circuit switches, such as G.711 and delivers a number of other voice compression algorithms. It also is designed to provide echo cancellation, conforming to the latest G.168 standard, on every circuit port. It automatically disables echo cancellation when it detects a modem signal. A single GSX9000 shelf can support up to 22,000 simultaneous calls. A single GSX9000, consisting of multiple shelves, can support 100,000 or more simultaneous calls. The GSX9000 is designed to operate with the Company's PSX Call Routing Server and with softswitches and network products offered by other vendors.

GSX4000 Open Services Switch

The GSX4000 Open Services Switch is designed to deliver carrier-class functionality, reliability and manageability. The GSX4000 was developed specifically for service providers to enable them to expand the reach of their core VoIP networks into applications, geographic regions or to deploy IP-based multimedia services. The GSX4000 allows service providers to realize the benefits of the GSX9000 on a platform that is right-sized for their immediate needs. The GSX4000 was introduced with 24 T1/E1 interfaces. By utilizing digital signal processing (DSP) technology and software deployed in service provider networks, the GSX4000 is purpose-built for deployments within service providers' networks worldwide.

Network Border Switch

The Network Border Switch (NBS) is based on the GSX product family and delivers secure connections to other carriers' and enterprises' IP networks. The NBS is one of the arrier-class solutions that provides IP-to-IP border control and PSTN media gateway capabilities—integrating security, session control and media control.

PSX Call Routing Server

The PSX Call Routing Server (PSX) is the primary module of its IMS architecture and plays an integral role in all of its solutions. The PSX, which serves as the policy and database element in the IMS architecture, provides the network intelligence, including call control, service selection and routing. The PSX is based on a modular architecture that is designed for performance and scalability, as well as interoperability with third-party gateways, devices and services. The PSX supports many industry protocols, including SIP, SIP-I, SIP-T and H.323 for communications with a variety of IP network devices. By supporting the H.323 protocol, the PSX can control and access H.323-based gateways and networks. The PSX supports third-party application servers using the SIP protocol and third-party softswitches with the SIP-T and SIP-I protocols.

SGX Signaling Gateway

The SGX Gateway provides an integrated SS7 solution for Company's IMS architecture. The SGX is a SS7/C7 signaling gateway that interconnects Sonus-based packet solutions with legacy SS7 networks. SS7/C7 signaling is the global standard for telecommunications procedures and protocol, by which network elements in the public switched telephone network exchange information over a digital signaling network to effect wireless and wireline call setup, routing and control. The SGX Gateway is deployed on a NEBS-compliant computing platform with T1, E1 and V.35 interfaces and supports a variety of international signaling variants. The SGX Gateway can be deployed separately or with the GSX9000 and the PSX Server in configurations that meet a range of network requirements.

ASX Feature Server

The ASX Feature Server provides functionality that extends Sonus' IMS architecture to the access part of the network. The ASX is a call agent that handles call setup and basic call features. The ASX provides local area calling features for residential and enterprise markets and regulatory features, such as emergency services and lawful intercept. The ASX connects to and can control a variety of network endpoints, such as integrated access devices (IADs), gateways, digital loop carriers (DLCs) and other IP endpoints. The ASX features include analog lines, Ethernet, voice over DSL, voice over cable or fixed wireless infrastructure. The ASX also enables features available only on packet-based networks, such as unified messaging, multi-media conferencing and desktop integration capabilities.

ASX Access Gateway Control Function

Sonus provides an IMS-compliant access gateway control function (AGCF) standards group. The ASX AGCF allows customers to evolve an existing circuit connected network to IMS by allowing the majority of their customers to connect to the new network with no equipment or perceived service changes.

IMX Application Platform

The IMX Application Platform (IMX) is a Web-based multimedia environment that enables wireline and wireless service providers to develop, integrate, launch and manage enhanced telecommunication applications and services. The IMX combines Internet and telephony application models, enabling the creation and delivery of voice, video and data services in a scalable, standards-based platform.

Sonus Insight Management System

The Sonus Insight Management System (Sonus Insight) is a Web-based management system designed to simplify the operation of carrier-class packet voice networks. Sonus Insight includes the element management system, the datastream integrator, the subscriber management system, the network traffic manager and the Sonus Insight developer’s kit, that together provide configuration, provisioning, security, alarm reporting, performance data and billing mediation capabilities. Sonus Insight integrates with service providers’ existing back-office systems, and offers many tools that enhance and consolidate management functions, allowing service providers to streamline many processes. Sonus Insight scales to support hundreds of switches and concurrent users, and is based on industry standards and protocols to facilitate management from any location worldwide.

Sonus Insight xAuthority Provisioning System.

The Sonus insight xAuthority provisioning system (xAuthority) provides a flexible, customizable arbitration layer above the Sonus Insight Management System to aid in back-office integration and customer self-provisioning. xAuthority also creates a management point for third party products to enable customers to create a single point of provisioning management.

mobilEdge Wireless Access Node

The mobilEdge Wireless Access Node (mobilEdge) integrates with GSM networks, enabling operators to deliver voice, video, data and mobility services over existing high-speed data networks and expand their wireless network coverage. mobilEdge serves as an anchor node, bridging femtocell and picocell access networks, high-speed wireless data networks and IP-based core wireless networks. mobilEdge supports 2G GSM and 3G UMTS femtocell and picocell access points for residential and enterprise use, including both in-building coverage and outdoor in-fill applications. Mobility management, roaming, seamless call hand-off and other features of mobilEdge allow wireless subscribers with single-mode mobile handsets to move between femtocell/picocell and macro network coverage. The mobilEdge platform leverages the mobile switching technology developed by Zynetix and its own GSX switching platform.

IMS Core Technology

SRX IMS serving call session control function (S-CSCF) is the element with which IMS endpoints ultimately register. In addition to serving as the IMS registrar, the S-CSCF consults the Home Subscriber Server to retrieve the user's service profile.

Sonus Global Services

Sonus Global Services provides professional consulting and services in support of its industry IP communications solutions. Sonus Professional Services are designed to help deliver an end-to-end solution through defined service engagements that include program management; network deployment design; softswitch and subscriber database design; network verification; network audit services; service management solutions; custom application and adaptor development; OSS and API integration; engineering, furnishing and installation; migration services; resident engineers; upgrade services; managed services and other services.

The Company competes with Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, NEC, Nortel Networks, Nokia Siemens, Huawei, Acme Packet and Cisco Systems.