En-Touch Systems Deploys General Bandwidth for Cable Telephony

General Bandwidth, a leading Voice over IP equipment manufacturer enabling rapid deployment and new service revenue generation over broadband networks, has been selected by En-Touch Systems, a bundled telecommunications services provider to quality master-planned communities, to deliver carrier-grade cable telephony (VoIP) services over their hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks.
 
Deployed by leading carriers and cable operators and recently recognized the “Best in Class” access and trunking gateway by Heavy Reading (an independent telecom research firm), General Bandwidth’s G6® Universal Media Gateway Platform is increasingly deployed by smaller service providers based on the platform’s ability to rapidly deliver a variety of residential and commercial VoIP services through a single gateway platform. This results in significant reductions in capital and operational expenses with the added benefit of the G6 platform’s carrier-proven performance with respect to reliability, voice quality, and manageability.

“En-Touch is focused on delivering full featured, carrier grade voice services as part of our triple play voice, video and high speed data service offering,” said Jason Bone, En-Touch’s director of engineering.  “We were looking for a highly reliable VoIP gateway that can deliver PSTN quality services today from our Class 5 switch with the flexibility to support PacketCableTM and SIP applications in the future -- General Bandwidth’s G6 platform was the answer.”

The G6 platform is a universal media gateway providing a true carrier class, scalable solution that supports full redundancy along with the ability to scale from 240 to 16,128 simultaneous DS0s per chassis.  The G6 platform provides the most cost-effective solution for service providers seeking to grow their network and revenue base by offering packet voice services.

“We are excited to be selected by En-Touch Systems as their core VoIP technology supplier,” said Charles Vogt, General Bandwidth’s president and chief executive officer.  “As the competitive race toward triple play services and its accompanying revenues accelerates into 2005, General Bandwidth continues to see significant momentum building for our platform among both large and small integrated communications service providers, where they can benefit from the G6 platform’s low cost of entry with the ability to scale rapidly as their customer base grows.”

About En-Touch Systems, Inc.
Founded in Houston specifically to provide bundled telecommunications services to quality master-planned communities, En-Touch Systems, Inc. designs, builds and operates networks serving communities throughout the Houston, Texas area.   En-Touch Systems serves more that 6,000 homes and businesses using fiber-based equipment with a bundle of services that includes Local and Long Distance Telephone Service, Digital Cable Television, High Speed Internet Access and Alarm Monitoring Services.

About The G6 Universal Media Gateway Platform
The G6 Universal Media Gateway platform is the architectural basis for the multiple media gateway solutions offered by General Bandwidth.  The G6 platform is a true carrier class VoIP services platform with the capability to simultaneously support multiple service architectures including legacy Class 5 switches, SIP-based feature servers, and next generation softswitches.  The G6 Universal Media Gateway and network management system are OSMINE, RUS, PacketCableTM, and NEBS-3 certified.  The company markets the following media gateway solutions globally:

G6 Access MG
Providing Class 5 services over VoIP and AAL1/AAL2 broadband networks using GR-303, TR-08, V5.x, or CAS interfaces; extending the life of the legacy switching network.

G6 Reverse MG
Proven interoperable with the leading wireline and cable-based softswitches via MGCP or H.248, the G6 Reverse MG enables new IP-based features on legacy remote terminals by enabling their call control to be softswitch-based. The product is applicable to most GR-303, TR-08, and V5.x remote terminals.

G6 Trunking MG
Proven interoperable with the leading wireline and cable-based softswitches, the G6 Trunking MG provides circuit-to-packet media conversion using MGCP, H.248, or SIP softswitch call control.  The product is one of only a few media gateways awarded PacketCableTM Media Gateway qualification for the cable network infrastructure.  The product also provides SIP to PRI interworking for hosted IP communications services.

G6 Universal MG
The industry’s first universal media gateway serving the ILEC/PTT, CLEC, and MSO networks, the G6 Universal MG provides simultaneous support for all access, reverse and trunking media gateway applications on a single G6 chassis.  The product delivers seamless, risk-free migration to next generation services to address evolving broadband and voice service needs.  The consolidation and management of voice services through a single G6 significantly reduces capital and operational expenses.

About General Bandwidth
General Bandwidth is a leading provider of Voice over IP infrastructure solutions spanning more than 40 service providers worldwide. General Bandwidth delivers broadband solutions addressing a full range of applications, including residential and business access, trunking and enhanced VoIP solutions.  With eight patents issued and ten pending, General Bandwidth’s flagship G6 Universal Media Gateway and network management system are OSMINE, RUS, PacketCableTM, and NEBS-3 certified, produced in a TL9000 quality system, and deployed in MSOs, ILECs, CLECs, and RLECs networks worldwide. General Bandwidth was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.   Additional information on General Bandwidth is available at www.genband.com.

Contacts:
Noah Sessions
GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3664 (office)
noah.sessions@genband.com