Astral Point Distributes DCS.

Astral Point Communications, Inc. will send a network-wide distributed digital cross-connect transport system to the network services marketplace. Astral Point will issue the service, which is planned for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) optical networks. This lets carriers furnish leased line services associated with edge optical services from a platform. Telecommunications carriers employ digital Cross-connect Systems (DCS). They draw out and combine speed traffic from lines, for delivery to users' destinations.

The announcement, made at the opening of the OPTICON 2000 Conference on optical networking, substitutes this control with a "point-and-click" method of cross-connecting. It utilizes a distributed provisioning algorithm. It gives a range of network services and eliminates the need for DCS control. Rescuing up to 30% of network bandwidth, it lessens the need for equipment and packs the speed together. Services can be provisioned. They are capable of being attached to the network.

The company's Distributed DCS will consist of a family of modules and the first is the 3:1:0 cross-connect, which was recently introduced. This module permits the cross-connection of any DSO (56K) or DS1 (1.544Mbps) within any DS3 (T3/45Mbps) connection in an Astral Point ON 5000 network.

Astral Point's new products feature:

* Allotted cross-connect functionality, in which each ON 5000 node can arrange network-wide high-speed DS3 (44.7Mbps), DS1 (1.544Mbps), and standard DSO (64Kbps) traffic.

* The ability to gather and de-aggregate DS-1 to DS-0 traffic affords business voice, Frame Relay, and Internet access.

* Elimination of "backhauling." It is a condition in which a DCS is demanded. Conveying traffic, it cannot de-aggregate to another site, which does that function. It, then, resends some or all of the traffic back to the origination point for distribution.

* Reduces cost per line, up to 80% lower in some cases, that ON 5000 nodes (with the transport system capability) can give network-wide grooming per port. It applies DCS methods and products.

* Backward compatibility with legacy DCS and SONET systems that are assembled in the market today.

"Network equipment saving can amount to millions of dollars annually, but these pale in comparison to the savings in time that the ON 5000 with DCS functionality can provide. The products allow a network service provider to meet customers' demands for multiple services, respond to changes in that demand, and offer cost and time advantages in its market. These advantages are the value of the system," Raj Shanmugaraj, Astral Point founder and chief executive officer, said.

The ON 5000 Optical Services Node is an optical access system that knows how to improve by tenfold the performance of high-speed optical networks. Equipped to carry voice, data, video, and other traffic, it boasts patented capabilities. It combines, in a platform, DWDM, AT, IP and SONET interworking, management, provisioning, and complexity.