CUSTOMERS MIGRATE TO ETSI ONRAMP WITH RAD PROTOCOL CONVERTERS.

Australian carrier Telstra, who has introduced a new ETSI OnRamp ISDN service and is beginning to migrate customers to this new network, has selected RAD Data Communications to supply the protocol converters to assist in the migration.

"RAD is pleased to offer Australian ISDN customers the most cost- effective way to migrate seamlessly from their existing Macrolink ISDN service to Telstra's new OnRamp ETSI PRI ISDN service," stated Dario Zipris, vice president of sales at RAD Data Communications. Technical and on-site support will be provided by Sydney-based Proactive Communication Solutions, one of RAD's authorized Australian distributors. "All Macrolink users will benefit from the new OnRamp ETSI ISDN service while maintaining their existing equipment," Zipris added.

Telstra's original Macrolink ISDN network was implemented in late 1980 as an overlay network that was based on CCITT/ITU ISDN specifications. The new OnRamp ISDN composite network has been implemented based on full ETSI standards. This makes OnRamp an attractive offer to new customers who are anxious about global compatibility, but also created concern among Telstra's existing Macrolink ISDN customer base, whose equipment is only compatible with the Macrolink service that is scheduled to be retired by the end of 2001.

Existing Macrolink ISDN Equipment Compatible with OnRamp

RAD's solution is its customer-located IPC-20 ISDN Protocol Converter. The IPC-20 transparently converts Telstra's ISDN standard to OnRamp's ETSI ISDN. "This is a huge benefit for the large installed base of Microlink subscribers, who will gain from not having to trade-in any of their legacy ISDN equipment," noted Namson Tran, managing director of Proactive Communication Solutions. "They will continue to use their existing systems complete with the features, functionality and configuration schemes they are familiar with," Tran explained. "But they also will be upgrading to an OnRamp service that is more standardized, cost-effective and offers better quality of service," Tran said.

RAD Data Communications designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of high quality data communications and telecommunications product solutions for carriers, service providers and corporate networks. RAD is a member of the $320 million RAD Group of companies, a world leader in networking and internetworking product solutions.

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