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Obsolete Network Equipment? Here's Your Replacement
May 20, 2019
RAD’s blog typically focuses on new, disruptive technologies, but we mustn’t forget that many network operators – including critical communications such as for utilities, transportation, first responders, etc., – still employ a vast array of legacy communications equipment and infrastructure to transport voice and sensitive data, including SCADA and Teleprotection. These RTUs, E&M, FXS/ FXOs and n x 64 lines devices have been in use for decades and such networks rely on their proper functioning for mission-critical operations.
When your legacy equipment has reached its EoL
Many prominent vendors have declared their legacy TDM multiplexers as “end of life” products and ceased to manufacture and support them. These devices include, among others, the Adtran TA-1500, Alcatel (Newbridge) 3600 Mainstreet and 163x DACS, Alcatel Lucent DMXtend and 1850TSS5, Carrier Access Adit-600, Coastcom D/I Mux III (also sold under the name Bayly), D4 Channel Bank, Ericsson XMP, GE JungleMux, Keymile XMP1, Mainsail DACS 8000, Nokia Dynanet, and Tellabs 53x DACS. As they disappear from the market, so do the spare parts required to keep existing deployed inventories functioning. More and more network operators, therefore, are now replacing them, as it is more cost effective than paying exorbitant prices for spare parts in low supply.
But to slash CapEx further down the line, replacement multiplexers should not only support existing legacy devices but be future-proof as well. In that way, they can continue to be used when the utility decides to begin its gradual migration to intelligent packet switched networks (PSNs) and applications.
Planned migration
In planning and implementing a seamless migration to PSNs, critical infrastructure organizations will first have to be certain that their new network can efficiently and reliably handle massive amounts of bi-directional or even multi-directional data communications between various devices and locations.
So, flexibility in meeting specific needs is key. Many operators have found our modular Megpalex-4 an ideal replacement to their discontinued equipment. Easily configurable to either an SDH/SONET or a packet network – or both – it is able to support analog and digital data and voice devices at versatile rates. What’s more, RAD can also tailor the Megaplex to meet unique, customer-specific requirements, ensuring that it is fully interoperable with all proprietary interfaces in the outmoded devices that it is replacing. Our customers benefit from the piece of mind in knowing that they are ensure TDM support until 2030, allowing them to migrate at their own pace.
And finally, with multiple redundancy options and a complete cyber-attack prevention suite it ensures both high reliability and security – essentially providing everything needed for a smooth transition to next-gen communications!
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