TMCnet News

Pannaway Releases Broadband Access Manager, Announces New Customer
[September 12, 2005]

Pannaway Releases Broadband Access Manager, Announces New Customer


By TED GLANZER
TMCnet Communications and Broadband Columnist
 
Continuing to make waves in the rural telco next-generation broadband service convergence market, Portsmouth, N.H.-based Pannaway Technologies, Inc., today announced the release of its Broadband Access Manager (BAM), which is used to manage all components of its Service Convergence Network (SCN).


 
According to a company statement, "Pannaway's RUS-listed SCN is the industry's first end-to-end IP solution for secure, converged broadband transport services, allowing companies of all sizes to optimize the existing 'pipeline to the premise' to build out a network for Triple Play services."

 
As part of the SCN, the BAM server is a "sophisticated but extremely affordable" broadband element management system that provides telcos the flexibility to leverage the benefits of IP while simultaneously reducing installation complexity and lowering operational expenses.
 
Priced at $17,200, the BAM server is delivered on a 1RU appliance that "runs 24/7," and redefines the term "truck roll" for telecom service providers, Pannaway's Marketing Director Dale Allaire told TMCnet on Friday.
 
Indeed, the integrated capabilities of the BAM Server include the following:
 
• Automated Line Qualification;
 
• Auto Network Discovery;
 
• Dynamic Service Activation;
 
• Rapid Device Identification;
 
• Enhanced Network Trouble Shooting;
 
• Remote Device Analysis;
 
• Group Device Management;
 
• Automated Subscriber Management; and
 
• SIP Call Control Manager Configuration.
 
"Pannaway placed a big bet on an IP/Ethernet infrastructure early on and are now poised to reap the rewards," said Matt Davis, Director of Broadband Access Technologies at Yankee Group.  "Well-integrated IP/Ethernet networks will reduce [operational expense] costs through simplification, automation and by streamlining a variety of network management tasks."
 
Proof, as they say, is in the pudding.
 
The BAM Server was a primary reason why Gilmer, Texas-based ETEX Telephone Cooperative announced today that it selected Pannaway for the delivery of next-generation broadband services. 
 
ETEX Telephone, which supports 17,000 access lines in northeast Texas, said that it plans to transition their existing ATM network to one that leverages pure IP from end-to-end, according to a news release.   
 
"We knew early on in our evaluation process that a pure IP network would be a better investment for us based on the types of applications that we plan to deliver," said Charlie Cano, engineering manager at ETEX.  "Two big factors that led us to a Pannaway selection included their broadband access management system for end-to-end service provisioning, line testing and network trouble shooting, and their commitment to becoming more than just a technology provider, but a true partner in every sense of the word."
 
Another Pannaway customer echoed those sentiments.  
 
"Using BAM, we can leverage an automated management system to remotely qualify lines, deploy CPE and push out regular maintenance releases," said Carl Burgess, CEO of Bartow, Fla.-based CLEC REI Communications. "This will minimize truck rolls, keeping our expenses down, ultimately translating to very competitive prices for our subscribers."
 
Pannaway is on a roll with recent customer wins, which includes last month's announcement that Empire Telephone selected the company to deliver next-generation broadband convergence services.
 
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Ted Glanzer is assistant editor for TMCnet. For more articles by Ted Glanzer, please visit:
 

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