Johannesburg, 30 Dec 1999
Internet service providers (ISPs) using the Total Control multiservice access platform from 3Com Corporation recorded the highest ratings for connection speed and success rates, based on published reports from the industry`s leading Internet benchmarking organisation.
The ratings by Inverse Network Technologies (www.inversenet.com), an independent benchmarking organisation, identify and grade ISPs in such critical performance factors as network availability and connection speeds.
The testing by Inverse Network Technologies is designed to mirror the actual experience of an ISP customer and provides a unique view of the performance of service providers. Each month the Inverse Internet BenchMark service makes more than 100,000 ISP access calls to measure and rate the performance of major ISPs across the US.
The testing includes both connection-related measurements, such as modem connect speeds and call failure rates, and network measurements, like log-in time, DNS lookup and Web throughput and average Web download time.
Remote access servers, such as the Total Control platform, act as the front-end of an ISP`s entire network to connect dial-up users with the Internet. The server`s performance critically affects connection-related measurements. AT&T WorldNet Service, AT&T GNS, Cable & Wireless, CompuServe, MindSpring, and UUNET Technologies are among the ISPs using 3Com`s Total Control platform who earned the high performance ratings.
"The element that has the greatest impact on connection speed is the quality of the modem design at the service provider`s end of the network," said Todd Landry, vice president, product management, 3Com Carrier Systems Group.
"Our systems adapt to various network variances and automatically search for and select the optimum mode to ensure the fastest connections."
3Com attributes much of high performance ratings to its advanced digital signalling processor (DSP) technology - a key component of its Total Control multiservice access system. 3Com`s Carrier Systems Group operates an advanced design centre that employs some of the world`s top DSP programming engineers with years of experience connecting DSP systems to the public switched telephone network.
"With our 56K modem technology and our experience with telephone networks, we are able to outpace any other vendor," said Landry. "The data on connection speeds and reliability clearly shows that 3Com understands and delivers what the ISP market needs. The Total Control platform`s performance and large installed base puts 3Com in a good position to carve out a leadership role in the next phase of the market: enhanced IP telephony service platforms for carriers."
Recently, 3Com was recognised by one of its major ISP customers after the service provider garnered consistent A+ ratings from Inverse for more than 12 consecutive months.
"As the expansion of competitive differentiation in the ISP arena continues, service providers are continually searching for any advantage that allows them to grow their subscriber base," said Dan Schoo, vice president, engineering, 3Com Carrier Systems Group.
"Our relationships with customers like AT&T WorldNet are such that we acquire a deep understanding of their networks and can optimise our software for them."
The Total Control Multiservice Access Platform
Used by leading service providers around the world, the Total Control platform from 3Com is the foundation for multiservice, universal access. Today, 3Com offers customers circuit switched data/RAS, fax-over-IP, voice-over-IP, CDMA wireless, and cable access within the Total Control system. More than seven million Total Control ports are deployed with service providers worldwide.
The platform is designed for service reliability, using redundant power supplies and modular application cards to prevent a single point of failure. In addition, its modular architecture supports hot swapping of interface and application cards so that the system remains live and online, minimizing network downtime. Unlike many competitors` products, which are hard-wired and use specialized chipsets, 3Com`s Total Control platform uses a generalised processor architecture.
This allows new capabilities to be introduced via software upgrades, making it easy to migrate from technology to technology.
3Com has also pursued open systems, standardisation and interoperability, all critical factors for the widescale deployment of new technology. This inherent investment protection in the architectural design of the Total Control platform is a significant business cost advantage for customers.
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