South Slope Deploys End-to-End Solution From BTI Systems to Scale Network Core and Deliver High-Value Ethernet Business & Mobile Backhaul Services

OTTAWA, Ontario, Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BTI Systems, the networking company that provides high-capacity, application-aware service infrastructure for the metro, announced today that it is providing an end-to-end solution from the network core to the business customer premise and cellular sites for South Slope Cooperative Communications, the largest rural independent operating company (IOC) in Iowa.

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South Slope replaced its existing three-vendor SONET, DWDM and Ethernet infrastructure with a single, integrated solution from BTI, lowering CAPEX, OPEX and simplifying operations with a unified service-centric management system and SLA portal. Powered by BTI's recently-announced Dynamic Optical Layer, SLA Portal and Mobile Backhaul solutions, South Slope will accelerate delivery of high-value broadband services to support the continued economic development and investment in its rural Iowa service territory.

"As a key player in the Cedar Rapids - North Liberty - Iowa City Tech corridor, we are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service now and in the future," said Justyn M. Miller, CEO South Slope. "With BTI, we have installed the best network foundation to scale our network and support new broadband multimedia services. Broadband revenue streams are critical under the new FCC rulings. As a partner, BTI understands our business and we deployed our state-of-the-art network on time and on budget," he added.

The decision by South Slope to upgrade its network with BTI matches the results of a survey conducted by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) which found that smaller, rural communications providers are actively deploying advanced services at a rate far eclipsing the rural markets of larger carriers. The combination of products and services from BTI provides South Slope with sufficient network capacity to reliably and cost-effectively meet the rapid growth of Ethernet business service delivery and mobile backhaul services.

As BTI's first Dynamic Optical Layer deployment in North America, South Slope is leveraging a single packet optical transport system with ROADM and integrated Layer 2 Carrier Ethernet to connect all of its exchanges, with the ability to quickly add new capacity as needed, including 100G wavelengths in the future. South Slope will leverage BTI's advanced service-centric tools to quickly and easily provision, alarm and troubleshoot the network from the core to the business customer or individual cell sites.  BTI's SLA portal will enable them to measure, monitor and report on the performance of the network while meeting the mobile operators SLA requirements with a self-branded and customizable tool. 

"South Slope was looking for a vendor that could consolidate Carrier Ethernet, SONET aggregation and DWDM functions into a single, scalable platform," said Dr. Robert Keys, Chief Architect, Optical for BTI Systems. "Together with BTI's expert professional support team they successfully deployed a future-proof network that leverages BTI's end-to-end solution."

Key elements of the South Slope network include:

• BTI Dynamic Optical Layer -- combines ROADM, and end-to-end service and path-centric management capabilities.  
• BTI 7000 Series -- provides comprehensive layered 10G network capacity and the capability to seamlessly handle up to 40 times more network traffic.
• BTI 700 Series -- provides full integration and protection for businesses and cell towers.
• BTI proNX™ Service Management -- provides a service-centric approach to simplify monitoring, control, provisioning and planning across the entire BTI portfolio.
• BTI proNX SLA Portal -- enables tracking, reporting and real-time access to SLA data to meet mobile operator's stringent SLA requirements for backhaul.
• BTI professional services provide comprehensive support for project management, installation and turn-up of complex network deployments.

About BTI Systems
BTI Systems is the innovative networking company that creates high-capacity, application-aware service infrastructures for metropolitan networks. With its suite of packet optical networking and intelligent service delivery platforms, BTI Systems provides a scalable foundation for network operators to create a dynamic, responsive network to scale capacity and deliver a mix of applications, services and content. More than 300 customers throughout the globe rely on BTI Systems to monetize service delivery and simplify end-to-end service management. Headquartered in North America, BTI Systems operates regional sales, marketing, and R&D centers of excellence throughout the world. For more information, visit www.btisystems.com.

SOURCE BTI Systems