Multiport Network Interface Device (NID) Increases Uptime and Reliability, While Guaranteeing Service Performance Requirements

Singapore - May 29, 2012 - Transition Networks Inc., the fiber access technology expert, a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ-GM: JCS), today announces the Asian launch of its latest Network Interface Device (NID): the S3280, ahead of CommunicAsia 2012. This device expands on advanced timing over packet networks and is specifically designed to allow telecoms and cable providers to deploy scalable services quickly, and verification of service performance promised in Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) to customers, while minimizing capital expenditures.

The S3280 allows service providers to offer their subscribers tiered Ethernet services, based on advanced features like differentiated Quality of Service (QoS) and bandwidth allocation per Ethernet Virtual Circuit (EVC). This device also enables service providers to offer SLA-quality service and support through scalable, intelligent User Network Interface (UNI), creating a greater differentiation of service offering from their competition. Within these tiered services SLAs can be supported and verified through the use of built in performance monitoring statistics. S3280 reduces Operational Expenses (OpEx) by providing methods to quickly detect and resolve faults without the need to dispatch a technician to remote locations. Remote fault detection and troubleshooting help increase customer satisfaction while minimizing operational expense.

The features of the S3280 are geared for mobile backhaul and business Ethernet delivery, while also designed to support Carrier Ethernet 2.0 (CE2.0) applications. The S3280 represents a compact platform designed to accommodate today’s demands and grow with tomorrow’s Ethernet requirements – ideal for Asia and beyond. The S3280’s capabilities are based on precise end-to-end performance measurement tools that allow providers to deliver a myriad of services from a single platform.

Jon Collins, Senior Product Manager at Transition Networks, says: “We have a new product line built specifically to meet the increasing demands of customers in the region, who continue to put more demands on service providers to offer reliable services that are faster yet more cost-effective. Transition Networks is committed to helping Asian service providers exceed their customers’ expectations as well as their competitive edge and profitability as a result of adding new services more quickly and more efficiently.”

“The new S3280 provides a cost-effective way to meet even the most stringent customer demands and addresses wide-scale deployment challenges while providing deterministic features similar to traditional TDM circuits such as: Service OAM, Frame Delay (FD), Frame Delay Variance (FDV or Jitter), Frame Loss Ratio (FLR), single and double tagging, Quality of Service (QoS), bandwidth allocation and remote diagnostics.”

Product Features
The new S3280 builds on Transition Networks’ existing S3240 platform by adding additional port configurations as well as increasing the features of the device. All of the ports can either be customer or network-facing, allowing for fiber to fiber, copper to fiber, or copper to copper handoffs. Some of the new features and capabilities include a complete Ethernet OAM suite that includes Ethernet Link OAM (IEEE 802.3ah), Ethernet Service OAM (IEEE 802.1ag) and Performance Monitoring (ITU-T Y.1731). This device also fully supports IPv6 and SNMPv3 making it a viable solution for next generation networks.

This feature-rich, intelligent Network Interface Device incorporates both E-Line and E-LAN services for point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connectivity between locations. Included are additional advanced security features such as: SSL, SSH, Multi-layer Access Control Lists (ACL), TACACS+, and management VLANs to prevent unauthorized access to anyone who isn’t a network administrator. The S3280 incorporates a standards based SONET-like ring recovery mechanism titled ITU G.8032v2, which guarantees sub-50ms recovery in the event of a link failure along with interoperability between different manufacturers. The S3280 also adds 1588v2 clocking mechanisms, which is critical in ensuring proper timing and packet delivery in high-quality mobile services.

The S3280 has a normal operating temperature of -20°-65°C but offers providers a short-term extended temp range of -40°C to 75°C, allowing deployments in semi-controlled backhaul applications. The S3280 has three power input standards. Either 100-240VAC, or dual redundant DC power inputs ranging from 18-57VDC. The fanless design of the S3280 increases the product’s reliability over the duration of its deployment.

Provisioning, management and monitoring of the S3280 can be performed from a web-browser, the integrated CLI (either via telnet or the console port), or with an SNMP system.

Product Configuration
Transition Networks’ S3280 is a standalone NID.