COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- (Marketwire) -- 07/28/09 -- OPASTCO Summer Convention -- MetaSwitch, the leader in reliable, high-quality carrier IP communications solutions, continues to expand its footprint among U.S. regional operators, with more than 20 new customers signed in the last quarter alone, bringing its total incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) customer base to over 200. These carriers are successfully deploying MetaSwitch solutions to migrate legacy voice infrastructures to more cost-effective, IP-enabled networks and provide competitive, next-generation subscriber services, a process the company expects to accelerate further as Broadband Stimulus funds drive the deployment of packet networks.

The new customers consist of leading edge ILECs including Telephone Electronics Corporation (TEC) based in Jackson, Miss.; Rural Telephone located in northwest Kansas; and Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative, serving multiple counties in Tennessee. These ILECs are among the growing number of service providers choosing to work with MetaSwitch to address today's most pressing challenges, such as improving overall network management and bandwidth efficiency while increasing revenue-generating opportunities.

"We are pleased to be working with these flagship regional carriers across North America," said Graeme MacArthur, General Manager, MetaSwitch Carrier Systems Division. "Despite the economic difficulties facing everyone, we are still seeing a growing commitment to move forward with carrier VoIP infrastructure projects, based on our strong track record for quality engineering, exceptional support, innovation, and the reliability and stability of a profitable, growing company."

TEC, a privately-owned telecommunications company, manages a network of about 10 subsidiaries in areas of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, serving nearly 50,000 subscribers and is now one of the largest independent operating carriers (IOCs) in the region. TEC is in the process of rolling out MetaSphere Unified Messaging, which it will provide as TEC Track and TEC Message, enabling residential customers to manage home phone, cell phone, e-mail and voicemail through CommPortal, a Web-based portal. TEC plans to rollout similar integrated messaging functionality to business customers in the coming months.

"The ability to create new revenue streams with TEC Track and TEC Message and provide a highly cost-effective solution for modernizing legacy services such as voicemail are critical to maintaining our competitive advantage," said Lisa Wigington, director of LEC and video operations for TEC. "We have been particularly pleased with how MetaSwitch has supported our marketing efforts as well as the technical aspects of our deployment."

Rural Telephone, the largest IOC in Kansas with 20,000 access lines, needed to consolidate its switching capacity, create geographic redundancy and create an IP-access network. Rural Telephone selected a total MetaSwitch solution for its core network as well as to deliver a wide range of VoIP, legacy TDM and next-generation telephony services. Rural Telephone will split the MetaSwitch call agents to provide services across two towns to 41 exchanges, with a phased migration that has been underway for the last year and should be completed by February 2010.

"As a company eager to adopt new technologies, the superior industry experience and technology that MetaSwitch offers made it the compelling choice to support our ambitious strategy," said Shane Broyles, central office manager for Rural Telephone. "MetaSwitch proposed a clean and simple network design that provided more cost-effective geographic redundancy than was possible with traditional switches or other vendors' next-generation solutions."

Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative opted to migrate from its Nortel legacy network to support growth and expansion plans. Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative is replacing its Nortel DMS100 with a more cost-effective MetaSwitch-based solution to cover more than 42,000 access lines.

"Now as one of the largest IOCs in the state, one of our strategic priorities is to increase the value of our existing product offerings plus expand our portfolio," said Ray Cantrell, Network Operations Manger at Ben Lomand Telephone Cooperative. "We like the fact that MetaSwitch offers a solution set that addresses the largest carriers' needs but also scales down for small independent telcos. This enables us to evolve our network on a future-proof platform, and remain competitive."

About MetaSwitch

MetaSwitch is a leading provider of carrier systems and software solutions that are powering the migration of communications networks to open, packet-based architectures. Hundreds of network operators worldwide depend on its Carrier Systems Division for reliable, scalable session control, media gateway and application/feature server solutions to enable compelling revenue-generating services. Its Network Protocols Division, marketed under the Data Connection brand (www.dataconnection.com), develops high performance, portable software components that are integrated into the products of the world's leading communications equipment manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.metaswitch.com.

MetaSwitch is a registered trademark. Brands and products referenced herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Copyright © 2009 MetaSwitch.