Broadband products and outside plant telecommunications equipment provider Westell Technologies (NASDAQ: WSTL) has released its eSmartJack Ethernet network interface device (E-NID), aimed at communications service providers seeking to flexibly transition their wireless backhaul from T1 to Ethernet.
The eSmartJack model NI8002 is the latest addition to Westell’s eSmartAccess family of Ethernet products, and features the same plug-and-play functionality as Westell’s existing SmartJack T1 network interface unit (NIU) service demarcation device. According to the company, the modular design of the device allows backhaul providers to plug the Ethernet eSmartJack directly into 200/400 industry standard mechanics housings, including Westell’s existing CellPak outdoor enclosure.
The eSmartJack delivers all of the performance monitoring and fault isolation functionality of the original SmartJack, plus the addition of Westell’s SiteVu telemetry system, both at Gigabit Ethernet speeds. Additionally, the Westell “SiteVu Secure” remote monitoring system included in the eSmartJack E-NID provides systems operators and managers with complete visibility to remote-site environmental and equipment status, taking situational awareness beyond standard SNMP information. Other system features include internal temperature monitoring, external temperature probe input, input voltage level monitoring, A/B voltage monitoring, and two external telemetry inputs for doors, power supplies and other external sources.
Plugging an eSmartJack into an existing Westell CellPak enables telco operators to immediately deliver both T1 and Ethernet service. With both copper and optical interfaces, the company says the eSmartJack is especially intended for telco operators who are aggressively rolling out fiber to the cell site.
“The cellular backhaul market is quickly transitioning to Ethernet as bandwidth usage explodes,” said Brian Powers, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Westell’s OSPlant Systems Division.
With Westell CellPak enclosures already approved and field-deployed at tens of thousands of cell sites across North America, the company contends that wireline telco operators can capitalize on installed infrastructure and accelerate their transition from T1 to Ethernet cell backhaul by using the eSmartJack.
Powers continued, “Westell’s new eSmartJack provides operators with a simple, compact and highly cost-effective choice for delivering Ethernet in cell backhaul. In addition, this product’s modular ‘plug-n-play’ design provides telco operators with tremendous installation speed and flexibility.”
Westell says the Ethernet eSmartJack is also designed especially for “edge” Radio Access Network-Base Station (RAN-BS) applications on the perimeter of the network where Cellular Radio devices are connected. This managed e-NID is MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) certified compliant for cellular backhaul and is temperature hardened -40°C to +85°C.
For more information visit http://www.westell.com and http://www.conferenceplus.com.
Press Release: Westell Introduces eSmartJack Ethernet Network Interface Device (E-NID) for Cellular Backhaul (businesswire.com)
