Astral Telecom and AudioCodes today announced that AudioCodes' Mediant Digital Gateways and MediaPack Analog Media Gateways have been chosen to deliver voice services over Astral's cable networks.

Astral is utilizing AudioCodes' digital and analog media gateways as part of their complete voice over cable solution to offer voice services in Romania. AudioCodes Mediant and MediaPack CPE products will be used especially for business customer services. These CPE gateways will be integrated with Astral's FTTX (Fiber To The Home, Fiber To The Building) solutions.

"Having successfully passed all the quality and compatibility assurance tests, AudioCodes products have proven themselves to be the most reliable product for use within Astral's network," said Dinu Malacopol, CEO Internet and Data division of Astral. "Because of its high quality, we are also using AudioCodes MediaPack CPEs for smaller business solutions over the CATV IP network. AudioCodes MediaPack is a stand-alone gateway that provides at least the same quality as an integrated MTA cable modem. In addition to its high quality, compatibility and flexible support for its vendors, we are planning to use AudioCodes equipment if we migrate our IP Telephony system from H.323 to MGCP and SIP. Presently, the AudioCodes product family is our main choice when seeking suitable solutions for our business customers."

Stefan Manza, IP Telephony Technical Manager of Astral added: "We have selected AudioCodes CPE devices after conducting field tests on products from multiple vendors and were impressed with the performance of AudioCodes' media gateways. AudioCodes' responsiveness and flexibility, both in terms of services and products was particularly prompt. Working with AudioCodes has strengthened our competitive position with the addition of quality voice services offered."

AudioCodes Mediant 2000 and MediaPack Digital and Analog media gateways are being supplied to Astral through AudioCodes system integrator/partner, RAL Computers.

Lior Aldema, Vice President of Marketing for AudioCodes commented: "The delivery of voice services to one of the largest cable networks in Romania using our CPE equipment is important. We expect this project to encourage further deployments in major broadband networks as demonstrated by this successful venture."

The Mediant 2000 VoP Gateway is the cost-effective, entry-level member in the AudioCodes family of market-ready, standards-compliant, media gateway voice network products. Intelligently packaged in a stackable 1U chassis especially designed as CPE and for smaller locations in the carrier network market, the Mediant 2000 is the right-sized solution for small-scale (1 to 16 E1/T1s) needs.

The MediaPack Analog Media Gateway product family, ranging from 2 to 24 ports, connects analog telephone sets, fax machines, modem devices and PBXs to the IP network using FXO or FXS connectivity.

AudioCodes enables the new voice infrastructure by providing innovative, reliable and cost-effective Voice over Packet technology and Voice Network products to OEMs, network equipment providers and system integrators.

Astral Telecom is a leading Romanian integrated electronic communication services provider.