MetaSwitch exceeds 200 ILEC customers

MetaSwitch announced it signed more than 20 new ILEC customers in the second-quarter and now has deployed its IP communications software to more than 200 ILECs. The company said the strong growth in this market shows that while some providers are hesitating to deploy new network equipment during the recession, others are going forward with IP transitions to position themselves to grow when the economy recovers.

Carol Daniels, director of marketing for MetaSwitch, said the company's reputation with other ILECs will position it well to try to win business from ILECs receiving broadband stimulus grants.

"It's (broadband stimulus) definitely an opportunity, and we're assisting customers with information about it whenever we can," Daniels said. "There are a lot of different sources for information, so our carrier customers are still deciding, but momentum is building, and with more info later in the year coming, I think they'll get the answers they're looking for soon."

Daniels said that when Tier 2 and Tier 3 carriers are considering a network upgrade, MetaSwitch is almost always one of the companies invited to bid, because of positive references from existing ILEC customers. While competitors surely will balk at that assessment, MetaSwitch's solid customer acquisition in this space is difficult to ignore.

For more:
- see the press release here [1]