A recently released white paper, entitled A Homeland Security Issue: Tandem Diversity and the Public Switched Network agreed with the findings of the FCC's Independent Panel reviewing the impact of Hurricane Katrina's effect on communications networks and the need for tandem diversity. The FCC panel noted: "The switches that failed, especially tandems, had widespread effects on a broad variety of communications inside and out of the Katrina region."
The report also concluded that " ... high volume routes from tandem switches, especially in and around New Orleans were critical and vulnerable." The impact of outages included: inability of local carriers, including wireless and wireline, to exchange traffic and complete calls; inability of long distance calls to enter or leave areas served by the tandem; and hampered communications for those most affected by the tragedy.
John Calarco, an executive with over 30 years of experience in the information services industry and Ellen C. Craig, who served previously as the Chairman and Commissioner of the Illinois Commerce Commission co-authored the white paper on behalf of Neutral Tandem. The authors identified Neutral Tandem as having the necessary diverse tandem facilities located in separate locations from existing incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) tandems critical to adding reliability to the public-switched telephone network (PSTN).
"The addition of Neutral Tandem into the nation's telecommunications infrastructure dramatically improves network reliability. It's in the public's best interest to encourage private sector investments that strengthen the communications infrastructure, and any serious disaster recovery plan should include tandem diversity," said John Calarco.
"We are gratified to see Neutral Tandem recognized as a needed solution for tandem diversity, and we are especially encouraged that FCC Chairman Martin recently highlighted his commitment to making public safety and emergency preparedness a top priority in his testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee," said Rian Wren, CEO of Neutral Tandem. "Neutral Tandem provides the public with precisely the type of redundancy found lacking in the FCC's Hurricane Katrina report, and that's why the cities of New York and Chicago, along with the New York Department of Public Service and others have strongly supported our efforts to bring tandem diversity immediately to the public."
According to a company statement, Neutral Tandem's network strengthens the PSTN and reduces the potential for call failures during natural and man-made disasters by providing:
-- Distinct physical tandem locations, separate from existing ILEC tandems.
-- Transport and facility diversity with multiple access points and termination paths, where 98.5% of Neutral Tandem's transport is routed independent of the ILEC.
-- Safeguards such as generators and battery back-up to ensure continued operations.
Neutral Tandem provides tandem services to more than 50 major carriers, including nearly all of the major wireless, competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), cable and VoIP service providers to exchange traffic, providing a redundant and cost-effective alternative to ILEC tandems. The company is operational in many U.S. markets, including: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Northern New Jersey, Orlando (FL), Rochester (NY), Tampa (FL), Washington D.C., and the state of Connecticut.
