Covad Tests Line-Powered Voice Access from Zhone, Nokia

Covad Communications will begin testing line-powered DSLAMs from Nokia and Zhone Technologies. The Nokia and Zhone DSLAMs and line cards enable line-powered voice access by taking the analog voice signal from a customer’s basic telephone and converting it into digital form at the Covad central office where the DSLAM is located. The digital signal is then transported over Covad’s nationwide facilities-based broadband network and connected to any telephone on a VoIP network or the PSTN. Covad said that unlike DSL broadband service, line-powered voice access is not distance sensitive. That means Covad’s nationwide network will, in the future, be able to serve 40% more customers with basic voice services in the current Covad footprint.
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