Introduction
V5.2 is the standard interface between a Class 5 switch (called LE) and an Access Network (AN) that provides legacy PSTN services in the traditional PSTN/TDM networks. The V5.2 connection is via multiple E1 links and it provides protection and concentration. It is well spread all over the world except in North America (where GR-303 is employed). In the V5.2 context, the V5.2/Cable Mediant acts as an AN and it is called IPAT (IP Access Terminal) in the ETSI EuroPacketCable terminology.

The V5.2/Cable Mediant 2000/5000/8000 family provides MSOs (Multiple Services Operators) PSTN services for the following Broadband IP applications:

• Cable TV Networks (HFC)
• Broadband Wireless (Point to Multi-point) – WLL, LMDS and MMDS
• Fiber to the Home (FttH)
• xDSL
• Power Line Communications (PLC)

IPAT Architecture:
The IPAT serves as a MG (Trunking Media Gateway ), a SG (V5.2 signaling Gateway) and the MGC (Media Gateway Controller) as defined in the PacketCable architecture framework. The IPAT together with a legacy Class 5 switch provide all PSTN services to the POTS lines connected via analog residential gateways ( called MTAs in PacketCable solutions) . The embedded MGC in the IPAT uses the MGCP (with cable, it is an MGCP variant called NCS) for controlling all network residential gateways.

The major advantage of this solution is that a softswitch is not required – MSOs can maintain Class 5 mature and advanced services (stability, features, billing, service provisioning) as their first step in the IP convergence plan, with a minimal investment. Therefore, the IPAT solution is attractive for operators that have excess Class5 switch capacity and are too conservative for implementing pure SSW architecture.

IPAT Offering:
The IPAT is available in three models:

• Mediant™ 2000 – A simplex entry level system that contains: 1 x TP-1610 blade and 1 x MGC blade (SUN cPCI blade). Typically used for trials and small installations.
• Mediant™ 5000 – A carrier grade HA-redundant system that contains: (1+1 redundant) SCs , (1+1 redundant) MGCs , (3+1 redundancy) TP-1610 blades , redundant Ethernet switches, redundant power supplies and redundant fans.
• Mediant™ 8000 – Similar to the M5K for high end capacities up to (12 +1 redundancy) TP-1610.
  

Product Status:

• IPAT Version 1.2 GA has been available since the third quarter of 2003. It was used in interops with major cable eMTAs and CMTS vendors (Arris, Tellabs, Scientific-Atlanta, Terayon, Motorola ,Cisco, Thompson, ADC, Toshiba and TI) and with almost all Class 5 vendors in the market: Nortel/DMS100 ,Lucent/5ESS, Ericsson/AXE10, Alcatel/S12, Italtel/iMSS, Huawei/CC08 (China), ZTE/ZXJ10 (China) and DGT (Poland).
• IPAT 5000 /2000 systems are installed in European market.

Mediant™ 5000 Cable Access Gateway Receives PacketCable™ Qualification Status from CableLabs ®
Serving as a pure media gateway in the full IP Convergence PacketCable architecture (Not in the IPAT configuration), the Mediant 5000 received PacketCable™ Qualification Status from CableLabs®. The Mediant 5000 received CW29 (Certification Wave # 29) qualification on July 9, 2004. AudioCodes is now one the three PacketCable compliant MG (Media Gateway) vendors. This opens the door for AudioCodes to offer Cable access network vendors, MSOs, NEPs and Cable integrators our Mediant for Cable Gateways that are PacketCable qualified and are ready for interoperability with PacketCable compliant softswitches.