Adtran Debuts Ethernet Switch for VoIP over Legacy Cable

Adtran, a provider of networking and communications equipment, has released the NetVanta 1235P Ethernet Switch with ActivReach, designed specifically for voice applications.

According to the company, the NetVanta 1235P supports 10/100 Mbps voice, data and power over Ethernet (PoE) using legacy voice-grade wiring, such as CAT5 or CAT3 Ethernet cable or legacy copper cable. The company is marketing the product as a solution for enhanced voice-over-IP (VoIP) deployments in older buildings, where cost or construction prohibit running new Ethernet cable to support high-definition voice and video communications.

The NetVanta 1235P uses the company's ActivReach technology. According to ADTRAN, ActivReach "extends Ethernet reach up to 488 meters (1,600 feet)" without the need for repeaters, compared to traditional Ethernet technology that has a maximum reach of 100 meters and requires repeaters to extend that reach. ActivReach is intended to help organizations serve a wider service area with a single Ethernet switch.

According to information on the company's site, key features of the NetVanta 1235P Ethernet Switch with ActivReach include:

  • 28 Ethernet ports with support for Layer2/3-lite switching;
  • 24 copper ports supporting both standard 10/100Base-T and ActivReach Ethernet technology;
  • Two small form-factor pluggable (SFP) uplink ports capable of 1 Gbps operation and two enhanced SFP ports capable of up to 2.5 Gbps operation;
  • Support for link layer discovery protocol (LLDP), LLDP media endpoint discovery (LLDP-MED) and voice virtual LANs; and
  • Support for IEEE 802.3af PoE, legacy PoE and PoE over ActivReach.

Further information about the NetVanta 1235P Ethernet Switch with ActivReach can be found on Adtran's site.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

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