Washington DC-based Hughes Network Systems Inc, the networking subsidiary of GM Hughes Electronics Corp, has launched its Radiant range of wide area networking switches which, according to the company, add asynchronous transfer mode-type management features to Frame Relay networks. Hughes says its software prioritizes network traffic by using SVC Switched Virtual Circuit. This is enabled by the company’s Compass routing software which bundles SVCs and PVC Permanent Virtual Circuits onto one virtual circuit, reducing switching in the network core. Additional Streaming software enables the use of SVCs even in non SVC compatible switches on the network. A SVC is based around a packet switched temporary connection as opposed to leased line, point to point connections that remain constantly connected. According to Hughes, this makes the use of SVC less expensive per bit of data transferred. Hughes is targeting telecommunications resellers who lease lines from larger telcommunications companies and need cost effective network traffic, Hughes also will add ISDN capabilities to the Radiant range by next year. The product range comprises the BX5000 a 3.5Gbps ATM/Frame edge switch, the IX500 a 1.2Gbps Frame access switch, and the IX200 and RX50 Frame accesses devices. The products can handle multiple protocols including X.25, SNA Systems Network Architecture and IP Internet Protocol, and are available now, prices from $1,800.
