Westell Introduces eSmartJack™ Ethernet Network Interface Device (E-NID) for Cellular Backhaul

eSmartJack™ allows service providers to easily transition backhaul from T1 to Ethernet

AURORA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL)(“Westell”), a leading provider of broadband products, outside plant telecommunications equipment and conferencing services, today announced that it has released its eSmartJack™ Ethernet network interface device (E-NID), giving communications service providers a highly flexible and effective option for transitioning their wireless backhaul from T1 to Ethernet.

The eSmartJack™ model NI8002 is the latest addition to Westell’s expanding eSmartAccess™ family of Ethernet products. It features the same plug-and-play functionality as Westell’s widely used and field-proven SmartJack™ T1 network interface unit (NIU) service demarcation device. This modular design allows backhaul providers to plug the Ethernet eSmartJack directly into 200/400 industry standard mechanics housings, including Westell’s existing CellPak® outdoor enclosure. The eSmartJack delivers all of the performance monitoring and fault isolation functionality of the original SmartJack, plus the addition of Westell’s SiteVu™ telemetry system – all at GigE speed.

The Westell “SiteVu Secure” remote monitoring system included in the eSmartJack E-NID provides systems operators and managers with complete visibility to remote-site environmental and equipment status, taking situational awareness beyond standard SNMP information. SiteVu features include internal temperature monitoring, external temperature probe input, input voltage level monitoring, A/B voltage monitoring, and two external telemetry inputs for doors, power supplies and other external sources.

“The cellular backhaul market is quickly transitioning to Ethernet as bandwidth usage explodes,” said Brian Powers, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Westell’s OSPlant Systems Division. “Westell’s new eSmartJack provides operators with a simple, compact and highly cost-effective choice for delivering Ethernet in cell backhaul. In addition, this product’s modular ‘plug-n-play’ design provides telco operators with tremendous installation speed and flexibility.”

With Westell CellPak enclosures already approved and field-deployed at tens of thousands of cell sites across North America, wireline telco operators can capitalize on installed infrastructure and accelerate their transition from T1 to Ethernet cell backhaul by using the eSmartJack. Plugging an eSmartJack into an existing Westell CellPak enables telco operators to immediately deliver both T1 and Ethernet service. With both copper and optical interfaces, the eSmartJack is ideal for telco operators who are aggressively rolling out fiber to the cell site.

The Ethernet eSmartJack is designed especially for “edge” Radio Access Network-Base Station (RAN-BS) applications on the perimeter of the network where Cellular Radio devices are connected. This managed e-NID is MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) certified compliant for cellular backhaul and is temperature hardened -40°C to +85°C.

About Westell

Westell Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, is a holding company for Westell, Inc. and Conference Plus, Inc. Westell, Inc. designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of broadband networking equipment, digital transmission products, remote monitoring tools, power distribution equipment, industrial-grade edge switches and demarcation products used by telecommunications service providers, utilities and other enterprises. Conference Plus, Inc. is a leading global provider of audio, web, video and IP conferencing services. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com and http://www.conferenceplus.com.

Westell Technologies, Inc.
Brian Cooper
Chief Financial Officer
630.375.4740
bcooper@westell.com

Source: Westell Technologies, Inc.

Released September 28, 2011