Suddenlink has been signed by Sigma Systems as its latest large MSO client for the firm’s voice and data provisioning system for businesses.
The two companies made a joint announcement in which they revealed Suddenlink has now deployed an enhanced version of Fulfillment System from Signma, which allows a cable operator to automate activation of data and voice services. The firms said that the product allows Suddenlink to fully integrate its SIP trunking, data and business voice services, including order entry, billing and delivery.
Suddenlink now sits alongside other large US-based MSOs, such as CableOne and Rogers Communications, as a business service customer. Sigma further works with other Western Europe and North American telcos and cable operators as business clients but has yet to disclose their identities.
Sigma VP of product management and marketing, Rick Mallon, said that the deployment is unique as it is the first which puts emphasis on larger enterprises, as well as small and medium sized businesses. In the last cases, only SMBs received any significant focus.
Suddenlink, according to Mallon, was in need of enterprise help as it has been managing to sign, on average, one large firm a week as it is expanding its business services operation under a new president. He noted that each new large commercial customer is bringing in between 1,000 and 2,000 employee phone lines along with it.
Mallon said: “It’s easy to say you’re going to cover large businesses, but it’s very hard to do.”
Mallon went on to say that technical interfaces used by larger business are more complex, noting that multi-site support is needed and that more complicated support is required for their transactions.
Sigma has 10 telcos and cable operators worldwide, each with strong prospects for OSS contracts as eight are in need of commercial help. Mallon expects that two or three of them will be signed up by 2014.
