Level 3 to Cut More PBX, Legacy Services

Level 3 plans to discontinue more of its TDM-based voice services in the Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, metropolitan areas.

Level 3 is seeking permission from the Federal Communications Commission to discontinue the services on or around Nov. 4. In May, Level 3 sought FCC approval to discontinue the same TDM-based voice services in Portland effective on or around Aug. 25.

“Our goal is to help customers migrate to newer technologies at a pace they can manage,” said Christopher Smith, Level 3’s vice president of voice and UC. “It’s important to know, Level 3 continues to invest in and support both SIP and TDM voice services.”

Level 3 is upgrading its network, decommissioning legacy switches in certain parts of the country and updating them with new equipment, Smith said. Over the next several months, Level 3 will continue to submit filings with the FCC about decommissioning legacy TDM switches as it upgrades its network, he said.

Among the discontinued services are: analog PBX trunk service; basic business line service and flat business line service; business terminal service; digital PBX trunk service; direct inward dial (DID) service; primary rate ISDN (PRI) service; and the VersiPak product line.{ad}

Analog PBX trunk service provides a voice-grade telephonic communications channel that can be used to place or receive one call at a time. Digital PBX trunk service provides a DS1 connection between customer-provided PBX equipment or trunk-capable key systems and the Level 3 switch.

Customers in these service areas are being made aware of the upgrades and are either being moved to like products on newer TDM network technology or are being invited to migrate to different Level 3 product offers, the company said.

“The public convenience and necessity will not be adversely affected by the discontinuance of the services described herein,” said R. Edward Price, Level 3’s associate general counsel, regulatory affairs. “Advance notice has been provided to all affected customers, giving them ample time to arrange substitute services, which are readily available and include, but are not limited to, other services offered by applicant (Level 3 Telecom of Washington and Level 3 Telecom of Idaho) and its affiliate, Level 3 Communications.”

Voice Complete, Level 3’s go-forward global enterprise SIP trunking and business voice platform, supports both TDM and SIP signaling and devices while helping customers gain efficiencies and lower their overall cost of ownership, Smith said. In April, Level 3 announced the expansion of Voice Complete into five key Western European countries, and will continue to support both TDM and SIP-based connections for its multi-continent customers, he said.