Nortel NTK557QA E5 20G VT1.5/VC-12 Sync-ST3 Cross-Connect Card

The Nortel Networks NTK557QA is a high-performance cross-connect module designed for the OME 6500 (Optical Multiservice Edge) platform. This card provides a centralized switching fabric with a capacity of 20 Gbps, enabling efficient grooming and routing of TDM traffic at a granular level. It is specifically engineered to handle low-order sub-rate switching, supporting both VT1.5 (SONET) and VC-12 (SDH) virtual containers. This makes it a critical component for service providers managing diverse legacy voice and data circuits within a synchronized optical network.The NTK557QA incorporates an integrated Stratum 3 (ST3) compliant timing source, providing high-precision synchronization and holdover capabilities for the entire chassis. The board manages the synchronization of all installed line cards, ensuring jitter and wander are kept within strict industry tolerances. Its hardware architecture supports non-blocking switching, allowing any input port to be mapped to any output port without contention. The module is optimized for E5-level shelf deployments, where high-density aggregation of E1, T1, and DS3 signals into higher-order optical carriers is required.
Operational features include support for 1+1 redundant protection schemes, ensuring that traffic is hitlessly switched to a standby module in the event of a hardware failure. The NTK557QA performs continuous background diagnostics and parity checks to ensure the integrity of the switching fabric. It is fully manageable through the shelf's primary controller, allowing for remote provisioning of cross-connect paths and real-time monitoring of synchronization status. The card's hot-swappable design ensures that network capacity can be maintained or upgraded without interrupting active telecommunications services.