Nashville-based IRIS Networks, a wholesale carriers carrier, has completed implementation of its tandem switch, providing another choice in tandem services to rural member companies across Tennessee.

The IRIS switch provides additional revenue opportunity for our rural members and a more cost-effective tandem alternative for carriers needing access to rural telephone companies, says Ellen Bryson, chief manager of IRIS Networks. The IRIS network allows rural telephone company members to use their own network to transport carrier traffic to and from the IRIS tandem instead of sending the traffic over joint facilities to a BellSouth tandem.

The IRIS tandem switches phone calls from local telephone company areas to long-distance carriers in Nashville. The tandem is switching about 48 million minutes per month of traffic from nine local telephone companies and 38 long-distance carriers. With a phased implementation, the IRIS tandem generated approximately $1.4 million in additional revenue in 2003 and is expected to generate at least $5 million in 2004.

Throughout the next year, we expect to see the tandem numbers steadily increase and anticipate an additional 10 million minutes per month from various other carriers, Bryson says. The switch will generate additional revenue for member companies and provide a new revenue stream for IRIS Networks.