December 4, 2001

NGN Migration StrategiesNGN Migration Strategies

Tony DownesMetaSwitch

td@metaswitch.com

The MetaSwitch PerspectiveThe MetaSwitch Perspective

• A division of Data Connection (DCL)• 20-year history providing core technology to major

vendors (Cisco, Lucent, Nortel, …) and service providers (Verizon, SBC, BT, …)

• Technology “agnostic”• IP, ATM, SS7, …• Whatever works and meets the customer need

• MetaSwitch VP3000• NextGen Class 5

• Broadband (VoIP/VoATM) and Legacy PSTN access

NGN MigrationNGN Migration

• It’s obvious…• Reduced capex, reduced operational costs

• Network convergence – one network for voice and data

• New service opportunities

• But how to get there?• Multiple architectural models?• Immature and evolving standards?

• Concerns about reliability• Concerns about vendor staying power

• How to minimize capex, maximize returns

Key IssuesKey Issues

• Location of service intelligence?

• Open and mature standards

• Convergence of access network

• Convergence of backbone network

• Integration with legacy POTS and PSTN• Analog POTS + DLCs• SS7/TDM, 911, 1-800, LNP, CALEA, …

• Ready to deploy?

• Vendor stability?

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– LegacyLegacy

• Stick with Legacy Class 4 and 5• Also known as “do nothing for now”

• Pro• Proven technology

• Relatively cheap to buy (now)

• Con• High operations costs

• Multiple data and voice networks

• Limited opportunity for new services• Strategy for future?

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– GreenfieldGreenfield

• Softswitch + distributed architecture + IP phones…

• Pro• No pre-existing infrastructure

• Con• Standards are still being defined

• “Interoperability islands” + Risk of vendor lock-in

• Limited management tools?

• Legal requirements to integrate – e.g. 911?• Reliability of equipment

• Stability of vendors

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– NGN Class 4NGN Class 4

PSTN

Packet Backbone

SS7 signaling / TDM trunksPacket voice (SIP+RTP)Analog voice (POTS)

Class 5

NGN Class 4

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– NGN Class 4NGN Class 4

• Incremental migration to NGN Class 4s

• Pro• Technology is largely proven

• Exploits packet backbone

• Con• Backbone protocols still have proprietary elements• Does not help with NGN access

• Service intelligence is still in PSTN (Class 5s)

• Doubtful migration – Can vendors build NGN Class 5?

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– Voice over BroadbandVoice over Broadband

PSTN

SS7 signaling / TDM trunksGR-303 / TR-008Internet (data)

Class 5

Packet Backbone

VoBGateway

DSLAMIAD

Broadband data + voice (VoIP, VoATM)

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– Voice over BroadbandVoice over Broadband

• First generation Voice over Broadband Gateways

• Pro• Standards do exist (ATM Forum BLES)

• IADs, DSLAMs and Gateways do interoperate

• Converged access network

• Con• Does not address legacy access

• Does not help with NGN backbone

• Service intelligence is still in PSTN (Class 5s)• Doubtful migration - Can vendors build NGN Class

5?

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– NGN Class 5NGN Class 5

PSTN

SS7 signaling / TDM trunksPacket voice (SIP+RTP)Internet (data)

MetaSwitchVP3000

Packet Backbone

DSLAM/ Router

IAD

Broadband data + voice (VoIP, VoATM)

PBX

DLC

GR-303 / TR-008Analog voice (POTS)

NGN Migration NGN Migration –– NGN Class 5NGN Class 5

• Pro• Converged access

• Broadband VoIP and VoATM• Legacy POTS and DLCs

• Converged backbone – PSTN and Packet

• Full range of Class 5 intelligence – features, routing, …

• Integration with PSTN – 911, 1-800, LNP, CALEA, …

• Con• Can the vendors deliver?• Do the vendors have staying power?

NGN Migration NGN Migration -- ConclusionConclusion

• NGN will happen…• Technology is emerging

• Will take longer than we think!

• Strategy?• Pro’s and Con’s to most strategies• NGN Class 5 is best strategy

• Service providers need to be smart

• MetaSwitch VP3000• Genuine deployable NGN Class 5• MetaSwitch is solid stable vendor

www.metaswitch.com/whitepapers/