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Satisfying communication needs for end-customers, softswitches are
carrier-class servers that control voice-based phone calls across the line of
circuit and packet-switched networks. The open-ended application-programming
interface of softswitches is perhaps the most important part of this product
segment and is helping stakeholders of the telecom ecosystem in terms of
supporting new services.
Though these softswitches have not completely replaced hard or time division
multiplexing (TDM) switches, they have certainly joined the mainstream now. The
service provider or operator's perception about the technology has gradually
evolved over the last couple of years and they have developed confidence in
softswitches after some successful trials around the country. They are now
coming-up with request for proposal's (RFP) and tenders to actually increase
capacity and replace the existing TDM switches which have reached end of line (EoL).
Together with media gateways, softswitches would be a key to replacement of
TDM switches in the public telephone networks.
First deployment of the softswitch took place during late 1990's in USA after
the US government passed its Telecommunications Act 1996.
Global acceptance
British Telecom's coveted 21st century network project expected to achieve
op-ex savings, improved service offering and increased efficiency by migrating
to IP infrastructure entirely for voice and data services. China Telecom's plan
to move to softswitch-based next generation network (NGN) is another example of
a service provider embracing this technology.
In China, Shanghai Netcom has deployed softswitches as has Brazilian operator
VIVO. Australian incumbent Telstra is also all set to use softswitches and media
gateways in its VoIP-over-broadband trials.
Softswitches reduce a lot of hardware, which saves operators a lot of real
estate cost. Compared to the TDM world, where everything is proprietary,
softswitches are all about open standards. The proprietary nature of TDM switch
ensured that service creation was impossible without vendor support. This is one
of the reasons why new service creation is always a long drawn process in the
TDM world. On the other hand, service creation in a softswitch environment is
purported to be easy, fast and endless too. Service providers become independent
of vendors and thereby gain more control over service creation.
Currently all the major softswitch vendors including new entrants like UT
Starcom have positioned their softswitch platform in India. The soft-switches
are required not only to provide VoIP but also to interface with the existing
TDM infrastructure and be able to connect to the legacy PSTN and PLMN networks.
The prevalence of broadband connectivity combined with the distributed
nature of softswitch will help the operators to expand in a scalable manner.
Also the reduction in the ILD/NLD license fees by 10 percent in India has
created a viable opportunity for many new operators intending to provide C4 NLD
services.
Ashiwini Kumar, Director-Sales Engineering, UT Starcom said, “UTStarcom has
been working with all the major operators in India to provide
cutting edge technology. For NGN solution also, we have been involved with all
the operators in the country. We provide an end-to-end solution starting from
access to core network along with the application layer. We look forward to a
large deployment base in India in the coming year.”
The hurdle that is coming in the way of large-scale deployment is the absence
of clear-cut regulations.
Benefits
The enterprise market is very well suited for the softswitch environment.
Applications like Centrex, Wide Area Centrex, Virtual Number and many
more will be highly beneficial. The capability to route STD and ISD calls over
IP will greatly reduce the OPEX for the enterprises.
In India, while only Tata Teleservices has deployed a softswitch (Motorola
softswitch for CDMA (MSS-C) on its CDMA2000 1x network at Nagpur in Maharashtra),
other operators have also been doing trials with different vendors. UTStarcom is
doing a CDMA softswitch pilot with a private operator. So is Tekelec, which is
trying out a combination of class 4 and class 5 MSC with some operators in
India. The incumbent BSNL too is now interested in the softswitch technology.
In remote areas since the infrastructure is scarce, expensive and teledensity
is low the costs of deploying wired-line solutions are simply enormous. The
Packet Shaper Technologies' approach for proliferating Internet telephony by
deploying softswitch and WiMax technology is an ideal cost-effective solution
for the full range of modern rural telephony needs.
Why softswitch and WiMax technologies?
Softswitchs are inexpensive, easy to deploy and maintain. While WiMax technology
provides a right mix of bandwidth and economies of scale, WiMax base stations
are optimized for low-density deployment, particularly in the rural areas where
it is the most cost-effective solution to fill in coverage holes in DSL and
cable networks. This will enable rural residents to be a part of the burgeoning
VoIP drive and save money by converging voice and data networks.
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