IP Interconnect Market - Is the UK showing the way?

The global telecommunications industry has grown and thrived due to competition benefiting the consumer through new services and competitive tariffs. However, none of this would be possible without the ability of competing networks operators to interconnect their networks. Operators have traditionally handed off PSTN traffic to one another via a number of interconnect switches, but with the migration to all-IP networks, that is about to change.

The United Kingdom is about to become the first market where VoIP interconnection will be introduced and regulated. The interconnect infrastructure will mimic the capabilities of today's PSTN and, in some cases, exceed it. This pioneering move in the UK was catalysed by British Telecom's announcement of their 21st Century Network program - the migration of their PSTN network to carry voice and multimedia traffic over an all-IP infrastructure. An all-IP infrastructure naturally demands an all-IP interconnect strategy.

This move has in turn stimulated other operators to accelerate their own plans for IP networks and IP interconnect. Plans are in place for interconnect trials between major UK operators in 2006, with some operators having a national interconnect structure in place by before the end of 2006. Interconnection signalling will be via SIP-I (SIP Integrated Services User Part).

All service providers, fixed and mobile, have an opportunity to contribute to the development of the interconnect standards via the controlling body - the National Interoperability Consultative Committee (NICC), of which Newport Networks is a contributing member.

Newport has been heavily focussed on the requirements placed on session border controllers in the interconnect environment since 2004.

SBCs located at interconnection points must perform a number of administrative and security related functions. Topology hiding is required to prevent details of one carrier network from 'leaking' into a peer network. Quality of Service information must be remapped to ensure consistent quality between multiple networks. Protection must be provided from Denial of Service attacks at the IP level and from SIP signalling or media abuse. Accurate accounting information must be provided on both signalling and media streams to ensure that settlements can be promptly and accurately generated.

Newport has been highly active in the development of the UK interconnect market and is helping operators in other markets develop their interconnect strategies when they migrate to an all IP based network. If you need additional information on Newport Networks interconnect solutions please email sales@newport-networks.com.

More information about Newport Networks can be found at www.newport-networks.com.