IP Networks In Final Stages of Transformation

The final stages of IP Network rollout is the transformation of the subscriber portion of the public switched telephone network. After much delay, this final upgrade is happening, but not before much pressure was placed and a change in strategy from opex savings to strategic capex investment.

Whilst initial softswitch deployments, referred to as 'Class 5 replacement', focused operationally on preserving the same features offered over the TDM infrastructure and delivering them over IP; the current phase is more focused on innovative applications.

With soft switches phasing out, operators adopting an IMS-based session control model, large equipment vendors are better able to offer multiple IP transformation scenarios.

With IMS is the final goal for most carriers; vendors can support both a direct migration from TDM to IMS, as well as a two-step migration from TDM via next-generation network (NGN) to IMS.

The questions operators will now be asking are:

How will the migration from Class 5 technology to an all-IP infrastructure affect product development plans in terms of:

• market growth
• marketing messages
• product roadmaps

How will the transformation away from Class 5 services affect next-gen service and technology deployments?

• key migration pain points to avoid
• factoring in existing infrastructure investments
• will current suppliers deliver the best options, if not, who will?
  

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