Migration to

Softswitch Solutions

Paul Brittain
Product Manager, MetaSwitch

VON Europe 2003

London
June 11th 2003

AT THE HEART OF THE CONVERGED NETWORK

AGENDA

• Introduction
• Migration Models
• Access or core network
• Gateways vs. full Softswitch
• Business view

• Engineering challenges
• Firewalls/NAT hassles
• Reliability – how big should a Softswitch go?

• Philosophy!
INTRODUCTIONS

• Paul Brittain – Product Manager, MetaSwitch

• Responsible for worldwide product management and
European Sales

• MetaSwitch
• MetaSwitch VP3500 Next Generation Class 5 Switch
• Proven solution for broadband and legacy voice
• Nearly 30 deployments
• Division of Data Connection
• Leading independent provider of networking and
IP applications technology
• Privately-owned and self-funded - stable
• Consistently profitable since establishment in 1981
• 2002: Revenue $35M, Earnings $11M
• 275 employees in US and UK
MIGRATION MODELS

Various SS7
POTS / TDM / TDM
PSTN

Loop Legacy Class 4

Concentrator Class 5/LE Tandem
Switch Switch

• Simplified legacy network

MIGRATION MODELS

Various SS7 SIP or

POTS / TDM / TDM SS7/IP

Loop Legacy NGN

Concentrator Class 5/LE Tandem
Switch

• Technical view of migration:

• “Core-out” replaces tandem layer using SIP or just SS7/IP
MIGRATION MODELS

MGCP/H.248 MGCP/ SS7

or BLES H.248 Or SIP

IAD

VoB Legacy Class 4

Gateway Class 5/LE Tandem
Switch Switch

• Technical view of migration:

• “Core-out” replaces tandem layer using SIP or just SS7/IP
• “Edge-in” focus on local exchanges and access network
• Gateway solution possible
MIGRATION MODELS

MGCP/H.248 MGCP/ SS7

or SIP H.248 Or SIP

IAD or
IP Phone
BLC or Class 4/NGN
DSLAM VP3500 Tandem
NGN Class 5 Switch
Switch

• Technical view of migration:

• “Core-out” replaces tandem layer
• “Edge-in” focus on local exchanges and access network
• Gateway solution possible or full NGN
MIGRATION MODELS

MGCP/H.248 MGCP/ SS7

or SIP H.248 or SIP

IAD

BLC or Class 4
DSLAM VP3500 Tandem
NGN Class 5 Switch
Switch

• Technical view of migration:

• “Core-out” replaces tandem layer
• “Edge-in” focus on local exchanges and access network
• Gateway solution possible, or full NGN
• IP Phone/IADs or POTS via “Broadband Loop Carriers”
MIGRATION MODELS (1)

• Technical View
• Omitted distributed CA/MG/TG/SG options for clarity

• Business view
• Driven by network convergence savings
• Both capex and opex reduced using single voice/data network
• Biggest savings in the access network
• Carriers spend ~10x more on access equipment than on core
• Some carriers hitting urgent switch capacity issues
• In all cases, equipment and supplier must be reliable
SO WHAT WORKS?

• Core VoIP migration already happening

• Even just SS7/IP using gateways can be a benefit
• Only addresses small portion of installed PSTN network
• Much bigger savings via NGN access network
• Needs Class 5 softswitch with full regulatory features e.g.
Lawful Intercept for VoIP
• Totally IP-based solution right to customer premises
• Also solves issues with aging TDM concentrators
• Must have flexibility to deliver any service over any access
network type – including POTS phone!
• Minor Variations
• Leverage existing ATM network (if have one!)
• Can test the water using new services (e.g. flat-rate VoDSL)
or in new geographic areas
 CASE STUDY: FLEXIBLE DEPLOYMENT!

Next-Generation
IP / Cable eMTA
Class 5 Switch CMTS

PSTN

POTS
DLC

T1
IAD

ATM Switch

DSL

IAD
DSLAM
ENGINEERING CHALLENGES

• Firewalls & NAT

• Installed CPE routers mostly don’t support NAT for RTP in
SIP or MGCP headers
• Border Session Controllers can cure this
• Particular issue for wholesale carriers as their ISP
customers can have overlapping addresses

• Reliability limits
• Carrier class softswitches are, of course, reliable ☺
• In theory, can build a softswitch supporting millions of lines
or even a whole network – but where’s the survivability?
• Suggest limit single Call Agent domain to <= ~250k subs

• Codecs don’t deliver headline bitrates

• Lower bandwidth from IP – but with hit on delay &/or MOS
PHILOSOPHICAL MUSINGS

• Will softswitches replace the PSTN?

• Yes – but it will take 10-15 years.
• Will the NGN be a flat network?
• No. Reduced hierarchy, but still need routing between
softswitch domains.
• Will the future be totally mobile?
• No. Wireline quality will still be important in many markets

• Can all service intelligence migrate to edge devices?

• No. Try implementing a large Multiple Appearance
Directory Number service with peer SIP phones!
• Will VoIP avoid lawful intercept requirements?
• Sadly, not for long!