First out of the box with an end-to-end solution allowing voice carriers a means to migrate their networks to a packet-based paradigm, Lucent Technologies Inc. introduced a product portfolio targeted at new and incumbent operators.
Lucent’s R/Evolutionary Networking solution is based around the 7R/E Call Feature Server, which it said enables packet-based voice, data and services such as call waiting, 911 and three-way calling, with the same voice quality as today’s public networks. It is expected to begin shipping in the fourth quarter.
The solution includes the 7R/E Packet Driver, which evolves existing Lucent 5ESS switches for use in next-generation packet networks, allowing carriers to keep up to 80 percent of their existing circuit-switched hardware when migrating their network to a packet-based one.
Lucent said 7R/E “will deliver over packet networks virtually every service and feature available on today’s public network, with the same voice quality and reliability.”
“The 7R/E Call Feature Server is truly a breakthrough in that it unlocks all the features that are part of circuit switches for delivery over (Internet Protocol) or ATM networks,” said Frank D’Amelio, vice president of product management and marketing for Lucent’s Switching and Access Solutions Group. “We are merging the reliability and features of the 5ESS switch with the efficiency of packet networking. With this breakthrough using packet technology, we are bringing the seventh generation of switching to service providers, which is why we called it 7R/E.”
Analysts have listed several reasons to migrate to packet networks. First, to offer data over your network, it should be packet because packet data is a more efficient transmission model than circuit-switched.
Consulting firm Allied Business Intelligence suggests wireless carriers must embrace data in order to be considered equal to wireline carriers. Wireline carriers have watched the advent of the Internet result in half of their network traffic taking the form of data, which soon may overtake voice on a bit-for-bit basis. For wireless to compete, it must have the same capabilities.
Circuit-switched is not the way to go to achieve this, ABI said, because circuit-switched architecture takes up too much radio channel capacity that could be used for other things, forcing customers to pay for both the use of the channel as well as for the information sent. Packet data allows more efficient transmission of data, so customers pay only for the content, thereby allowing wireless carriers to offer prices more in line with their wireline competitors.
The second reason to go with packet is capacity. Packetized voice is much more spectrum-efficient, said ABI analyst Larry Swasey.
“If everything goes packet, it doesn’t matter how you configure your spectrum,” he said. “It allows you to use your full spectrum for your full services.”
An end-to-end, seamless packet solution for both voice and data also allows carriers to integrate their voice and data services.
Finally, to be a competitive carrier in the future, Swasey said carriers will have to have IP-based networks, and a packet solution is the way to provide this. “An end-to-end packet solution is going to make it easier to build an Internet-based network,” Swasey said. IP solutions allow carriers to send voice and data over the Internet and therefore charge less for transmission.
The need for packet infrastructure solutions is imminent. ABI sees 1999 as the year for testing this technology, with 2000 as the year commercial service is offered.
Nortel Networks and other infrastructure vendors are sure to come out with similar solutions soon, Swasey said.
By using open applications programming interface standards, such as IP, Lucent said the solution can accept software written by third-party application developers.
The R/Evolutionary Networking portfolio also includes the 7R/E Multi-Media Resource Server, which includes the latest generation of speech-recognition applications from Lucent Speech Solutions, the company said.
Additionally, the 7R/E One Link Manager acts as a single software application so providers may handle operations, administration and management across various network elements. Finally, the 7R/E Gateways can deliver narrowband and broadband packet access over channels such as cable, wireline, trunks, wireless and direct IP or ATM connections, the company said.
Lucent said the first wireless carrier expected to buy the 7R/E Packet Driver is Omnitel Pronto Italia Spa.
