Sonus expands softswitch role with new architecture

Sonus Networks today launched a new version of its Open Services Architecture that rolls in several additional capabilities to its existing GSX9000 Open Service Switch and Insignus Softswitch.

Among the most significant improvements is the addition of peering, calling carriers to connection with each other’s IP networks without converting calls to circuit switch formats. Indeed, Sonus is trying to develop a new category of product—the network border switch, in part based its softswitches’ ability to peer. Additionally, the new packet-to-packet interface lets service providers use IP as the interface of choice to enterprise customers.

"For the most part, the way the carriers connect to the outside world is still relatively the same," said Bob Dye, vice president of strategic marketing for Westford, Mass.-based Sonus. "Carriers are looking to push the IP part of the network all the way to the end."

Sonus’ GSX9000/Insignus combination is targeted at those carriers that have previously cobbled together a multiple single-box solution. Among the laundry list of capabilities in the new equipment: network address translation (NAT) and topology hiding, access control via pinhole firewall, denial of service protection, bandwidth and QoS theft protection, signaling-based admission control, and SIP and H.323 proxy.

"This is really just a natural extension of the next gen switch," Dye said. "The fewer boxes you have the more cost effective it is and the easier it is to operate."

At the same time Sonus, which is providing softswitches to Qwest and AT&T among others, is trying to head off the competition, which has been heading in this direction for the past several months. Emergent, for instance, has been offering a combined session border controller/softswitch for most of the year, said Nathan Franzmeier, CEO of Emergent.

"I’m not trying to battle [the trend]," he said. "One of the up-sells for us is maybe you just need softswitch capabilities now, but if you have session controller issues later we can provide the whole package."