XConnect adds mobile operator support to hi-definition voice exchange

XConnect announced today that its high-definition voice service exchange now supports AMR-wideband codecs, the type typically used by mobile operators—as well as transcoding between AMR-wideband and G.722 codecs, the type typically used by fixed operators.

“We’re in conversations with at least two to three [mobile] network operators who have deployed HD and are looking for us to provide an interconnect mechanism to enable them to route to fixed providers as well as other mobile networks,” said Vinay Tanna, head of marketing for XConnect, in an interview.

XConnect’s HD voice exchange has been operational since 2010, supporting connectivity between fixed operators. Traditionally these have been “very much hosted VoIP, unified communications-type service providers,” said Tanna.

Mobile operators are just beginning to deploy HD voice because HD voice requires IP communications and 2G and 3G mobile networks do not use IP for voice communications, Tanna explained.

Service is ENUM-based
Underlying XConnect’s HD voice exchange is a database directory based on ENUM. Service providers participating in the exchange do a database lookup for HD calls to determine whether the dialed number is in the database. If it is, the call is routed through the exchange—in HD if the carrier serving the called party supports that capability. If the number is not in XConnect’s database, XConnect returns a message saying that the number is not in the exchange and the service providers complete the call according to their own rules, Tanna explained. Typically this would mean that the call would be completed using standard rather than HD voice technology.