Convergence gets real

Long a discussion topic, convergence is moving into action. Some providers are now offering detailed plans of ushering voice into their data-centric worlds.

KMC Telecom, Level 3 Communications and Williams Communications recently have moved ahead with their migration plans. Level 3, which has been heavily involved with the Softswitch Consortium, recently announced its strategy for voice over IP using Lucent Technologies' softswitches. KMC also will use Lucent technology - the 7R/E Packet Solutions platform, its PathStar Access Server and Stinger access concentration device.

Although these competitive carriers are taking different approaches, all are pushing packets. They are forcing traditional equipment providers to move into the future, giving emerging vendors - who are combining technologies and functionality - myriad opportunities.

For example, Williams is making the switch to packet-based voice for cost, efficiency and competitive reasons. The carrier will use a combination of Lucent softswitches and Sonus Networks' GSX9000 open services switches. "The goal we have with our network is to deliver a very comprehensive set of services that enable our carrier customers to address larger markets than they would otherwise be able to do without their relationship with Williams," said Matt Bross, senior vice president and chief technical officer of Williams.

Much innovation has occurred in the Internet, IP and optical spaces, Bross said. During the last year, Williams has concentrated on optical restorable mesh architectures instead of Sonet rings. Now the innovation extends to network layers, not just technologies, he said. Williams has been combining development efforts in the optical layer of its network with those in the switching layer by leveraging multiservice aggregation. "The innovation at the switching layer of our network began by eliminating the need for digital cross-connect systems and replacing them with multiservice aggregation," Bross said. What takes up to 20 racks of equipment in a traditional cross-connect environment, Williams can implement in two racks, he added.

The shift is a big step for Williams and a big win for Sonus, said Tom Jenkins, senior consultant for TeleChoice. "It shows that they are comfortable enough to use [outsourcing] with their carrier customers, not just themselves."

With the network and equipment innovations, Williams plans to deliver switched voice services, dial and private line Internet connectivity, frame relay, ATM and professional services to help carrier customers execute the services. The benefit is more services.

"The Sonus equipment lets us offer services that were not comprehensible before," Bross said. Because the Sonus equipment separates the intelligence of the switch from the hardware, Williams will be able to offer a tailored set of services, which was hard to create when the intelligence was based in the switch.

"One of the reasons Sonus was successful at Williams was [its product's] ability to simply connect to the existing network infrastructure at the ATM core and to the [Nortel] DMS-250 switch," Bross said.

Still, innovation has only gone so far, and carriers want more. "With the blurring of local and long-distance, we would like to see more Class 4 and Class 5 integration within the switch capability so there is no need to deploy two different switches," Bross said.

Significant challenges also exist in the operations support system. "We want to give a view of the switch resources that are being consumed by a customer to that customer," Bross said. As Williams looked at the emerging packet-based technologies, "Sonus was the one that convinced us they could [address the operational issues], but is that done? No, it is not," Bross said.

That means Williams will continue using and testing products from other suppliers. "They will definitely keep a multivendor approach," Jenkins said. "Look for Williams to pick a media gateway [vendor] soon."