Level 3, Williams move to packet

Migration from circuit to packet lets service providers stand out from the crowd, especially when it comes to voice over packet. The latest carriers adding to the hype of voice over packet are Level 3 Communications and Williams Communications. While Level 3 unveiled voice-over-IP service, Williams, on a similar track, began the switch to packet.

Increased competition among local and long-distance carriers has led to the rush to packet, said Jennifer Pigg, senior vice president for The Yankee Group. "They are looking for ways to differentiate themselves based on features, functionality and ease of use."

Ease of use was a main factor in Level 3's decision to offer voice over IP, said Kevin O'Hara, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Level 3. When Level 3 unveiled voice over IP last week, the carrier promised no changes to provider equipment or end user behavior.

Level 3 will carry voice over its long haul IP network, using Lucent Technologies' softswitch to connect the calls into a local carrier's network.

Although the migration may be transparent to the end user, packet-switched networks allow carriers to offer low-cost voice services by sending voice over IP, frame relay or ATM, Pigg said.

Williams will take the ATM route for its packet network. The carrier plans to evolve to packet over the next few years, using Sonus Networks' GSX9000 open services switch, said Paul Savill, vice president of network planning for Williams.

Sonus is one of several up-and-coming vendors getting a lot of attention for enabling carriers' entrance into the packet world at a lower cost than Lucent and Nortel Networks, Pigg said.

Packet-based platforms are the way to go economically, regardless of vendor, O'Hara said. While a circuit switch's price performance doubles in 80 months, the price performance of an IP-based platform doubles in 20 months, he said.