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FCC’s Take on IP-Interconnection for VoIP Essay example

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VoIP technology provides voice services similar to that of TDM technology over IP based network. VoIP service providers need access to the PSTN to terminate calls to recipients not subscribed to the VoIP provider’s service. They have to pay PSTN operators for call switching and routing to terminate the calls. The telephony provider has to interconnect its network with other networks in order to deliver numerous customers at home and offices as well as provide valuable network for businesses. Interconnection results in end-to-end connectivity for provisioning of services to enable communication. Today’s telecommunication networks are moving beyond the traditional PSTN into IP networks which are the next-generation networks (NGN). PSTN and …show more content…

With this paper, I would like to provide a brief overview of IP-interconnection; the issues in IP- interconnection and suggest my views on the possible measures that FCC could adopt. Understanding Interconnection The current scenario of VoIP requires conversion of IP voice signals to TDM format to be used over traditional PSTN network. Thus, an interconnection between PSTN and IP is required. However, understanding of interconnection within PSTN and IP networks will provide a fair idea about the requirements for interconnection in each network. Within PSTN network, the service layer and transport layer functions are not separate as in case of only IP networks. The physical interconnection for PSTN is decided by the nature of service to be provided and thus these two functions are interdependent while in IP, the transport and service functions form a part of separate layers in TCP/IP model. This difference in the basic core structure has to be considered to interconnect these two different kinds of networks. Figure 1 Interconnection between PSTN and IP based network. Adapted from GSR 2009 (Gelvanovska, Alden, 2009, P.5) The above diagram gives a brief idea about the blocks required for the interconnection. Direct communication between PSTN and IP based networks is not possible owing to the differences in their method

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