Accelerate Lucent s Voice over IP Solutions for Service Provider Networks

Accelerate Lucent s Voice over IP Solutions for Service Provider Networks Accelerates carriers ability to rapidly deploy the enhanced services that consumers and enterprises desire today Lucent s VoIP applications enable service providers to differentiate their services, helping to reduce customer churn and effectively increase revenue per customer This white paper addresses: The value of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Key VoIP applications Lucent s Service Intelligent Accelerate solutions for networks The Lucent Advantage for delivering on the value of VoIP

Contents Introduction...3 Delivering the Value in VoIP...3 Opening the Door to New Revenue...3 VoIP Applications...4 Addressing the VoIP Demand...5 Accelerate Solutions for Service Provider Networks...5 At the Application Layer...6 At the Session and Call Control Layer...7 At the Transport Layer...7 Complete Network Operations and Professional Services Support...8 Partnership Programs...9 The Accelerate Solution Advantage...9 Conclusion...10 Glossary...11 About Lucent Technologies...12 2

Introduction Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) holds the promise of providing customers with exciting new end user features and services while reducing costs. Today, enterprises continue to seek VoIP solutions from a multitude of vendors. Similarly, residential customers with broadband access can choose from a wide range of VoIP providers. The question remains what are the long-term enduring values of VoIP that can be leveraged for sustainable cost and revenue advantages? This paper provides an overview of Lucent s Accelerate program that recognizes the increasing value of VoIP and discusses Lucent s solutions for delivering on this value. Delivering the Value in VoIP Lucent s Accelerate VoIP strategy delivers more value over IP on nextgeneration and converged networks and is designed to place carriers on the fast track to new revenue-generating services whether that means adding capabilities to an existing circuit-driven network or building a Greenfield, softswitch-driven network. There are Accelerate solutions for wireline and mobile operators that include next-generation voice and data systems, software applications and professional services to meet specific network needs. Accelerate solutions can generate new VoIP revenue and increase profitability by: Enabling service providers to win new business from enterprises and consumers through the rapid delivery of new voice and data applications such as unified communications, collaboration, click-to functionality, speech-to-text and IP Centrex Increasing return on investment (ROI), leveraging existing networks while deploying next-generation solutions where it makes economic sense Delivering operational support, end-to-end security, and a full scope of expert services, from design and planning to maintenance and support. Opening the Door to New Revenue Revenues and margins in service providers traditional businesses are under pressure. Service providers are looking for the key that opens the door to new revenue. The key depends on finding the right applications, and the right way to enable and deliver those applications to end-users. The ongoing battle to gain a share of the telecom wallet includes spending on Internet, long distance, local, wireless, and cable. Wireless displacement and next- generation network convergence are the leading strategies being pursued by many wireline service providers. Wireless and cable operators are aggressively going on the offense to win new customers. Wireless LAN technology growth offers complementary coverage to cellular for mobility, and can be used as a limited mobility solution for wireline carriers that don t have mobile operator partners. Wireless Local Number Portability (LNP) is expected to be a major market disruptor and stimulant to churn, especially for incumbent wireline operators. 3

VoIP Applications Both consumers and businesses are calling for services that unify the multitude of communications mechanisms and increase productivity enabling users to do more with less time and resources. Basic voice and data communications will remain the number one revenue generating application for service providers. Other key areas for service providers to address include: Retaining the reliability, quality, and reach of existing voice networks Taking advantage of new opportunities for operator value-add over basic voice through efficiency, personal productivity enhancements (e.g. scheduling, collaboration) that can be offered via VoIP and enhanced with other forms of communication (text, pictures, video) and information (presence, availability, location) Facilitating the use of new revenue-generating services to address a large percent of the untapped market potential. The youth market will adapt easily to a difficult user interface if there is a cool factor, but opportunity exists to enhance busy adult lifestyles with new revenue-generating services that are easy to use and can improve efficiency. Enabling seamless user access to these key services independent of their selected network technology (e.g., number portability) Whether users are managing a business or a sports league, they want productivity enhancers regardless of the network access method for example, access from a PC, mobile device, home phone, office or hotel locations, etc. However, mobility is no longer just wireless: Users want seamless access to their service from multiple devices PC/Internet, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), cell phone, office phone, etc. Wireless LAN technology offers cost effective in-building coverage for voice and data as a complement to third generation (3G) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile service, and it is a natural companion to broadband data. VoIP and multimedia services offer additional revenue generating potential to 3G, Wireless LAN technology and broadband transport offerings, and the flexibility to rapidly create new converged services that work seamlessly across all these access types. Different devices and access methods have a different ability to carry rich information, and the network needs to be aware of how a user is accessing the network to provide the most relevant information. Presence, availability, and location improve the level of service that applications can deliver to users. Security and privacy considerations must be taken into account across the solution as the services are offered across multiple access techniques with varying levels of protection. 4

Addressing the VoIP Demand The above demands promote opportunities for such applications as Instant Messaging (IM), Multimedia Portals, IP Centrex, Unified Communications, Video Collaboration, and Short Message Service (SMS). These are applications that integrate voice and data, providing a way to benefit from offering these two together rather than separately. The question is, how should service providers address this opportunity effectively? The answer is with Voice over IP and next-generation voice networking. It is becoming increasingly clear that VoIP is no longer a niche opportunity but is rapidly moving into the mainstream. Lucent believes that lowering operational costs is widely understood to be a given. The differentiator therefore is what Lucent can deliver to service providers to help them increase their revenues. At Lucent, the V in VoIP indicates more than just voice. It indicates value delivering the value that customers and end-users demand, a value that will differentiate service providers network services from competitive alternatives. Increasing demand for VoIP* Domestic and international wholesale VoIP originating in North America increased from 14 billion minutes in 2002 to 26 billion minutes in 2003 By 2007, it is estimated that the majority of North American carriers will have migrated a significant portion of their traffic to VoIP In 2002, VoIP calling card/prepaid traffic represented only about 16% of total prepaid wireline traffic in North America. By 2007, VoIP is estimated to account for 70% of all prepaid traffic in North America. Lucent s Accelerate solutions deliver value over IP through applications that enhance a user s life and can help service providers increase revenue. This is a strategy supported by a robust portfolio of applications, products and solutions that can drive VoIP services and revenues for new or existing networks, enabling the enhanced applications that service providers need today. For service providers, this clearly defined strategy can deliver the services users want, when and where they want them. Accelerate solutions incorporate systems, software and services with built-in service intelligence, security and reliability. Accelerate solutions are specifically designed to enable service providers to speed to market the new and enhanced services their customers demand and expect. Accelerate Solutions for Service Provider Networks In the service provider s network, Accelerate VoIP solutions will provide: Service delivery in a consistent manner, spanning wireline and wireless networks A simple to operate network with automated provisioning and activation that gives subscribers flexibility and control A Service Intelligent network architecture where the needed services are deployed and interfaces are open, enabling future service enhancements Lucent s Accelerate VoIP portfolio of solutions removes the confusion and risk that can be associated with investing in a VoIP strategy and its implementation. * Elka Popova, Frost & Sullivan, 2003 VoIP Services, Timeframe and Characteristics of Carrier Deployment of VoIP and IP Telephony. 5

At the Application Layer Lucent s service delivery architecture adds Service Intelligent value to new and existing wireline and wireless networks. The architecture is based on the emerging Third Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) standards, which enable access-agnostic services so users can get the services they want, where they want, and with the device of their choice. Several wireless and wireline operators are adopting this standard approach to VoIP and multimedia services to provide efficient use of their network infrastructure and to speed time to market for new applications. Lucent is offering a truly converged wireless and wireline service delivery architecture centered on the Lucent Softswitch (LSS). Lucent s application enablers simplify the path to new applications by providing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that enable easy creation of innovative applications by Lucent as well as 3rd party software developers. Lucent s key application enablers for VoIP services include the: Lucent EBS Communications Manager, which supports desktop convergence so carriers can offer customers one window to voice and data applications, including new IP Centrex, services. AnyPath Messaging system, which can integrate new media-rich applications with voice messaging capabilities. PacketIN Application Hosting Environment (AHE), which supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) VoIP applications as well as legacy IN protocols for interworking with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and existing mobile networks. As a high availability application server platform, PacketIN AHE is designed to enable rapid development of applications that can reside on it in the network. MiLife Intelligent Services Gateway (ISG), an OSA/Parlay gateway that makes it easy for Internet and VoIP application developers to design and build innovative applications that can securely leverage information that is available from the operator s network, such as user location, presence, availability, and call control. MiLife SurePay prepaid solution and e-commerce gateway, an industry leading prepaid billing solution that enables prepay as well as spending limits and micro billing for non-telephony transactions and content. Flexent Super Distributed Home Location Register (S-DHLR), a nextgeneration home location register that supports ANSI-41 and Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks. It evolves to be a standards-compliant home subscriber server that consolidates user data and authentication for multiple access methods including public Wireless LAN technology hot spots, and keeps a central repository of user data associated with many applications. Lucent Softswitch (LSS), as a telephony application server, the LSS provides the basic voice capabilities for Lucent s UMTS mobile switching center, as well as Class 5 services and custom calling features that will enable services to work seamlessly across wireless and wireline networks. And a very large suite of other value added revenue-generating applications supporting both circuit switch and VoIP networks. 6

At the Session and Call Control Layer The LSS is at the heart of the Accelerate portfolio of Voice over IP products. It is a high availability multimedia call control platform that supports SIP as well as legacy PSTN protocols to enable interworking between VoIP and legacy telephony networks. Lucent has pioneered advances in mobile voice coder management on the LSS to improve the quality of mobile VoIP calls and reduce operational expenses in their backbone networks (transcoder-free operation). The LSS also provides a host of wireline applications supporting local VoIP subscriber, tandem and toll services. The LSS has the capability to interwork a wide range of VoIP protocols including SIP, H.323 and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP). For existing Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)-based voice networks, the 5E-XC IP-enabled switch provides integrated, high capacity IP trunking interfaces and a SIP-based IP feature support to enable Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) endpoint integration into next-generation networks. Small scale loop-based voice applications can utilize the igen Compact Switch to deliver complete class 5 functionality on a pack, with the industryleading 99.999% reliability. When combined with an integrated VoIP packet interface, the igen Compact Switch provides a way to efficiently integrate POTS endpoints into a next-generation VoIP core network. As part of the Lucent Technologies Accelerate mobility products portfolio, Lucent has introduced the new Flexent packet switch for CDMA 2000 IP core evolution. The Flexent switch is a true packet switch, based on Ethernet technology, and is the first platform to evolve existing 5E-XC switch and Mobile Switching Center (MSC) elements, providing network packet evolution. This enables providers to reuse existing network components while increasing both capacity and coverage, and decreasing the existing footprint. At the Transport Layer Lucent s new Intelligent Media Gateway (IMG) connects standard telephones to either the traditional voice network or a VoIP network. This enables service providers to deploy a flexible solution today that can evolve to a VoIP network to support customers using standard telephones and services, or IP phones and services, including computer telephony. The imerge Gateway connects to any circuit switch and provides all of today s Centrex services to IP endpoints, while continuing to serve traditional endpoints within the same Centrex group. The AnyMedia Access System supports voice, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) data and other special services over a copper loop. When integrated into a next-generation VoIP network, the AnyMedia access system is an ideal platform to provide robust converged, next-generation services. MaxTNT and APX Universal Gateways provide VoIP trunk gateway capabilities; enabling any service on any port. Packetstar PSAX Multiservice media gateways support voice over packet services for a broad range of ATM multi-service applications. 7

The award-winning Lucent VPN Firewall Brick is the broadest suite of carrier-grade IP solutions for delivering service level-assured security available today. In the mobility domain, the Flexent radio network controllers and base station product lines for UMTS and CDMA2000, support the highest speed mobile data networks available (up to 2.4 Mbps) in the market today. Platforms are designed for flexibility to incorporate emerging wireless Quality of Service (QoS) standards to better enable real-time VoIP applications like Push-to-Talk (PTT), while keeping in mind the key QoS needs for these real-time data applications and also evolving radio technologies such as CDMA20001x-EVDO and 1x-EVDV and UMTS High Speed Uplink Packet Access/ High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSUPA/HSDPA). Service Intelligent Gateways Leverage TDM assets and link to Lucent Softswitch for Next Generation Applications AnyMedia Application Servers: Messaging, Web Portals, 5E-XC IP Transport Network LSS Call Control PSTN Universal Gateways Applications at the top deliver service consistency across endpoints Lucent Softswitch call control interworks any endpoint to any endpoint TDM Access Access MGW IP Access Wireless Access Figure 1: A Clear Path to Service Intelligent Next-Generation Networks. Lucent s Accelerate solutions leverage the entire portfolio of Lucent s Access, Transport, and Multi-Service Switching products including the Stinger DSL Access Concentrator product line, the Metropolis ADM and DMX Optical transport products and Lucent s Multi-Service Switching solutions. Complete Network Operations and Professional Services Support With network operations software, and consulting, deployment, and maintenance services, the Lucent Network Operations Software (NOS) and Lucent Worldwide Services (LWS) organizations help service providers speed their time to revenue, and lower deployment costs as they migrate to VoIP Networks. 8

The NOS portfolio includes: Navis ioperations portfolio a complete Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OA&M) portfolio to support end-to-end service management of mobility (as well as wireline) products. Navis iassure portfolio a suite of service quality management products that enable operators to track their network performance and engineer it to provide superior service quality. The LWS offerings include: Multi-vendor Applications Integration for new revenue generating applications Security Consulting Practice to assure that operator networks are robust and secure against fraud and intrusion Rapid Deployment Capabilities to enable operators to go from concept to revenue as quickly as possible Managed Services Offerings to help operators run their day-to-day operations Partnership Programs As part of the Accelerate VoIP portfolio of solutions, Lucent has established strategic partner programs with the intent of creating an environment that allows the industry to continuously generate new value-based services. Lucent s solutions and value become more powerful and effective when combined with best- of- breed partnerships that enable service providers to enjoy the combined benefit of the best of what Lucent and the industry offers. The Accelerate Solution Advantage Lucent s competitive advantage is a focused approach to value and designing networks top-down while building them from the bottom-up. Lucent is committed to enabling and offering applications that generate user value and service provider revenue with a robust portfolio that provides quality solutions at all levels of the network: call control, transport, access and applications. Surrounding the hardware and software is a complete operations and security package that is designed, engineered, maintained and supported via world-class services. In addition to the above differentiators, what sets Lucent s VoIP solutions further apart from the competition are partnerships with industry leaders that provide the flexibility to operate in multi-vendor environments 9

Lucent s Accelerate solutions have complete: Systems Accelerate VoIP solutions are ready to deploy with: A common application layer to serve wireline and wireless networks, VoIP and TDM endpoints, speeding network convergence New Intelligent Media Gateway elements that enable VoIP access to loop based networks Investment protection that provides next-generation migration plans Packet interfaces that allow next-generation services on circuit driven networks Lucent Softswitch that includes next-generation software focused on next-generation services. Software Accelerate solutions simplify operations management of VoIP with the Navis ioperations portfolio for provisioning, IP management and service quality assurance Services Accelerate solutions provide network know-how with the ability to integrate multi-vendor networks and third-party applications Quality, security and reliability from network readiness, network planning, design, deployment to operations Solutions New solution partner programs and open, programmable platforms leverage the creativity of third-party developers Conclusion Accelerate VoIP solutions are designed to bring value to IP via a flexible set of applications that enable rapid service provider revenue. An extensive and complete VoIP portfolio addresses solution elements at all levels of the network, including call control, transport, access, and applications all with Service Intelligence. Lucent s solutions and value become even more powerful when coupled with strategic partnerships with industry leaders that drive additional value and speed to market. Lucent s Accelerate VoIP strategy is made tangible through support from their world-class services team in the design, engineering and implementation of solutions that result in carrier value with rapid ROI. 10

Glossary Acronym 3GPP API CDMA DSL GSM HSUPA/HSDPA MGCP OA&M PDA POTS PSTN QoS ROI SIP SMS S-DHLR TDM UMTS VoIP Meaning Third Generation Partnership Program Application Programming Interface Code Division Multiple Access Digital Subscriber Line Global Systems for Mobile Communications High Speed Uplink Packet Access/ High Speed Downlink Packet Access Media Gateway Control Protocol Operations, Administration, and Maintenance Personal Data Assistant Plain Old Telephone Service Public Switched Telephone Network Quality of Service Return on Investment Session Initiation Protocol Short Message Service Super Distributed Home Location Register Time Division Multiplexing Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Voice over Internet Protocol 11

About Lucent Technologies Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers networks for the world s largest communications service providers. Backed by Bell Labs research and development, Lucent relies on its strengths in mobility, optical, data and voice networking technologies as well as software and services to develop next-generation networks. The company s systems, services and software are designed to help customers quickly deploy and better manage their networks and create new, revenue-generating services that help businesses and consumers. For more information about Accelerate solutions: www.lucent.com/accelerate This document is for planning purposes only, and is not intended to modify or supplement any Lucent Technologies specifications or warranties relating to these products or services. The publication of information in this document does not imply freedom from patent or other protective rights of Lucent Technologies or others. Copyright 2004 Lucent Technologies Inc. All rights reserved AnyMedia, AnyPath, APX, Brick, Flexent, imerge, MAX TNT, Metropolis, Navis, PacketIN, PacketStar, SurePay, and Stinger are registered trademarks of Lucent Technologies, Inc. 5E-XC, Accelerate, igen, MiLife, and Service Intelligent are trademarks of Lucent Technologies, Inc.