PDF of this tutorialThis tutorial has identified the problem and the source of PSTN overloading, the various methods employed by carriers to mitigate that congestion, and the preswitch solutions that work in concert with trunk-side methods to provide total PSTN off-load of problematic, long hold-time Internet and data traffic.
Among all off-load options, preswitch packetization takes off-load to the next level by providing relief to the entire PSTN: ingress switches, tandem switches, egress switches, and interoffice facilities. Furthermore, this technique provides a key infrastructure component for the next-generation converged network, in which all voice traffic will be packetized and routed along with data traffic over the public data network (PDN).
The convergence platform will initially off-load and extend the life of PSTN investments. It will follow on to augment the network and its equipment with increased capability, enabling the carrier to be more transport-agnostic while becoming more service-centric. Finally, the converged network will arise from the very platform the carriers used to off-load and extend the life of their PSTN gear. Enabling a graceful migration to the next-generation network—without a forklift changeover—the convergence platform will ultimately replace legacy infrastructure with the capability to packetize all traffic on the line side and best-way routing on the trunk side.
Advancing the all-packet network nearer to the customer, to modernize, extend, evolve, and ultimately revolutionize the network, is the future of telecommunications.
