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Using conventional Internet access equipment, service providers may access signaling system seven (SS7) in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) for a cost-effective means of providing Internet services.
Overview
This tutorial discusses competitive PSTN access for WANs using SS7 signaling. WANs are continuing to evolve with the ever-increasing integration of voice and data services. With this evolution comes the demand for more features and bandwidth from the carriers of this traffic. A major portion of this demand is for Internet access from remote client locations for business and residential users. With the advance of digital modems supporting up to 56–kbps data rates and improved computer platforms, users can dial local Internet service providers (ISPs) and connect directly to the Internet for flat rates and no time limits. Flat-rate Internet service has driven the average connection time higher than fifteen minutes per call. Dial-up ISP subscribers may get the busy signal during high-demand periods, and the incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) may experience service outages or delays for their other customers. Their busy-signal problem can be alternatively addressed without a costly bypass or large switch installation by using SS7 instead of local switch services. SS7 is now already deployed in 90 percent of the North American telephone service market.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated the local loop, enabling new service providers such as competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) to install, lease, or resell unbundled loop or switch access services to customers. CLECs now have the opportunity to compete with ILECs and alternative service providers in giving customers access to the PSTN, thereby obtaining access and call termination revenues from the ISP's subscribers. ISPs may also become CLECs in order to meet competitive pressure in service offering and lower Internet access rates.
