Network Design Assignment On Soft Switches: A. Nayan Pachori PRN: 09020541009 Systems & Finance

NETWORK DESIGN
ASSIGNMENT ON SOFT SWITCHES
A. Nayan Pachori
PRN: 09020541009
SYSTEMS & FINANCE
1. What is a soft switch?
Soft switches are carrier-class servers that control voice phone calls across circuit- and packet-
switched networks, which promise to support intriguing new services by dint of their open
application programming interfaces for service software. The attraction soft switches hold is that
they cost about a tenth of regular local phone switches, take up much less space, and have
open APIs that enable third-party vendors to write complex services the switches control. They
also enable completion of calls between circuit-switched and packet networks, enabling carriers
to use a single packet backbone for voice and data traffic.
Switching lies at the core of all telecommunications networks, allowing efficient point-to-point
communications without direct connections between every node. The Soft switch is a new
software-based switching solution that runs on standard hardware to supplement or replace
central office switching functions. Soft switches execute the same functions as traditional
switches and are completely transparent to end-users. Telecommunications companies are
embracing soft switches because they are functionally equivalent to conventional phone
switches, only better, faster, and cheaper.
One characteristic of Soft switches is their open architecture, which provides great flexibility for
carriers to develop custom solutions based on best-of-breed hardware and software
components. Soft switches also tend to be modular, smaller, and less expensive than their
conventional switching counterparts. This modularity makes scaling easy, critical when
telephony markets and technologies can change overnight. As with conventional switches, high
availability and reliability remain the top priority. Soft switches must also maintain compatibility
with PSTN networks (Public Switching Telephone Network) and compliance with switching
standards.
Soft switches provide several advantages over traditional switching alternatives. They reduce
the cost of providing service by using less expensive IP networks. They allow carriers to
differentiate their offerings through value-added services, often by simply adding a new server
that delivers the desired functionality. Soft switches also allow telecommunications companies
to leverage their existing investment in switching, preserve interoperability with PSTN networks,
and assure a smooth transition to packet-based IP technology.
VENDORS:
Vendor Product
Adore Infotech Softswitch
Alcatel 5020
Atcom VoxArt
Centile IntraSwitch
Cirpack HVS
Cisco Systems PGW 2200
Convergent Networks ICS 2000
Convergent Networks PacketMatrix Controller
Convergent Networks ICSG
Convergent Packet Matrix Controller
CopperCom Coppercom CSX
Dialexia Dial-Gate
Ericsson Engine Integral Network 3.1
Gallery IPT Cassiopeia
Huawei Softx3000
Huawei C&C08 STP
Huawei C&C08 EV
IPsmarx SIPKernel
Inter-Tel 7000
InterExchange Carrier (IXC) IXC Softswitch
Italtel iMSS - Class 4 Switching
Italtel iMSS - Class 5 Switching
Lucent Network Controller
Marconi XCD5000
Mera MVTS
Metaswitch CA9020
NetCentrex CCS
NexTone Multiprotocol Signaling Switch
Nortel Networks Communication Server 2000
Nortel Networks Communication Server 2000 Compact
Nuera ORCA SSC Softswitch
Nuera SVI-MGC
Oki CenterStage NS
Oki IPGW series RPR switch
Open Telecom OpenCA
ProfInfoTech Billion
RealEast Networks RSF1000
Samsung SSX5000
Siemens Surpass hiQ 8000
Siemens HiE9200
Sonus GSX4000
3. Benefits of Soft switch

Reduce Costs
 Manage networks more efficiently
 Reduce costs of handling calls
 Boost capacity of existing lines by offloading data to IP networks
Improve Service
 Differentiate service through value-added offerings
 Roll out new services more quickly
 Provide end users capability to maintain their own service preferences
Facilitate Migration to IP Networks
 Leverage existing databases
 Evolve networks and services through a distributed architecture
 Allow for easy expansion
4. Relevance of soft switches in telecom industry
As stated earlier, the world of telecommunications is in a transition phase from the legacy
network which carried TDM traffic controlled by protocols such as SS7 to a packet based
network running protocols like H.323, SIP and H.248.The existing circuit switched network is not
about to disappear, however there is increasing growth in the packet side of the network. For
today’s carriers the opportunities of carrying the growing packet traffic on their networks is
obvious, the challenge is how to carry it in a way that minimizes capital expenditures, maximizes
profits and yet limits risk both now and in the future.
Most of the major equipment vendors offer a soft switch solution which is designed to work with
their equipment and for some carriers the “single vendor” approach can be effective. However
for many carriers, this simply is not an option. To them, the network will always be
heterogeneous.
The Soft switch was designed for these carriers. The Soft switch solution provides carrier-grade
call control, translations, routing and element provisioning for a network of H.323, SIP or H.248
based network elements ranging from gateways and gatekeepers to H.323 and SIP endpoints.
The optional SS7 controller provides access to signaling networks worldwide. The solution is
scalable to control a network of over 100,000 ports and was designed to work as a standalone
soft switch or to interwork with other soft switches for delivering specialized services or simply to
expand capacity. Because of it’s unique architecture, custom solutions can be easily created by
modifying these features via the built in APIs to fulfill the exact requirements for a specific
network without the need to release new software generics. This frees carriers from the gridlock
of relying only on their vendors for new applications and features and enables them to control
their own destiny while at the same time providing stable and reliable software in the form of
well tested and field proven software generic releases. The illustration at left shows where the
soft switch fits into a carrier’s network. In this illustration, used to provide call processing and
element management services to a carrier’s network which is composed of H.323, SIP or H.248
network elements. Because the soft switches has gatekeeper functionality it is able to interwork
with other H.323 gatekeeper/gateway devices, providing a full spectrum of routing, translation
and screening capabilities for H.323.
Network Architecture with a Soft Switch

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NETWORK DESIGN

ASSIGNMENT ON SOFT SWITCHES

3. Benefits of Soft switch

 Manage networks more efficiently

 Reduce costs of handling calls

 Boost capacity of existing lines by offloading data to IP networks

 Differentiate service through value-added offerings

 Roll out new services more quickly

 Provide end users capability to maintain their own service preferences

Facilitate Migration to IP Networks

 Leverage existing databases

 Evolve networks and services through a distributed architecture

 Allow for easy expansion

4. Relevance of soft switches in telecom industry

Network Architecture with a Soft Switch

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