2694 Bishop Drive, Suite 275 San Ramon, CA 94583 925.277.8110

www.softswitch.org

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Agenda

• What is a “Softswitch”?

• The Softswitch Market Opportunity—and Challenges

• The International Softswitch Consortium (ISC)

» Mission

» Working Groups

» Membership

• Questions & Answers

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What is a “Softswitch”?

A softswitch (a.k.a. call agent, call server or media gateway controller) is a device that provides, at a minimum:

• Intelligence that controls connection services for a media gateway, and/or native IP endpoints.

• It has the ability to select processes that can be applied to a call.

• It can provide routing for a call within the network based on signaling and customer database information.

• It has the ability to transfer control of the call to another network element.

• It provides interfaces to and supports management functions such as provisioning, fault, billing, etc.

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SIP-T

The Softswitch at Work

Softswitch

Cellular Station

Media GatewaysIAD with DSL/Cable Modem

Digital Cross Connect

SS7 Gateway

SS7

Application Servers

Q.931/Q.2931

H.323

SIP

MGCP MEGACO

SIP

MGCP

The softswitch will play a strategic role in the next-generation public network infrastructure for voice, video and data communications

Softswitch

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Circuit-switch vs. Softswitch

• Software, hardware and applications solutions typically come packaged in a single (proprietary) box.• Non-standard solutions are

expensive to implement and leave little room for innovation.

Circuit-Switched

TransportHardware

Call Control & Switching

Services & Applications

PROPRIETARY

• Solutions are open standards-based products, and can come from multiple vendors.• Customers are free to choose

best-in-class products to build their network. Open standards enable innovation and in the long run can reduce costs

Soft-Switched

Transport Hardware

Softswitch Call Control

Services, Applications & Features (Management, Provisioning and

Back Office)

Open Protocols APIs

Open Protocols APIs

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The Softswitch Market Opportunity

Softswitch System Revenue (Yankee Group)

Service revenue from deployment of softswitches is estimated to be 5 TIMES greater, growing to over $19 Billion in 2004

(International Data Corporation)!

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The Softswitch Potential

• New and enhanced applications» Intelligent Networking PLUS» Multimedia with integrated

voice/video/data» Limited only by the imagination

• Lower barriers to entry for both system suppliers and service providers» Open architecture, protocols and APIs» Leverages any/all underlying transports (packet/frame/cell)» Dramatically less expensive development and deployment

• Greater linear scalability based on an incremental “pay as you Greater linear scalability based on an incremental “pay as you grow” infrastructuregrow” infrastructure

• All fully interoperable with the TDM-based PSTN

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The Softswitch Challenges

• Lots of protocols! (e.g. MGCP, MEGACO, SIP, SS7, H.323, Q.931/Q.2931, DiffServ, RSVP, RTP, RCP, MPLS, 802.1p, etc.)

• From lots of standards bodies (e.g. ITU, IETF, FRF, ATM Forum, IEEE, etc.)

• Being implemented by lots of players• All chasing an evolving architecture• Under legacy regulatory conditions

(e.g. tariffs, co-location, certifications, etc.) • In a global marketplace

The effort needs some real coordination to fulfill the promise!

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International Softswitch Consortium

• Non-profit industry organization

• Formed in May 1999

• Promotes an open architecture and multivendor interoperability for next-generation voice/video/data solutions

• Financed and operated by its members

• Membership now includes over 100 system suppliers and service providers

• Already the largest consortium in the “voice-over” arenaAlready the largest consortium in the “voice-over” arena

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The ISC Mission

To promote worldwide compatibility and interoperability of softswitch operation through an open membership policy, a commitment to open standards and protocols, sponsored interoperability events, and by maintaining a forum for the identification, discussion and definition of softswitch components and functions.

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ISC’s Organizational Structure

Application Architecture Carriers Device Control Marketing Session Management SIP

12 Directors (elected from and by the ISC’s membership to terms of one year) who serve as the chief architects for all specifications produced by the ISC

Appointed by the Board to handle the organization’s daily business

Board of Directors

Executive Director

Technical Advisory Council

Working Groups

12

Application Working Group

GatewaySwitch

SS7

Circuit

SS7 Gateway

Softswitch

Packet

SCPSCP

ASAS ASASASAS

Open

Application Servers

• Circuit/packet conversion• Echo cancellation• Audio processing

• Terminate SS7 A/F-links• SS7/IP to other devices • Provisioning

• Services• Routing• Call Control

• Adopts interfaces for access and control of the basic and enhanced services functions of a softswitch,

• Evaluates existing APIs and protocols to determine a suitable starting point for an extensible softswitch services interface

• Goal is multi-vendor interoperability of services and softswitches

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Architecture Working Group

Transport Plane

Control Plane

Application Plane

Data Plane

Logical Port Function

Switching Function

Adaptation Function

Signaling G/W Function

Media Gateway Control Function

Leg Control Function

Connection/Bearer Control Function

Session Control Function

Service Logic Function

Gatekeeper/Proxy Function

Database Function

Database Function

Man

a gem

ent

Pla

ne

• Advances an overall architecture for a softswitch that encompasses all functions and interfaces

• Interacts with others ISC working groups to identify architectural requirements and strategies

• Objective is softswitch independence from the underlying transport

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Carrier Working Group

• Facilitates the development of a Service Level Interface that permitsend-to-end management of QoS parameters, call connection, billing and settlement costs, and other essential functions

• Identifies necessary test processes and measurements• Selects network/protocol analyzers that meet measurement requirements• Goal is multi-carrier and multi-vendor interoperability of softswitches

Circuit

Packet

Circuit

Packet

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Device Control Working Group

• Continuously reviews advancement of the MGCP draft specification for providing input to the IETF to identify ambiguities and desired enhancements

• May submit other proposed standards for consideration by the IETF

• Objective is interoperability of independently developed softswitch devices through a single, well-recognized and clear standard

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Marketing Working Group

• Increases general market awareness and acceptance of next-generation softswitch-based networking capabilities

• Objective is to pursue on-going promotional and educational activities that complement the marketing efforts of ISC’s member organizations

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Session Management Working Group

• Effort includes set of requirements and potential protocol tensions, long with "Best Current Practices" documents outlining a proposed architecture, data format and transport protocol for session-specific information

• Goal is to promote interoperability of network management and mediation across independently developed switching, gateway and border element devices

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SIP Working Group

• Addresses the collaboration of multiple softswitches, during the setup and teardown of calls, using the Session Initiation Protocol

• Scope of work involves two essential areas:

– Signaling of packet-based IP networks

– Interworking of IP-based network signaling with PSTN signaling

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ISC’s Membership2nd Century Communications8x8Accelerated Networks, Inc.ACE*COMM CorporationADC NewNetAlcatelAplion NetworksAP Engines, Inc.Aspect TelecommunicationsAudioCodesBroadband Access SystemsBroadSoft, Inc.Catena Networks, Inc.Cbeyond CommunicationsCCL/ITRICisco SystemsClarent CorporationClustra Systems, Inc.Cognitronics CorporationCom21, Inc.Comgates CommunicationsCongruencyConsumer DSP TechnologyConvergent NetworksData Connection LimiteddynamicsoftDTI NetworksEagle Communications, Inc.eFusion, Inc.empowerTel Networks, Inc.Ennovate Networks, Inc.Enron CommunicationsEricsson Datacom, IncFacet Corp.

Firstworld CommunicationsFujitsuGeneral BandwidthGN Nettest (Canada) Inc.HarvardNet, Inc.Hewlett Packard CompanyHitachi, Ltd.Inet Technologies, Inc.Integral AccessInterSoft TechnologiesIP Mobile, Inc.IPCell Technologies, Inc.Iperia, Inc.IP UnityIpVerse, Inc.iTopia, Inc.Jato CommunicationsKabira Technologies, Inc.Level 3 CommunicationsLG Sansys, Inc.Libertybay.com, Inc.Lucent Technologies, Inc.Marconi CommunicationsMerlot CommunicationsMission Communications, LLCNatural MicroSystemsNetFoneNetrix CorporationNetrue Communications, Inc.Nexbell CommunicationsNexTone Communications, Inc.Nippon Telegraph & TelephoneNokiaNorthPoint Communications

Nortel Networks, Inc.NTT CommunicationwareNueraOpen Telecommunications, Ltd.Open Telephone NetworkPactolus Communication SoftwarePhoneXchangePingtelPolycom, Inc.pulver.comPurePacket CommunicationsRCNRadcomRADVisionRapid5 Networks, Inc.Rhythms Netconnections, Inc.Ryan-Hankin-Kent, Inc.Rikei Corporation of AmericaSALIX Technologies, Inc.Santera Systems, Inc.Shoreline Teleworks, Inc.S-LinkSonus NetworksSphere Communications, Inc.Spring Tide Networks, Inc.SS8 Networks, Inc.Strata Group, Inc.Sylantro Systems CorporationSyndeo CorporationTachion Networks, Inc.Taqua SystemsTechnology Control ServicesTekelecTelcordia Technologies, Inc.

Telecom Software EnterprisesTelecom TechnologiesTeleNetwork, Inc.Telephony ExpertsTelesynthesis, LLCTelica, Inc.Telocity, Inc.TELOS Technologies, Inc.TeraBridge TechnologiesCorporationTimeshiftTimesTen Performance SoftwareTime Warner TelecomTransMediaTrillium Digital Systems, Inc.Tundo CorporationUbiquityUlticom (formerly DGM&STelecom)Unisphere SolutionsUTStarcomVail Systems, Inc.Vertical NetworksVocalData, IncVovida NetworksVsysWestwave CommunicationsWireless System Technologies,Inc.Woodwind CommunicationsSystemsWorld Telecom LabsXybridge TechnologiesZTE (USA), Inc.

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Value to ISC’s Members

Attendance at developers’ conferences and events Exposure to market requirements and available offerings A chance to leverage developments on related fronts Early awareness of advancements in standards activity A convenient means to help establish strategic partnerships A chance promote vendor/provider-led initiatives Risk reduction through “market smart” decisions Ability to shape short- and long-term directions Opportunity to influence implementors’ agreements Use of industry-leading reference implementations Access to the multi-vendor interoperability test lab Formation of diverse set of best-in-class solutions

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All levels of membership enjoy the same voting rights and privileges

ISC Membership Options

• Full Membership» Large Company (gross revenues exceeding 50M USD)

Annual dues of 50,000 USD» Small Company

Annual dues of 5,000 USD• Affiliate Membership

» Non-commercial organizations (e.g. educational institutions)» Annual dues of 5,000 USD

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Conclusion

• The softswitch opportunity is HUGE for both system suppliers and service providers

• Success—for both the industry and individual players—requires navigation of uncharted waters

• Enter the International Softswitch Consortium

• The ISC is helping its members design, develop and deploy the next-generation network

• The ISC is already the industry’s largest and most powerful driving force—and growing

• If voice-over-packet/frame/cell is in your future, then the ISC is for you!

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Questions & Answers