NEW YORK-Siemens Carrier Networks L.L.C., Boca Raton, Fla., is testing the first iteration of its new SURPASS hiQ softswitch with several American carriers. The softswitch is part of a migration path toward broadband, packet-switched network architecture.
Softswitch acts like the brains of a network, containing all of its features and acting as a protocol for signaling information without actually processing call traffic. It is a new standard for distributed network architecture, said Michael Jaschke, vice president and general manager of the SURPASS Business Unit.
“Many carriers might decide to replace their existing Class 4 switches with our Class 4 switch, which sets up every call dynamically so bandwidth is not wasted, then releases once the call is made,” he said.
“This would also, in effect, relieve the congestion for all carriers by relieving individual congestion points. … There are three influences that congest the backbone-wireless, the Internet and CLECs.”
The first release of Siemens’ softswitch will provide 3,000 functions in the Class 4 tandem layer. By year-end, all Class 3, 4 and 5 features will be available as software upgrades, said Susan B. Schramm, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Siemens Carrier Networks. Each Class 5 switch offers about 5,000 features.
“Today, there are a lot of little start-ups out there doing softswitch with about 15 features,” Jaschke said.
Not only is network congestion increasing, but so too is the complexity of processing each call. To manage, bill and deliver a single call can require as many as 250 transactions, with no end in site to the upward trajectory of necessary processing steps, Schramm said.
In response, Siemens has geared up to double the processing capacity of its SURPASS technology every 18 months, Jaschke said.
“There is a transition under way in switching to next-generation, revenue-ready networks that must (handle) the convergence of IP (Internet Protocol) and broadband access,” Schramm said.
“This requires a quantum leap because it demands the quality of service of landline, the power of the PC and the accessibility of mobile communications. We call this combination the `Next Generation Internet.’ “
