IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES

IP Exchange provide the brokerage of video calls from personal computers and other video call enabled devices to mobile 3G handsets, giving operators access to new customers and new revenues.

The demand for this already exists. BT has 1.5 million VoIP customers, many of which have the capability to make video calls. IP Exchange is fully hosted on BT’s platform and fits perfectly with an operator’s user-generated content market strategy. The ability to stream video back to a PC or laptop has huge potential.

As operators progress with their 3G strategies, an IP interconnect to other networks will become increasingly viable. Whilst there are opportunities to optimise interconnect links, there is also the need to deploy transcoders and signalling gateways to ensure compatibility with a variety of network types. The cost of building this into the operator’s network may outweigh the benefit of rationalised IP Interconnect.

EXPLORING THE SOLUTIONS

BT is working with operators on a migration plan that will enable them to transfer all existing interconnects to BT’s IP Exchange, overcoming the disparity and incompatibility of the networks with which they want to interconnect. IP Exchange is a UK-centric peering network with IP at its core. It is designed to enable disparate networks to be interconnected in a way that will: 

• support multiple services and commercial models 
  
• ensure a high level and consistent user experience differentiate from ‘best efforts networks’ 
  
• minimise the cost of and simplify interconnect for Communication Providers
  The network is designed to support a range of services that will compel other operators to place more traffic on it than on direct interconnect links. 

Fig 1: IP Exchange
 
The services enable fixed, mobile, legacy and next generation networks to inter-work in a way that upholds end user expectations, whilst minimising the cost of interconnect for operators.

REAPING THE BENEFITS

• Lower interconnect costs as a result of a reduction in interconnect bandwidth, the number of routes managed and the number of gateways deployed in the operator’s network
• Revenues for traffic from an operator’s customers – potentially to an additional VoIP population of 1.5m BT customers – are likely to be significantly higher