What is VoIP?
Telephone Service as we know it, today…
Telco PSTN,
CO Switch
Evolution
IP Network
LAN or WAN,
Router
IP Telephone IP Telephone
1 Some slides adapted from ANI course
What is IP?
Internet Protocol (IP) characteristics:
IP is a Protocol
– A Method of Communication
Industry Standard (De Facto)
Designed for the Department of Defense (DOD)
Provides for Logical Addressing of Devices
Creates a robust non-centralized Network
2 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Analog and Digital Voice Circuits
Analog Circuit
– Referred to as a line
• Unit by which capacity is typically measured
• A residential line or a 1FB (Feature Group - Business)
– Bandwidth is typically between 300 Hz and 3 KHz
– Voice traffic is carried as a waveform
Digital Circuit
– Analog voice traffic that has been “digitized”
(converted to bits) for ease of transport
– Bandwidth is typically 1.544Mbps
– Voice traffic is carried as a stream of bits
3 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Analog to Digital Conversion
Bit 1
Bit 2
Bit 3 8-Bit
Bit 4 Sample @
8 KHz/Sec
Bit 5
*External microphone Analog to Digital Bit 6
in use! Converter
Bit 7
Bit 8
Serial
Transmission
Bit 1 Bit 2 Bit 3 Bit 4 Bit 5 Bit 6 Bit 7 Bit 8
64 Kbps
4 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP Voice Protocols
VoIP uses two common protocols to carry
your voice message
– User Datagram Protocol (UDP)
– Real-Time Protocol (RTP)
IP UDP RTP Data
VoIP Packet
5 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP Business Case
6 Some slides adapted from ANI course
The Promise of VoIP
Single Converged Network of Voice and Data
Benefit: Lower Cost
Integrating Voice into the Desktop
Benefit: User Productivity
7 Some slides adapted from ANI course
The State of VoIP
Are People Planning to use VoIP?
YES! They’re doing it!
What is the State of the Industry?
Late Prototype to Early Production
How is the Sound Quality?
The Sound Quality is Excellent now
8 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Benefits of VoIP
Easy Deployment and Reconfiguration Management
Cost Savings: Hardware, Maintenance, Toll Charges
Improved Mobility, Changing of Offices, Phone
Numbers
Convergence of Services, such as Conferencing
Compared to TDM Phones, VoIP Phones offer
– More Flexibility
– More Features
This Equates to Corporate Productivity Enhancement
9 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP Basics
PBX Functionality in an IP-based System
PBX Switch operation in a LAN
Enterprise to Enterprise communication
IP Services (ie. Unified Messaging)
– Sends voicemail messages via Email
Toll Bypass
– Removes connection charges paid to Carrier
10 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Telco Policy Law and Precedents
What we have now with the Telco:
Carrier Grade Reliability
Public Safety
Law Enforcement
National Security
Universal (affordable) Service
Disabled Access
11 Some slides adapted from ANI course
What is “Carrier Grade” in a
Telco Network?
“Carrier Grade” operation is a global Telco standard
Dialtone is provided even when local electricity
is unavailable (ie. East Coast blackout of 2003)
Carrier Grade means a high level of total
availability
– Referred to as “Five Nines” (99.999%)
– Equates to 5 minutes per year of network downtime
12 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP Dependencies
VoIP does not automatically imply Voice over the
Internet
– Voice over IP can, and is, in private IP-based networks
Complete deployment of VoIP is totally dependent
on Broadband adoption
– Requires acceptable bandwidth at the SOHO location
13 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Consumer Acceptance of VoIP
The End User requirements and Feature
Assessment must be Accurate
Train the End Users, Demonstrate the
Advanced Features
Benchmark the Before / After performance
– Currently Cable Modem and DSL can provide
excellent SOHO service for Internet access
The Consumer must be comfortable with the
VoIP environment
– VoIP operation must be transparent to user
14 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Success Stories for VoIP
Services
Free World Dialup
– Peer to peer (closed network) over Broadband
200,000 Users, Worldwide
Vonage
– 200,000 subscribers
Shoreline
– 30,000+ subscribers
15 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Interoperability Challenges
In a manner similar to the networking industry,
the early deployment vendors are creating
proprietary implementations
– Some hardware/software combinations will not
scale to support large enterprises
– Difficult to test interoperation with all possible
vendor solutions
– Testing under heavy load is not always available
for newer technologies
Legacy support is critical as newer products
and protocols are developed
16 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Need for Standards Bodies
A Standards Body provides the following benefits:
Helps to insure interoperability between vendors
Provides a forum for Improvement and
Technology research
Helps to select the Best Overall Solution for
Market Applications
Acts as a Standards Body, not as a Regulatory
Agency
17 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Existing Standards Bodies for
VoIP and Networking
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Institute for Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE)
International Standards Organization (ISO)
3G Partnership Project (3GPP/3GPP2)
CableLabs
18 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP History
1995 VocalTec
1996 International
Telecommunication Union -
Version 1 Draft of H.323
1999 DialPad begins Service
2001 Microsoft XP with SIP Elad Sion
support
2001 Qwest in Boise, ID starts
VoIP trials for Customers
2002 Vonage initiates Service
19 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP Vendor Devices
A sample of VoIP devices available today:
H.323 Phones
SIP Phones
Software Phones (NetMeeting, Skype)
USB Phones
Wireless Phones (Future Cellular)
PDA’s
Routers/Gateways
20 Some slides adapted from ANI course
The Future of VoIP?
VoIP deployments face some challenges:
Residential/Small Business VoIP Providers
9-1-1 / E9-1-1 Issues
Requirement for Integrated Networks
Consistent Network Infrastructure
21 Some slides adapted from ANI course
SOHO VoIP Providers
Vendors active in the SOHO market space
Voiceglo
Packet 8
Vonage
Iconnect
Nikotel (SIP Network)
Net2phone
Level 3 Communications
22 Some slides adapted from ANI course
9-1-1/E9-1-1 Issues
All Devices Should be treated as Movable
Routing to the correct PSAP serving the geo/political
jurisdiction where the 911 caller is physically located
Sending Proper Re-contact (call back) Information to
PSAP
IP PBX must get Location / Endpoint information to PSAP
Cannot Rely on E.164 Numbering Plan for physical
location information
23 Some slides adapted from ANI course
VoIP Conclusions
VoIP is a Viable Technology, Ready to Deploy NOW!
VoIP allows for Convergence of Services at the Phone
or Desktop
VoIP is Easy to Manage, Deploy and Reconfigure
VoIP will provide Cost Savings: Lower Toll Call Costs,
Lower Equipment Cost and Lower Maintenance Costs
VoIP provides Improved Mobility
VoIP Phones have More Features than TDM Phones
24 Some slides adapted from ANI course
NENA-VON Coalition Agreement
Established to set minimum levels of
coordination with Public Safety and NENA
Does not recommend call delivery to 10 digit
numbers, but rather as minimum method
Recommends active contact with PSAPs or
PSAP Coordinator prior to service initiation, to
establish what method is to be used to deliver
9-1-1 dialed calls, and the details
(See Agreement in separate document, or at
the NENA website (www.nena.org) – may be
updated at the website)
25 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Some Ways to Receive VoI 9-1-1 Calls
NENA’s view is that Voice over Internet service
providers should use the best available method
for 9-1-1 calling, prior to the availability of the
NENA I2 standard interface. See descriptions.
10 digit emergency number delivery should be
used only for those cases where better methods
can’t apply.
Since many VoI subscribers are in replacement
of previous wireline service that had E9-1-1, VoI
subscribers should have E9-1-1 service where
possible. VoI provider costs for E9-1-1 access
should not be a primary issue. E9-1-1 is
fundamental service, not optional.
26 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Some Methods to Receive Voice over Internet 9-1-1 Calls
Best choice is for as many Voice over Internet providers as
possible to use initial methods to interface to the E9-1-1
systems, via a CLEC or cable provider (or ILEC?!) for
subscribers using home NPA at fixed location.
With the proper procedures, nomadic subscribers could
voluntarily update location.
Examples: Packet8 / Level3, VoxPath, CoxCable,
TimeWarner, MCI and AT&T CallAdvantage may be adding
this method.
10 Digit numbers are a lesser alternative, and are the only
known method for handling the subset of non-home NPA
subscribers.
27 Some slides adapted from ANI course
A. Establish or identify a 24x7 10 digit emergency number
with the CallerID feature, and set it as a priority answer
equivalent to 9-1-1 trunk calls, in the ACD, on the telephone
console itself, or in some other way that fits the PSAP
systems. Provides callback number in most cases, for those
Voice over Internet providers using CallerID.
28 Some slides adapted from ANI course
B. Establish a 10 digit emergency number in a central office
that call forwards, with ANI of that CO number, to the central
office’s 9-1-1 trunk group into the Selective Router. For both
routing control to the target PSAP, and for ALI purposes,
establish a fixed ALI record against that call forward ANI, that
identifies the call as a Voice over Internet call from a given
area. Note that this technique could be applied by VoI
service provider, using different numbers for each, or across
all VoI type providers in common. Does not provide ANI of
the caller.
29 Some slides adapted from ANI course
C. Establish a new SR to PSAP trunk group, with its own
Routing TN at the SR, for call delivery through the new PSAP
trunk group. This technique allows call delivery within the
9-1-1 trunking to the 9-1-1 CPE, provides equivalent priority
of answer capability, and E9-1-1 transfer capabilities, but
does not provide ANI or CallerID. Call appears as an
Anonymous call, but is identifiable as a VoI call due to the
dedicated trunk group.
30 Some slides adapted from ANI course
NENA and Internet communications providers have agreed
upon the following action items:
1. For service to customers using phones that have the
functionality and appearance of conventional telephones,
provide 9-1-1 emergency services access (at least routing
to a PSAP10-digit number) within a reasonable time (three
to six months) and prior to that time inform customers of
the lack of such access.
2. When a communications provider begins selling in a
particular area, it should discuss with the local PSAPs or
their coordinator (as identified on the NENA website) the
approach to providing access. (For example, if routing to
10-digit number, confirm the correct number with the
PSAP.) This obligation does not apply to any “roaming” by
customers.
31 Some slides adapted from ANI course
3. Support for current NENA and industry work towards an
interim solution that includes (a) delivery of 9-1-1 call
through the existing 9-1-1 network, (b) providing
callback number to PSAP, and (c) possibly in some
cases, initial location information. The current timeline
for the NENA VoIP/Packet Committee to develop its
interim recommended solution is May 2004.
4. Support for current NENA and industry work towards
long-term solutions that include (a) delivery of 9-1-1 call
to the proper PSAP, (b) providing callback
number/recontact information to the PSAP, (c) providing
location of caller; and (d) PSAPs having direct IP
connectivity. The initial standards development work of
the NENA VoIP/Packet Committee should be completed
by the end of 2004.
32 Some slides adapted from ANI course
5. Support for an administrative approach to maintaining
funding of 9-1-1 resources at a level equivalent to those
generated by current or evolving funding processes.
6. Consumer education. This could include projects
involving various industry participants and NENA public
education committee members to create suggested
materials explaining any 9-1-1 differences to customers.
33 Some slides adapted from ANI course
Roger Hixson
Technical Issues Director
NENA - The Voice of 9-1-1
614-442-9110 or 800-332-3911
rhixson@nena.org
34 Some slides adapted from ANI course