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Solution Overview
Cisco Broadband Local Integrated Services Solutions for T1
Executive Summary
Service providers face growing market demand for enhanced services beyond the existing telephony services they offer. Their customers need local voice, long-distance voice, and high-speed data access in a bundled service. While customers prefer single, integrated offerings, the existing approach requires service providers to operate multiple networks, increasing their resource requirements and operational expenses.
Cisco® Broadband Local Integrated Services Solutions (BLISS) framework addresses this issue for service providers. By integrating and testing proven technologies available today from Cisco Systems®, service providers can deploy Cisco BLISS for:
- One network, one protocol, multiple services: data and voice
- Proven availability and reliability
- Service flexibility suitable for high-density business and residential customers
- Standards-based interfaces to integrate current and future third-party applications
- Integration with existing operational support systems
Market Dynamics
Delivering integrated voice and data services over existing networks is more expensive than ever. Current service provider telephony and data networks are set up to deliver a single type of service, rather than multiple services, per connection to a subscriber. Therefore, delivering multiple services over a single connection becomes cost-prohibitive for today's service providers.
At the same time, service provider business customers of all sizes and high-end residential subscribers are looking for additional integrated services. A typical small business has five or more employees. It needs dedicated Internet access as well as local and long-distance calling. It wants advanced voice services (see Appendix) such as account code, authentication code, hunt groups, direct inward dialing, and direct outward dialing and advanced data services, including secure remote access and VPNs. Business subscribers who choose these services also want to receive a single bill each month.
The public switched telephone network (PSTN) deployed by service providers can meet some of the market's needs for integrated services, but only at a price premium: It is difficult or expensive to deliver all of these services over a single connection. Addressing the needs of small and medium businesses that want 5, 10, or more telephone lines, plus comprehensive phone service and Internet access, forces service providers to support at least two circuits: one for data, one for voice. Furthermore, two networks are used to provide these services.
Significant advantages are available for service providers who can create and manage a single network capable of delivering multiple services. By migrating to a single multiservices network, service providers can acquire new customers, maintain their existing customers, and offer both more services. This creates new revenue and increases customer loyalty.
Opportunity for Service Providers
The iLocus Global IP Telephony Market 2002 study describes the emerging new market associated with voice over IP (VoIP) as a profitable group of voice services for service providers, including local calling, domestic long distance, and international calling. Figure 1 shows the projected emergence of VoIP calling.
Figure 1
Projected Growth of VoIP Minutes Used Worldwide
By 2007, VoIP will account for more than 10 percent of all voice minutes over most networks. Figure 2 forecasts the growth of local calling, direct long distance (DLD), and international long distance (ILD), and predicts an aggregated market of nearly US$22 billion by 2006.
Figure 2
Actual and Projected VoIP Revenue Worldwide, 2001-2006
Offering integrated voice and data services to small and midsize businesses (SMBs) is already emerging as an important and profitable business model. A November 2003 study by IDC indicates that 13 percent of medium-sized businesses in the United States use T1-based integrated access, and 20 percent more plan to use it in the next 12 months.
Cisco Broadband Local Integrated Services Solution
The Cisco Broadband Local Integrated Services Solution (BLISS) framework provides the network foundation and call control/application intelligence to deliver integrated data and voice, services over a single connection for small and medium-sized businesses. The Cisco BLISS framework can support metro Ethernet, DSL, cable, and T1 access. It also provides an open environment that accommodates both Cisco and third-party solution elements for enhanced applications and features.
Implementing Cisco BLISS for T1 enables service providers to offer the services that small and midsize businesses need:
Cisco BLISS Value Proposition
The Cisco BLISS framework offers service providers the ability to use a single architecture to target a broad range of customers from large enterprises down to small and medium-sized businesses, including telecommuter, home office, and residential subscribers. Cisco BLISS enables service providers to offer all of their customers a single circuit solution that meets all of their business connectivity needs.
Service providers implementing Cisco BLISS experience these benefits:
- Flexible and scalable integrated services over any access method through a single connection and network, using a single protocol
- Fully integrated voice and data applications over the same access link and packet core
- Ability to offer self-provisioning and self-configuring services
- Ease of adding new features such as unified messaging, conferencing, or business partner extranet
- Faster introduction of new revenue-producing services and applications
Benefits for target market customers (businesses with five or more employees) include:
Architectural Overview
Figure 3 shows the principal Cisco BLISS components and their relationship and functions across customer-premises, aggregation, core, and trunking layers.
Figure 3
Cisco BLISS Overview
Customer Premises Equipment Layer
The customer premises equipment layer of this architecture contains integrated access devices (IADs), such as the Cisco IAD 2400 Series or the Cisco 3725 Access Server. IADs on the customer premises deliver both network and telephony phone services, including integration of data and toll-quality analog or digital voice services, plus VoIP, quality of service (QoS) tools, multiple call-control protocols, diverse codecs, IP routing, and security features.
Aggregation Layer
IADs in this solution are connected via T1 to an edge aggregation device, the edge switching router or Cisco ESR 10000 Series Router. This router can connect to additional aggregation devices or to a switching device, depending upon the size of, or demands for, the aggregation layer.
Core Switching Layer
The core switching layer contains either a Cisco Catalyst® 6509 Switch or a Cisco 12000 Series Router, which directs traffic among the solution components.
High-Density Media Gateways
To help ensure that this solution can grow, a high-density, carrier-grade media gateway (or PSTN gateway) is required. These are the recommended platforms for this application:
Call Control Layer
The centerpiece of this solution is the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch, controlling intelligence throughout the solution. The softswitch provides call-control intelligence for establishing, maintaining, routing, and terminating voice calls. The Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch also serves as an interface to enhanced service and application platforms. Using the power of packet networks while operating smoothly with existing circuit switched infrastructures, the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch allows service providers and carriers to upgrade gradually to packet-based technology. Implementing the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch ensures rapid service deployment, service flexibility, scalability to millions of subscribers, and cost savings through investment optimization and operational efficiencies.
The product offers many features, including support for local and long-distance voice services that previously required implementation of large, complex telephone switches. Compared with traditional switching systems, the Cisco BTS 10200 Softswitch saves service providers equipment and transmission costs, space, and deployment time.
Services Layer
The Cisco BLISS for T1 solution allows advanced applications to be integrated today or in the future. Applications such as unified messaging allow subscribers to have more than traditional voice-mail service. Unified messaging application servers from Cisco partners can be integrated into a solution that provides a single place for users to receive voice mail, faxes, and e-mail, plus notification to multiple resources. Other applications such as single number reach and virtual voice network for multisite corporations can be integrated into this architecture using existing signaling protocols.
Network Resource Layer
This solution can support a variety of resources, enabling standard, premium, and emergency services for voice, as well as data and video support. The Cisco BLISS solution also provides other important network services such as local number portability, toll-free services, and database dip services.
Announcement Server
VoIP requires the same set of services and facilities that PSTN voice provides today. The announcement server broadcasts automated announcements to callers using VoIP, including disconnect, new number, and no longer in service announcements. Cisco BLISS T1 provides the announcement server function through tested Cisco partner platforms.
Lawful Intercept
Many regulatory requirements demand the ability to tap phone lines and record calls if law enforcement needs this service. Cisco BLISS for T1 provides the lawful intercept function through tested Cisco partner platforms.
Interactive Voice Response Server
The interactive voice response (IVR) server supplies automated phone attendants to interact with callers who require only standard interactions. IVR servers can supply customized greetings, enable dialing, or dial for the caller, among other options. Cisco BLISS for T1 provides the IVR function through tested Cisco partner platforms.
Unified Messaging Server
The unified messaging server allows service providers to give users one-stop access to voice, fax, e-mail, Short Message Service, and video from any phone (fixed or wireless), PC, or Web browser. Cisco BLISS for T1 provides the unified messaging server function through tested Cisco partner platforms.
Media Server
The media server acts as a translator that sits in front of an application if needed. Cisco BLISS for T1 provides the media server function through tested Cisco partner platforms.
Network Gateway
A Cisco 7200 or 7500 router sends the data traffic coming over the Cisco BLISS network out to the public Internet.
Network Management Solution
The network management solution that controls a Cisco BLISS network includes these functions:
The network management solution frees service providers from low-level equipment management and network operations, allowing them to concentrate on attracting customers and providing high-value services.
Conclusion
Converged network services that deliver data, voice, and video to small and medium-sized businesses from a single provider are a revenue opportunity opening up to service providers now. The Cisco BLISS framework can enable the rapid implementation and delivery of this high-value solution to service providers and their customer bases.
To learn more about Cisco BLISS, or to run a trial in your network environment, visit:
http://www.cisco.com/go/telephony
Appendix: Advanced Voice Services
Call forwarding
Call waiting
3-way calling
Calling identity features
Calling number delivery blocking
Calling name delivery blocking
Calling identity delivery and suppression
Calling identity delivery on call waiting
Calling identity delivery blocking
Call trace
Customer-originated call trace
Multiple directory numbers
Multiple directory numbers (teen service)
Class of service restrictions
Casual call restrictions (101XXXX)
NANP call and toll restrictions
NANP black and white lists (number blocking)
Blocking of NANP operator assistance calls
Blocking of international operator assistance calls
Automatic callback (repeat dialing)
Automatic recall (call return)
Remote activation of call forwarding
Business customers' package
Direct inward dialing—Business group
Direct outward dialing—Business group
Directed call pickup with barge-in
Directed call pickup without barge-in
Distinctive ringing for direct inward dial
Distinctive ringing/call waiting
Voice mail with partner platforms
Unified messaging with partners
Platform Features
Numbering plan and dial procedures
Casual dialing (dial around) (101XXXX+digits)
Directory services (411, 555-1212, 0+listing services)
Easily recognizable codes (500, 700)
Information service calls (900 and 976)
N11 support (311, 411, 611, 711, 811)
(0, 00, 0+, 01+, CAC+0+, CAC+01+)
Busy line verification and operator interrupt
Dialing parity (IntraLATA toll presubscription)
Regulatory and operational features
Tandem and Routing Features
Policy-based routing
Calling area policy-based routing
Automatic number identification delivery and blocking
Digital Number Identification Service outpulsing and overflow treatment
Incoming 800 service