Benefits Of Convergence

The emergence of voice video & data ‘convergence’ has caused business decision makers to rethink their current network strategies. In trying to reduce their operating costs, increase productivity and improve Return On Investment, businesses are cautious about investment timing and are faced with tough technology choices.

Transport Network Convergence
At the heart of the convergence model is network convergence, whereby voice video & multimedia traffic are converted to ‘packets’ allowing them to be integrated with data traffic on a common shared IP transport architecture. This convergence reduces costly and complex network layers and with careful design can produce savings in bandwidth, equipment expenditure and equipment administration.

Converged Services
The converged network brings together the best of the internet and voice worlds introducing high value, cutting edge, mobility enabled, converged communications services. It also creates an environment that facilitates open service creation using open Application Programming Interfaces.

Dispersion of Functions
Technologies such as IP Telephony (IPT) and Voice Over IP (VoIP) allow network functions to be dispersed throughout network with bearer independent access to applications & services. Complex call processing functions and applications can be centralised and low complexity media handling functions can be flexibly distributed throughout the network.

Operator Specific Benefits
By introducing converged architectures and services Operators can develop a more flexible business model providing opportunities for product expansion and a rapid change in market positioning. The development of new service models can also help to overcome voice commoditisation.

Long distance domestic and interborder Operators can divert excess voice traffic to IP backbones.

Internet service providers (ISPs) and greenfield Operators can grow existing IP backbones to carry VoIP and gain a share of the lucrative voice services market.

For trunk exhaustion and capacity expansion, Operators can future proof capital expenditure by investing in carrier grade, highly scaleable, and interoperable converged infrastructure.

Benefits for the Enterprise
Carrier PSTN and leased circuit charges can be reduced using PSTN toll bypass (particularly for international calls) by running voice and video traffic over the LAN, WAN and Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

IT department productivity can be improved with centralised network administration, and the simplified moves, adds & changes that IP provides.

Common building wiring for both voice and data traffic can provide for rapid office expansion and the introduction of new offices.

Enhanced business communication brought about by IP PBXs, multimedia collaborative applications, unified messaging and efficient videoconferencing can improve employee productivity.

Remote Offices can take advantage of centralised IP PBX architectures with distributed IP phones providing consistent user experience for all offices regardless of size or location.

The ‘IP anywhere’ concept improves mobility for road-warriors and home-workers who gain access to the office services and benefit from enhanced unified messaging services.

Realising Benefits
Convergence offers exciting new business opportunities for every type of business. Businesses that are delaying IT and telecoms investment are preparing IP infrastructures knowing that it is not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ to invest in converged technology.

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