Telecom NZ to convert PSTN to IP by 2012

Stuart Corner
Monday, 05 September 2005 19:03

Your IT - Home IT

Telecom New Zealand has announced plans to invest $NZ220 million to convert its PSTN network to VoIP. The first residential customers will migrate onto the new network by early 2007 and all 1.7 million customer lines will be transitioned to the new platform by 2012. Telecom NZ described the project as "a critical milestone in the multi-year, $NZ1.4 billion transition to a totally new network platform that will deliver triple play (voice, data and video bundle) services." Alcatel, which has a long-term contract to manage Telecom NZ's fixed networks, will be the big winner from the upgrade. Telecom COO, Simon Moutter, said: "We believe the Alcatel solution is the best international technology option for the rollout of next generation services to New Zealanders." For the IP voice platform project, Telecom and Alcatel are building: an IP voice call control platform and trunk gateways to switch and process IP voice traffic to and from the current PSTN; 'border security' to prevent unauthorised access, detect and prevent security threats and provide voice security; the capability to deliver an IP voice trunking product to connect enterprise VoIP systems to Telecom's network; adaptation of Alcatel's NGN solutions to the New Zealand environment, enabling the equipment to interoperate with other networks and billing and service management systems. Alcatel will supply its 5020 softswitch platform to support the migration of PSTN network towards a full IP infrastructure and the Alcatel 8690 Open Services Platform to deliver next generation, multimedia services for end users.