[Asterisk-Users] Who would use Asterisk SS7?

[Mike M]

Hello.  I am new to this forum.  If this issue has been discussed already, 
please inform me, but my STFW have indicated that it has not.

If SS7 were available on * would it make commercial sense to use it?  There 
are case studies on the web (courtesy of the Death Star :->) for ISPs with 
10,000+ subscriber lines showing clear cost savings in transitioning from PRI 
to SS7 controlled IMT.  My question is focused on * and its users.  More 
detail might help.  The discussion below assumes a North American PSTN and US 
currency.  

If a * user connects to the PSTN with a PRI it will cost $900/month (in 1998 
according to [1]).  An equivalent connection with SS7/IMT is $3000/month 
($2500 for two SS7 A-links and one or two route sets and $500 for the IMT).  
The SS7/IMT method becomes a better deal when more than 72 VGC (3 x T1-24ch) 
are needed.  Are there any * users that use or forsee using 72+ VGC to the 
PSTN?

I know in at least one or two markets the monthly cost of 2 A-links is closer 
to $1800/month.  I cannot verify any of the other costs in the model above, 
but they seem about right.

Can anyone provide a similar PRI versus SS7/IMT cost model for any other 
parts of the world?  

[1] http://www.tmcnet.com/articles/ctimag/0998/featureBay.htm

TIA,
-- 
Mike M.