[Asterisk-Users] Softswitch

[Eric Wieling]

As I understand it for large numbers of channels the TelCo usually
provides a DS-3 or higher to the customer.  The customer either connects
that directly to their equipment (if their equipment supports it) or
breaks the DS-3 out into multiple T-1 channels.

As for the actual signaling it's either MF/DTMF (inband), PRI (out of
band), or SS7 (out of band, usually only for TelCo-TelCo connections). 
Obviously your equipment has to support the signaling used.  Most
everything supports MF/DTMF and PRI, but not much supports SS7.

TelCos don't like to provide SS7 services.  As I understand it, there
isn't a whole lot of damage control facilities for SS7.  So, if you have
a piece of SS7 equipment that freaks out it can affect a large number of
things all over the PSTN.  A company with an SS7 connection to the
another TelCo can do all sorts if interesting things like make calls
that are billed to any number on the PSTN.  IIRC, TelCos do require some
kind of certification for SS7 equipment.

I could be wrong about some of this, but I'm sure lots of people will
correct me if I am.

--Eric

On Fri, 2003-11-07 at 22:30, Darren Martz wrote:
> Thanks Brian, and thanks again for the included definitions <grin> - that
> helped too. Your comments are really helping clear many questions.
> 
> I suppose our intensions are to become an IXC.
> 
> So if my local carrier is sporting old technology, they'll provide TDM
> services. So if I understood you correctly, the "in-band signaling" is
> typically SS7, and the alternative is typically PRI? Sounds like one carrier
> more of the call management tasks and the other is a more finished product -
> and you pay more for each PRI channel right?

-- 
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