News Feed
Point/Counterpoint…: Is migration to IP happening fast enough? Christian: we’re getting to a momentum. Paul: Telegeography report 16% growth, 27% of international wholesale traffic; technology started in late 1990s. Doesn’t include VoIP on computer-to-computer.
Key deliverables I3 Forum (created by carriers): mandate immigration to IP platform w QOS and security. Is very practical, deliverables in services, standards (supported by technical working group), and operations (best practices in integration). Paul: made a difference in bilateral traffic (retail) and coordinating technical business people, moving forward bilateral traffic will accelerate, also a forerunner to IPx and technical interface requirements.
IPX: a reality, we’re launching their offering, a platform for connectivity of retail traffic, mobile. Today there’s a lot of secure network, but IP network is open and more challenging. Paul: carriers now saying they’re going to do it. Some real serious justifications, many mobile operators working on this, will depend on service offerings. Christian: we’ll see business models changing, but now is similar to current models. Paul: for now, business models work on top but will see changes.
Cautiously optimistic is a common phrase. What are challenges? Industry is turning around, we suffered a lot in bubble. We’re ready to pick up and grow now. Biggest challenge is to reach efficiency, becoming cost efficient; address complexity between countries, players, and industry management, also around fraud in the industry (creating artificial minutes, charging for that traffic). Migrating to a secure environment that industry needs to address.
In 2010: Paul: growth rates slowed in 2008, especially in some regions. 2010 will be better than 2009. As economies come out of recession, we expect that international voice will return to growth path. Need scale and support, pressure on declining prices, etc.
Outsourcing international voice: not their core business, don’t have the scale; outsourcing allows potential to scale, especially in retail market. Whole picture is complex, carrier needs to focus on core business. Paul: varies by carrier type. Incumbents have extensive routing tables, customer types and bilaterals, might be attractive to outsource low volume customers to operators that specialize in that. Voice over broadband and cable companies: international may be new, so outsourcing to existing networks or carriers can facilitate. Mobile operators having been in international markets for as long, outsourcing can help extend routing tables and base. Different decisions for each carrier.
Shape of outsourcing efficiency: partial or full routing, be flexible and adapt to what’s needed by customers. Look for experience, good global networks to keep traffic on-network for security and QOS, expertise that can support their work. Paul: smaller set of carriers that handle outsourcing for industry, must be able to respond to various carrier types, need to have a rich product set. Key factor: trust and transparency between outsourcer and customers.
News Feed