Sonus Networks (News - Alert), Inc., which specializes in IP networking, announced the successful completion of BICS' IP-based core network migration.

 

The project involved more than 10,000 E1 TDM and SIP trunks. The new core IP network features advanced IP capabilities such as centralized routing, hybrid trunking and secure session border control, said Sonus sources.

 

In a release Pierre-Andre Rulmont, Chief Technical Officer for BICS said, "We are extremely pleased with the IP networking know-how and the ability of Sonus architects and services personnel to deliver on large scale projects with complex integration and risk management requirements, as evidenced by the success of this ambitious project that was completed in less than 15 months."

  

The advanced IP core network will help in linearly scaling the capacity and also offering new IP-based services to address customer demand while consolidating and managing traffic from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The network will use only few central locations, and will also ensure security of network borders, said BICS officials.

 

Company sources added that the network transformation involved replacing TDM trunking with a SIP core, adding centralized routing and policy management capabilities besides assuring inter-working with the legacy ISUP connections. It also supports several international standards currently in use by BICS.  

 

BICS is a large wholesale voice provider in the world serving a diverse and growing customer base with unique requirements. This made it necessary to enhance network capabilities to serve existing customers besides also enabling enhanced service offerings for new customers.

 

Guru Pai, chief operating officer at Sonus Networks said, "BICS is a great example of a large tier-one service provider that has demonstrated thought leadership in its approach to architecting its network for business growth."

 

Pai also said that Sonus' unique hybrid trunking solution helped BICS to migrate its legacy TDM connections to IP without downtime or service disruption. It also enables easy management of multiple traffic types centrally and also launching of new IP services using the flexible IP core.

 

The Sonus next generation network deployed at BICS will also centrally manage policy and routing on the BICS network irrespective of the traffic type. Sonus sources added that the same implementation will concurrently support BICS legacy TDM traffic and next generation IP traffic.

 

The new BICS core IP network comprises of the GSX9000 Open Services Switch, PSX Call Routing Server, SGX Signaling Gateway (News - Alert), the Sonus Insight Management System, and the NBS9000 Network Border Switch which enables enhanced border security and advanced IP peering capabilities.