Government–owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Ltd (BSNL) and Huawei have joined
hands to transit BSNL’s traditional telephone exchanges to Next
Generation Networks (NGN).
Replacement of existing equipment
with Internet Protocol (IP) based NGN switches would be carried out in a phased
manner in major circles, said a joint company release.
The migration to NGN network will be
seamless for end-users and once in place, users can expect much improved voice
quality and broadband experience.
In essence, migration to IP-based
packet switches and servers will set the platform for Fixed Mobile Convergence
(FMC), which breaks down distinctions between fixed and
mobile networks and provides customers seamless inter-operability of wired and
wireless voice and broadband services at home, office or while on the move.
In January this year, BSNL successfully
made Voice/Video calls between Bangalore and Hyderabad through
recently built NGN C-5/IMS network of Huawei.
The PSU is targeting this
replacement in a phased manner during which 1 million lines would be replaced
in Phase-I
and 3 Million lines in Phase-II to migrate a total of existing 4 million
PSTN subscribers to IMS (IP Multi-media Subsystem)
platform.
This would help BSNL reduce the
overall operational expenditure and offer better services to customers.
“We are happy to inform our users that
BSNL is rolling out state-of-the-art NGN from Huawei in 21 telecom circles in India, with a clear
objective of providing world-class voice and data services to our customers.
This architecture will reduce the overall OPEX leading to an improved
profitability and lower costs to end users. Once NGN is fully commissioned,
BSNL customers can expect much improved voice quality and richer broadband
experience,” said R. K. Upadhyay, CMD of BSNL.
“With this new technology, BSNL will
be able to migrate 4 million existing PSTN subscribers to IMS platform and
offer next generation services besides voice, such as video, IPTV, IP-Centrex
and MMVC,” said N. K. Gupta, director (CFA), BSNL.
