[LINK] Telstra now 60% IP Network Core

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Softswitches put to test
Chris Jenkins (snip)
AUGUST 24, 2006 

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20238582%5E15320%5E%5Enbv%
5E,00.html
 
TELSTRA has cut the ribbon on its new $50 million IP networking test bed, 
home to what the company says are the only operational softswitches in 
the country.

"The new laboratory will conduct end-to-end testing of the IP network and 
associated new products, enabling their smooth integration into the 
Telstra network," Mr Winn said. 

Part of the lab's work was to test the softswitch technology due to be 
rolled out to capital city exchanges by the end of 2008. Supplied by 
Alcatel, five pairs of Alcatel softwitches will be installed in Sydney, 
Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, replacing 116 conventional 
switches. 

"Each softswitch is roughly the size of refrigerator and can handle up to 
a million customers," Mr Winn said. In contrast, the existing switches 
were the size of a small building and could handle only 120,000 customers 
each, he said. 

At its annual results briefing last week, Telstra chief executive Sol 
Trujillo said that work to move the company to an IP network core was 60 
per cent complete.
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Cheers all ..
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia