A Step-by-Step Migration Scenario

From PSTN to NGN

(ETSI Market)
T E C H N I C A L P A P E R
Abstract
This paper presents a step-by-step migration scenario from
a TDM-based public switched telephone network (PSTN) to
a packet-based next generation network (NGN). From an
economic point of view, it identifies the drivers and benefits
for an established carrier to consolidate its current network
and to migrate to an NGN. From a technology point of view,
the paper focuses on the role of call/session signaling
protocols, and the opportunity to deploy services and
applications through open interfaces.
A Step-by-Step Migration Scenario
From PSTN to NGN

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Step 1: PSTN for Voice and Internet Access . . . . 2

TDM and SS7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Intelligent Network Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Internet Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: PSTN Consolidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Switch Consolidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Access Consolidation and Voice over DSL . . . . . . . . . . 3
IN-Internet Convergence Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Open Service Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Voice-Over-Packet Trunking . . . . . . . . . . 4

VoP Trunking through Integrated Gateways . . . . . . . . . . 4
Trunking Gateways with Class 4 Softswitch . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 4: Voice-Over-Packet Access . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Class 5 Softswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Residential Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Access Gateway in the DSLAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Distributed Access Gateways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IP Phones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 5: Introduction of Multimedia . . . . . . . . . . . 6

IP Clients with Multimedia Softswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Retailer Portal and Open Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
New Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 6: Migration to Full NGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

End-of-Life Replacement of Legacy Equipment . . . . . . . . . 7
Migration to all-IP Signaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER ALCATEL 1

Introduction In the remainder of this paper, a six-step consolidation

Driven by liberalization, competition, technological
advances and evolving market demand, many telecom
carriers consider implementing a distributed network
architecture, with a common, packet-based transport
layer for voice and data.
This next generation network is characterized by:
▼ A clear separation of access, transport, control and
and expansion scenario is elaborated. It targets established
service providers (ESPs or ILECs) on fixed networks
(although there are many similarities with third generation
(3G) mobile networks). In order to reduce complexity of this
paper, some simplifications have been made at the network
architecture level. Also, quality of service (QoS) on transport
and network management aspects are not addressed.

service layers; Although the proposed scenario suggests a step-by-step

▼ Interoperability through open interfaces between
these layers and all other networks;
▼ Seamless control of multiple transport technologies
(ATM, IP, TDM, FR, etc.);
▼ Use of standards-based network elements
(gateways, softswitches, application servers, etc.)
migration to NGN, it must be understood that there is no
“one size fits all” approach, and that –depending on the
carrier’s specific situation– the content and sequence of
evolutionary steps may vary, and that some steps may
even be omitted.

NGNs hold the promise of offering a range of new data

and multimedia services, giving the carrier access to
new revenues.

Depending on the specific market situation (e.g., developing

vs. developed country) and network saturation of a carrier,
different network evolution strategies may be applied:
▼ Consolidation: optimize the installed PSTN to reduce

capital (CAPEX) and operational expenses (OPEX).

Consolidation can be combined with a selection of
future-safe products to prepare migration to NGN;
▼ Expansion: keep the existing PSTN infrastructure

and services, but introduce an overlay NGN (based

on broadband access) for addressing new customers
and introducing new services (e.g., multimedia);
▼ Replacement: replace PSTN components (at their

end-of-life) with equivalent NGN components.

2 ALCATEL A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER

Step 1: PSTN for Voice and and routing services (such as freephone, premium rate and
Internet Access universal access number), and enterprise network services
The starting point for the migration to NGN is today’s such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and wide area
public switched telephone network. (See Figure 1.) Centrex.

TDM and SS7 [A] Internet Access [C]

In this network, all voice traffic is transported over TDM,
and controlled by a hierarchy of local (LEX or Class 5) and
transit (TEX/Class 4) circuit switches. The voice-related
signaling network (ISUP and INAP) is handled by the SS7
signaling network.
With the growing number of Internet users, carriers are
providing connectivity to Internet service providers (ISP)
either through narrowband (PSTN or ISDN) dialup services,
or through introduction of broadband ADSL (with voice
split off as a separate service).

Intelligent Network Services [B]

Value-added services are provided inside the switches,
or through the intelligent network (IN). Widely spread IN
services include calling card services, number translation

▼ Figure 1: Current PSTN

ISUP

[B] INAP
WWW Servers

SCP TEX TEX

SS7 TDM IP, ATM

STP BAS
NAS
[A] LEX LEX
Voice

Voice [C] DSLAM

Data
Signaling Concentrator
ADSL–NT

POTS, Dialup
ISDN
A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER ALCATEL 3

Step 2: PSTN Consolidation technology provides seamless multiservice access to voice

In the evolutionary move to multimedia and other next
generation applications, the next step is to boost processing
power by consolidating the TDM infrastructure. Network
infrastructure optimization will reduce carriers’ operational
expenses and allow them to generate additional revenues.
(See Figure 2.)
Switch Consolidation [D]
Deployment of a small number of large exchanges (local
and transit) with increased switching capacity, and high
speed interfaces (SDH, ATM) reduces the operator’s OPEX
and enables faster deployment of new services. “Redundant”
switches may be converted to additional remote access
concentrators.
Introduction of new technology with smaller footprint,
or packet fabrics inside the exchanges, allows the carrier
to reduce expenses and reuse the switching infrastructure
for new data services.
Access Consolidation [E] and Voice over DSL [F]
Adding new access nodes and upgrading the existing ones
lets the carrier capitalize on his PSTN, while extending
the coverage area and the bandwidth offered to individual
subscribers (fiber closer to the end user). New access
(POTS, ISDN) and data (ADSL, ATM, IP, FR, etc.) services
and paves the way to NGNs.
Optimization of the ADSL access infrastructure is realized
through introduction of voice over DSL (VoDSL) loop-
emulation services (inverse gateway, with a V5.2/GR303
connection to the LEX).
IN-Internet Convergence Services [G]
Providing an external server to the PSTN and the Internet,
the IN service control point (SCP) may be used as a means
to integrate voice and data into common applications.
Example: IN-Internet convergence applications are click-to-
dial, Internet call waiting, Web-augmented calling, unified
messaging, etc. In order to communicate with the Internet
servers, the SCP has to adopt some IETF protocol suites
(e.g., PINT and SPIRITS).
Open Service Access [H]
To prepare for the NGN and to gain extra revenues from
new services, the network operator may deploy application
gateways (ApGW) with open interfaces (e.g., OSA/Parlay,
JAIN, SIP) toward (third party) application servers (AS).

▼ Figure 2: PSTN consolidation

‘PINT’, ‘SPIRITS’

Parlay, JAIN, SIP

[G]
[H] [D]
WWW Servers

TEX
Application ApGW SCP TEX
Servers SDH
INAP
TDM IP, ATM
SS7

Concentrator
STP NAS
BAS
LEX
V5.2

VoDSL
DSLAM
Voice Concentrator [F]
Data
Signaling

ADSL–NT

[E]
AN

POTS, ATM, IP...

ISDN
4 ALCATEL A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER

Step 3: Voice-Over-Packet Trunking
As one of the basic goals of NGN introduction is to move
to a unique, packet-based infrastructure (presumed with
lower OPEX and CAPEX), voice transport will smoothly
migrate to IP or ATM technology.
Initially, carriers will focus on trunking scenarios to offload
long-distance voice from their TDM network. (See Figure 3.)
Trunking Gateways [J] with Class 4 Softswitch [K]
In order to address existing switches without integration of a
gateway, external trunking gateways, controlled by a Class 4
softswitch (through the H.248 or Megaco protocol), may be
added. From a functional point of view, the softswitch
performs like a Class 4 (Toll/Transit) exchange, with similar
features (e.g., screening and routing), signaling interfaces
(ISUP, INAP) and access to value-added services (IN).

VoP Trunking through Integrated Gateways [I]

The first step toward VoP migration is extending the existing
(local) exchanges with integrated trunking gateways (TGW)
for converting TDM voice into packets (ATM or IP). This
approach guarantees full protection of TDM investments,
while providing the operator with a full fledged trunking-
over-packet solution, as well as continued access to switch
based and IN-based value-added services.

▼ Figure 3: Voice-over-Packet trunking

INAP
[K] ISUP, BICC, SIP-T

H.248
[G]
[D]
[J] Softswitch WWW Servers

Application ApGW SCP TEX TGW

BICC
Servers
SS7 TDM IP, ATM

Concentrator
STP TGW
LEX
[I]
VoDSL
DSLAM
Voice Concentrator
VoP
Signaling

ADSL–NT

AN
A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER ALCATEL 5

Step 4: Voice-Over-Packet Access Access Gateway in the DSLAM [N]

In fast growing markets or in markets with aggressive
deployment of broadband access (ADSL, LMDS, cable)
operators may introduce voice-over-packet technology
to capture growth in the access network, or as a means
to offload the local exchanges from DSL.
Class 5 Softswitch [L]
The Class 5 softswitch with local features (e.g., CLASS,
custom calling) will be a shared control element, but several
alternatives for voice gateways (depending on end user
topology, density, service requirements, etc.) may be deployed.
(See Figure 4). Just as in the Class 4 case, the softswitch will
address the gateways using the H.248 or Megaco protocol.
Residential Gateway [M]
ADSL subscribers may install a residential gateway (RGW)
or integrated access device (IAD) with VoP coding capability.
Contrary to the ADSL with split-off voice [B] or VoDSL loop
emulation [E] solutions, the RGW provides the broadband
user with end-to-end voice-over-packet.
As an alternative to upgrading the CPE of its subscribers,
an ADSL operator may choose to extend the DSLAMs with
VoP gateway functionality.
Distributed Access Gateways [O, P]
Another solution for connecting voice subscribers directly to
the data network is to introduce new access gateways [AGW]
or to upgrade the existing access nodes with AGW
functionality.
IP Phones [Q]
In order to address new generation voice terminals (IP phones),
the Class 5 softswitch can also terminate emerging user-to-
network signaling protocols such as H.323 and SIP.

▼ Figure 4: Voice-over-Packet in access and terminals

[L] ISUP, BICC, SIP-T

INAP

[G]
[D]
Softswitch WWW Servers

Application ApGW SCP TEX TGW H.248 IP, ATM

Servers
SS7 TDM H.248

Concentrator [N] H.323, [O]

STP TGW SIP
LEX

AGW AGW
DSLAM
Voice Concentrator H.248
[P] AGW
VoP
Signaling

[M] RGW ADSL–NT

AN
6 ALCATEL A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER

Step 5: Introduction of Multimedia Retailer Portal and Open Interfaces [T]

There is no doubt that, in the near (and even midterm)
future, voice will be the predominant service, even in
NGNs. The introduction of broadband access in the network,
however, enables the deployment of a new range of data
and multimedia services. These new services will allow
carriers to differentiate and compete with new entrants.
(See Figure 5.)
With the introduction of new business models and
new players (e.g., virtual network operators, third party
application providers, content providers), there is a need
for application access (for authentication, authorization,
accounting, roaming, subscriber profiles, etc.) and service
brokering platforms (terminal capabilities negotiation,
bandwidth brokering, content aggregation, etc.).

IP Clients [R] with Multimedia Softswitch [S]
A prerequisite for the deployment of multimedia services
is the general availability of appropriate terminals. Today’s
personal computers are a good starting point, but it is
expected that the convergence of computer, consumer
and communications technology will result in a number
of new multimedia devices.
Such portals not only provider the network operator with
new business opportunities as a service retailer, but also
clearly separate network control from services functionality.
In a full-fledged NGN architecture, applications and network
will interface through standardized protocols (e.g., SIP) and
APIs (e.g., JAIN, OSA/Parlay).

These new terminals will communicate with the softswitch
through emerging multimedia signaling protocols such as
H.323 and SIP.
In order to fully support the new network and terminal
capabilities, the softswitch is extended with mixed-media
session and QoS control.
New Applications [U]
From an applications viewpoint, “plain vanilla” voice-over-
packet is not considered a differentiator. It is even assumed
that voice services offered on VoP networks will have fewer
features than the ones on circuit networks (especially in an
H.323 environment).

▼ Figure 5: Multimedia

[U]
SIP, Parlay, JAIN
[S] WWW Servers
SIP

Application
Servers

Softswitch
[T]
SCP ApGW TEX Portal
SS7 TDM IP, ATM
SIP,
NAS H.323
STP LEX
Concentrator BAS

Voice AGW
Data Concentrator
DSLAM
VoP
Signaling
ADSL-NT [R]
SIP,
H.323 AN
A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER ALCATEL 7

Therefore evolution of the applications portfolio toward
data and multimedia is considered an absolute prerequisite
for telecom service providers to differentiate, grow and
generate new revenues. Typical examples of multimedia
applications include:
▼ Mixed-media calls/conferences
▼ Real-time data streaming
▼ Instant messaging, presence and location services
▼ Etc.
Step 6: Migration to Full NGN
As a final migration step toward the full NGN, the remaining
legacy PSTN equipment is transformed to or replaced by
NGN ‘compliant’ network components. (See Figure 6.) The
aim of this ultimate (though optional) transformation, is
to capitalize on existing CAPEX (e.g., access concentrators
connected to local exchanges) while further reducing the
OPEX (packet-only network for transport and signaling).

End-of-Life Replacement of Legacy Equipment [V]

Massive deployment of innovative new applications At the end of their life, remaining TDM exchanges and access
will be enabled by the availability of application servers nodes are gracefully transformed to or replaced by trunking
and terminals, with easy-to-use service creation tools. gateways, access gateways and softswitches as outlined in
the previous sections.

Migration to all-IP Signaling [W]

While keeping the upper layers (SCCP, ISUP, TCAP, INAP)
intact, the lower layers of the SS7 signaling network are
replaced by a packet-based equivalent, as defined by the
IETF SIGTRAN working groups.

▼ Figure 6: The full NGN

Application
Servers [W]
WWW
Softswitch
SS7/IP Servers
SCP ApGW
Portal

SS7 TDM
STP TEX
TGW

IP, ATM
[V]
AGW

Voice
Data BAS
LEX
VoP
Signaling AGW

AGW
DSLAM
Concentrator AGW

AN ADSL-NT

RGW
8 ALCATEL A STEP-BY-STEP MIGRATION SCENARIO FROM PSTN TO NGN | TECHNICAL PAPER

Conclusion
Next generation networks do not replace existing networks,
but will gradually expand their capabilities to generate new
revenues thanks to voice-data convergence.

Alcatel’s NGN value proposition toward established carriers

is to help them capitalize on their installed base, expand
switch capacity and boost transmission speeds (consolidation),
while smoothly introducing NGN technology and new
services (expansion and replacement).

Although there is no “one size fits all” solution, and operator

requirements have to be considered on an individual basis,
this approach allows operators to get new revenues from
multimedia and other next generation applications while
maintaining income from voice services and holding costs
down.

Alcatel’s offer covers the full spectrum of solutions presented

in this paper. It includes a wide range of products in the
transport, access, media, control, services and management
layers, complemented by professional services for economic
modeling, network planning, integration and operation.
www.alcatel.com

Alcatel and the Alcatel logo are registered

trademarks of Alcatel. All other trademarks
are the property of their respective owners.
Alcatel assumes no responsibility for the
accuracy of the information presented,
which is subject to change without notice.

© 12 2001 Alcatel. All rights reserved.

3CL 00352 0012 TQZZA Ed.01 11501