Metaswitch eNews - February 2007
Metaswitch Professional Services Delivers Migration Solution To First Communications
First Communications of Akron, Ohio contracted Metaswitch Professional Services
to undertake a comprehensive network migration solution from their existing two
Nortel DMS500s and UNE-P customer base to a Metaswitch next-generation network consisting
of a pair of geographically distributed Call Agents and three MG3510 Media Gateways.
The services provided included Network Design, Installation, Commissioning, Migration
Planning, Subscriber Migration Scripts and MOPs, Training and Project Management.
The kick-off meeting in February 2006 made one thing clear; the project was on a
tight schedule in order to cap the legacy costs. However, there were several other
key benefits; it enabled First Communications to collapse both of their DMS500 switches
onto a single next generation softswitch platform, reduced costs for space, power
and maintenance while enabling the capacity for rapid new service delivery and feature
upgrades. This new network architecture enabled First Communications to simultaneously
design and build a VoIP-based college campus solution using a Broadband-over-powerline
infrastructure, all over the same network infrastructure with a significantly reduced
cost compared to TDM networks.
So what did this Metaswitch solution actually entail?
- Network Design
This is critical to a successful deployment; the Metaswitch design addressed equipment
selection, redundancy, IP addressing, future growth requirements, location of call
agents and media gateways, SBC evaluation, bandwidth and Quality of Service. Implementing
the Metaswitch design has allowed First Communications to ramp up their customer
deployments, offer new services and successfully manage their network.
- Installation, Commissioning and PSTN Facilities Migration
Metaswitch support provided enhanced installation services to commission all of
the solution components including the set-up of translations, trunks and SS7 A-links/F-links.
This deployment required careful implementation of the point code proxy configuration
to minimize the visibility of changes to the local and long distance carriers. Point
code proxy allows Metaswitch to assume the point code and the PSTN connectivity
of the legacy equipment, proxying the SS7 signaling via F-links to the legacy switches.
In this deployment Metaswitch took over the 4 point codes and 8 A-links from the
2 legacy DMS500s switches.
- Subscriber Migration
The Metaswitch subscriber migration solution needed to address multiple types of
subscribers; there were DLC-based POTS, PRI, T1 CAS and Nortel propriety Centrex
(P-Phone) subscribers that required migration. Metaswitch used its strong partner
relationships to assist with developing the most efficient solution. The DLC vendor,
Zhone, was engaged to assist with the migration of propriety DLC signaling to standard
GR303 and Cisco Systems was consulted to develop the P-phone migration for their
largest customer's transition to a Cisco Call Manager solution. Metaswitch Professional
Services provided a comprehensive suite of tools to allow First Communications to
extract the subscriber configuration data from the Nortel DMS-500s and migrate it
to Metaswitch.
- Pre-deployment testing
Metaswitch worked with First Communications to develop a subscriber services test
and acceptance plan. The acceptance plan was executed before the first cutover to
verify all the systems were ready and after the cutover to verify subscriber services.
Key to this was the testing of all services in First Communications' lab prior to
service deployment.
- Migration Planning and Support
Metaswitch worked closely with First Communications to devise a migration schedule
and provide support for out-of-hours migration work. Tight coordination of both
subscriber and PSTN trunk migrations was required to ensure subscribers continued
to receive the expected level of service. As subscribers are moved from the legacy
switches to the Metaswitch, PSTN trunks are swung to support that traffic.
- Training
Prior to service launch, Metaswitch provided a custom developed on-site training
class for First Communications engineering, network operations and subscriber provisioning
staff.
- Project Management
Last, but not least, the overall process was managed by a concerted effort from
a Metaswitch Project Manager working closely with First Communications Director
of Engineering. This close working relationship allowed for the quick evaluation
and resolution to unexpected issues that will inevitably occur in a project of this
magnitude and schedule constraints.
Charles Leedy, Ph.D., Vice President of Network Operations at First Communications
had this to say about Metaswitch: "MetaSwitch and their Professional Services
and Customer Support organization are top notch. Metaswitch brought a complete,
end to end solution to the table and then executed on the vision. Together, our
joint efforts enabled us to deploy this next-generation network and successfully
migrate our subscribers from the Nortel DMS-500s. They are a true partner."
If you need support with design, commissioning, network migration, custom engineering
or project management, the Metaswitch Professional Services team can help. Every
network is unique, as is every service provider. The Metaswitch Professional Services
team is here to supplement your internal capabilities and ensure that your network
rollout is a success. "We're here to augment our customer's capability or provide
the resource necessary", said Paul Drew, Senior Director of the Metaswitch
Professional Services Team. "The Metaswitch Professional Services team is staffed
with some of our most talented engineers, with the experience and in-depth knowledge
of our products to ensure a successful deployment."
Contact your Metaswitch Sales Representative to find out what the Metaswitch Professional
Services team can do for your company, today.
Back to the February 2007 newsletter