CIRCUIT AND PACKET SWITCHING IMPLICATIONS FOR TELECOM OPERATORS

Abstract

The telecom technologies and the industry are changing at a rapid pace. Operators survival is no longer guaranteed, but earned based on sound prudent and proactive planning in line with the trend in the industry. The pervasiveness of the Internet is a major factor influencing current innovations in the industry. Packet is the envelope by which information transported over the Internet is packaged. This means that telecom innovations are currently based on packet technology. It has been over a decade that vendors have brought to the market switching technologies that are packet based, but it is sad that most operators are still deploying circuit-based switches. This paper is intended to bring to the attention of the in operators this trend the industry. Furthermore, it discusses the benefits of packet over circuit technology based on experience of dealing with major telecom Operators in Europe.