(COMTEX) B: SATELLITE INDUSTRY COULD BE HOT MARKET FOR INTELLIGENT NE
B: SATELLITE INDUSTRY COULD BE HOT MARKET FOR INTELLIGENT NETWORKS
Sep. 02, 1998 (INTELLIGENT NETWORK NEWS, Vol. 8, No. 18 via COMTEX)
-- There is something in the sky that intelligent networking industry
leaders should be taking note of - satellites.
These pieces of telco equipment, often referred to as "birds," are
being launched into orbit at an amazingly rapid pace and, most
importantly, they will be deploying phone services very soon. In fact,
one satellite carrier claims it will begin service by the end of the
month.
...IN Fits The Bill
What might be the first significant equipment contract between a
satellite consortium and an IN vendor has come to pass, and an
avalanche of interest in similar deals is expected to follow.
Dallas-based DSC Communications Corp. [DIGI] signed a contract for
several of its INfusion service control points (SCPs) with the New
York-based satellite consortium Globalstar Telecommunications [GSTRF],
which is led by Loral Space & Communications. The contract, which DSC
will only say is worth between $5 million and $10 million, represents
the first time DSC has sold IN equipment to a satellite company.
Although Globalstar plans to deploy other IN services, it is starting
with two SCP-based applications: An IS-41 home location register (HLR)
and authentication center (AC). Using these applications, Globalstar
will implement global roaming, as well as advanced authorization and
fraud prevention capabilities.
Beginning in 1999, Globalstar will offer wireless and other
telecommunications services around the world by selling access to a
global network of regional and local telcos. So far, the telcos signed
up as Globalstar partners include AirTouch Communications,
Hyundai/DACOM, France Telecom, Alcatel, China Telecom and Vodafone.
This represents coverage for Globalstar in more than 100 countries.
Currently, Globalstar has eight satellites in orbit. But by the end of
1998 it expects to have launched 44 satellites, with a total of 56
satellites sitting in orbit by the second quarter of 1999.
...A Boon For Network Integration
The point of using an SCP-based HLR is to facilitate global roaming
effectively. Global roaming may be a buzz word for an even grander
scheme in the future, the true integration of wireless and wireline
networks.
(COMTEX) B: SATELLITE INDUSTRY COULD BE HOT MARKET FOR INTELLIGENT NE
B: SATELLITE INDUSTRY COULD BE HOT MARKET FOR INTELLIGENT NETWORKS
Sep. 02, 1998 (INTELLIGENT NETWORK NEWS, Vol. 8, No. 18 via COMTEX)
-- There is something in the sky that intelligent networking industry
leaders should be taking note of - satellites.
These pieces of telco equipment, often referred to as "birds," are
being launched into orbit at an amazingly rapid pace and, most
importantly, they will be deploying phone services very soon. In fact,
one satellite carrier claims it will begin service by the end of the
month.
...IN Fits The Bill
What might be the first significant equipment contract between a
satellite consortium and an IN vendor has come to pass, and an
avalanche of interest in similar deals is expected to follow.
Dallas-based DSC Communications Corp. [DIGI] signed a contract for
several of its INfusion service control points (SCPs) with the New
York-based satellite consortium Globalstar Telecommunications [GSTRF],
which is led by Loral Space & Communications. The contract, which DSC
will only say is worth between $5 million and $10 million, represents
the first time DSC has sold IN equipment to a satellite company.
Although Globalstar plans to deploy other IN services, it is starting
with two SCP-based applications: An IS-41 home location register (HLR)
and authentication center (AC). Using these applications, Globalstar
will implement global roaming, as well as advanced authorization and
fraud prevention capabilities.
Beginning in 1999, Globalstar will offer wireless and other
telecommunications services around the world by selling access to a
global network of regional and local telcos. So far, the telcos signed
up as Globalstar partners include AirTouch Communications,
Hyundai/DACOM, France Telecom, Alcatel, China Telecom and Vodafone.
This represents coverage for Globalstar in more than 100 countries.
Currently, Globalstar has eight satellites in orbit. But by the end of
1998 it expects to have launched 44 satellites, with a total of 56
satellites sitting in orbit by the second quarter of 1999.
...A Boon For Network Integration
The point of using an SCP-based HLR is to facilitate global roaming
effectively. Global roaming may be a buzz word for an even grander
scheme in the future, the true integration of wireless and wireline
networks.
"The HLR can be shared by multiple networks," says Phil Bowman,
director of network architecture at Globalstar. In addition, he
continues, the SCP platform leaves Globalstar open to deploying other
capabilities, such as short messaging and personal numbering.
Mark Klimek, director of marketing for Wireless IN at DSC, says the
reason Globalstar chose a DSC service control point is because it is
more flexible for use as an HLR than a standard mobile switching center
(MSC) would be and is, therefore, better suited for life in a satellite
environment.
"With Globalstar, there's going to be global roaming," Klimek says.
"So there are more types of numbering plans to deal with." The HLR
allows protocol conversion among the differing numbering plans, which
is essential for offering seamless service internationally.
A further attraction for Globalstar was the availability of a service
creation environment on the SCP that enables the carrier to create new
applications. Which means rapid development, testing and modification
of intelligent network services.
...Betting On Global Standards
The fact Globalstar opted to buy an SCP, rather than an MSC, is
fairly consequential. The company is poised for what the new era of
telecom will involve, such as follow-me/one number services and global
standards, which let customers use the same phone and number for work,
home, travel and just about anywhere else.
"[Globalstar] is well-positioned for the evolving WIN [wireless
intelligent network] standards," Klimek says. "Globalstar could
facilitate wireless/wireline integration."
Jerry Krasner, a research editor at the Wellesley, Mass.-based
publishing and conference company Miller Freeman Electronics Group,
says the combination of IN and satellites is an exciting prospect to
ponder.
"It's a very exciting thing," Krasner says. "All that it is going to
do is add to the market for IN."
Krasner also senses potential from satellites in facilitating the
much talked about wireless/wireline integration. "That works
beautifully as well," he says. "It looks like Globalstar's getting a
jump on everyone else. I think the idea of bouncing [bandwidth] off of
a satellite is just fabulous. I would think that it opens up new
aspects of the market." (Terry Adams, DSC, 972/519-4358; Michael
Sites, Globalstar, 408/933-4563; Jerry Krasner, Miller Freeman,
781/235-8539.)
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