|
Americas Issue: September 2006
Cover Story
Building the Perfect Beast
Systems integrators quell IP migration complexity.
by Sean Buckley
In the monolithic TDM world, network equipment and the applications that ran on them came in one neat package. Not so in the emerging IP world where a diversity of compelling network elements and services brings on a new set of complexities never before envisioned.
What service providers need to make this transition is a helping hand. Enter the network integrator. Service providers are turning to their traditional OEM vendors such as Alcatel, Lucent (LWS), Siemens/Nokia, Nortel and Ericsson to serve as systems integrators.
Take Sprint, which recently announced it would build a nationwide WiMAX network, adding to its network list that now includes IMS, iDEN and CDMA.
Iyad Tarazi, Sprint’s vice president of technology development, says the integrator is crucial to stay ahead of the competitive curve.
“The industry has changed from one where you could get vertical applications already built and the integration job was just connecting them on standard interfaces to the rest of the boxes to one where you’re not buying a box anymore but applications and software,” Tarazi explains. “Without an integrator helping you across a horizontal view of the network, it’s very hard to get the job done.”
John Marcus, senior analyst for telecom infrastructure services at Current Analysis, agrees: “Growth of professional and managed services is occurring because of the drive to reduce expenses, the growing need for multi-vendor expertise, and increasing competition, where service providers’ eyes are on the commercial prize and not as much on the dials and widgets that control the network,” Marcus says. “Using vendor services is a way to confront increased complexity while reducing risk. It also brings the vendor and operator closer together, giving the former greater insight into the real problems and opportunities faced within the latter’s organization and network.”
A Matter of Trust
Want to read the whole article?
A complete article view is available only to registered members.
Registration is FREE and offers great benefits.
Click here to register if you are not a registered member. Once registered, you gain access to telecommagazine.com.
Already registered? Click Here to Login >>
If you are already a registered member, but do not remember your username and/or password, click here.
|
