Bay Networks has issued an informational Request for Comment (iRFC) to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for an open industry standard protocol which supports interworking between Signaling System 7 (SS7) network elements and Internet elements such as Remote Access Servers (RAS). Ever-increasing demands on network infrastructures are driving service providers to SS7 as the alternative for off-loading data traffic from the PSTN. Support for Bay`s open Access Signaling Protocol (ASP) specification would facilitate the widest choice of suppliers and widespread interoperability. Enabling an end-to-end solution that offers SS7 signaling between Bay`s Versalar RACs and telecommunication voice switches, the open standard will also expand upon the number of revenue-driven services a carrier can offer. SS7 networking is the primary means used in the PSTN for control of circuit-switched connections and value-added PSTN services such as calling card validation and intelligent network services. The announcement reinforces Bay`s commitment to the development of a SS7 protocol to enable integrated voice and data networking in service provider networks worldwide. Demand for Internet access is driving architectural changes in the PSTN. The determining factor for these changes is found in the software that controls the network. For IP networks to work better in conjunction with the PSTN, there needs to be a way for these networks to "speak" to each other. Bay`s ASP initiative is an excellent way to enable the development of open standards for IP-to-PSTN interworking. The release of the iRFC to the IETF is targeted to stimulate the development of SS7 Gateway Software across multiple platforms including Unix and NT. As the telecommunications industry rapidly converges through a series of innovative partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, the old notion of telecommunication convergence - delivering video and voice over a common physical medium - has been swept away by the ascendance of IP. Carriers are scrambling to offer managed services and Bay`s commitment to both an industry-wide standard and a SS7 gateway will free up congestion on burgeoning voice networks. Bay and Stratus Computer have an agreement to work together to define and develop the open Access Signaling Protocol for SS7 gateways and to drive the standards process. Bay is continuing to make the protocol available to its partners.
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