FAREHAM, U.K. -- A carrier-grade Ocean iPC intelligent protocol converter from Telsis, recently deployed by Jersey Telecom to provide low-latency data connectivity between dial-up Internet users and their ISPs, is now to be partnered by a second unit to support the operator’s next-generation 999 system.
“The resilience of the iPC was a significant factor for our dial-up data needs, but it is absolutely central to our new emergency services system,” says Jersey Telecom’s core network manager Chris Petra.
Jersey Telecom’s first Ocean iPC was ordered after other alternatives for upgrading or replacing the existing dial access solution were ruled out. Converting the SS7 protocol to ETSI ISDN Q.931, the Ocean iPC offers a circuit efficient, cost-effective solution without adding additional latency, as well as providing far greater flexibility and high reliability.
“Some people might be surprised that with our rapidly growing broadband customer base that we are investing in dial-up users,” says Petra. “We do think that Jersey will be near 100% broadband penetration by approximately 2009, but at the moment we are seeing a steady pattern of dial-up usage, primarily because slower, older PCs equipped with modems are being handed down within households and families, rather than being thrown away.”
“Our positive experience with the first iPC was a significant factor in placing the order with Telsis for a second platform to support the interface to our new Operator Services System with conversion between UK ISUP and Q.931. But this is not just about robustness. The Ocean iPC also supports a wide range of protocols which means we will have two high-availability systems capable of handling pretty much any conversion requirement we have in the future.”
Telsis Ltd.