STCOKHOLM -- i3 micro technology and Operax have entered a strategic partnership to develop a solution for supporting dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) in triple play broadband communications that includes the customer premise. The joint solution will allow broadband operators to guarantee QoS by intelligently and dynamically handling the QoS needs of each individual service in a converged triple play offering. Specific focus is placed on incorporating the traditionally weakest link, the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), into the total end-to-end solution.

The joint solution, which is well aligned with both ETSI TISPAN and the Multiservice Forum (MSF) architecture, leverages the intelligence and unique upstream QoS handling in i3 CPE together with Operax Triple Play, the leading technology for bandwidth management and QoS control in IP networks.

The platforms
The i3 Vood™ portfolio (Voice options on demand) provides both VoIP and intelligent IP gateway functionality that allows service providers to increase their control and influence of the end user experience, providing more dynamic, personalized and managed broadband services.

The i3 Mood™ portfolio (Media options on demand) consists of IP set-top boxes for advanced IP streaming media and Internet services, web browsing and e-mail. Mood Set-top boxes allow service providers to offer a wide range of interactive IP services on existing TV and audio equipment.

The Operax Triple Play product for resource and policy based admission control is based on Operax patented core technology that ensures QoS in end-to-end transport of IP services or applications. It allows network operators and service providers to offer their customers differentiated services for voice, video and data, attracting new customers and reducing churn.

The end-to-end perspective
"Realizing the advantages of triple play requires an end-to-end perspective that provides for dynamic and dependable service handling,” says Peter Galyas, CTO at i3 micro technology. “Advanced and centralized operator managed capabilities in i3 CPE, including upstream QoS handling, enable service providers to move their network edge to the customer premise. The strategic partnership between i3 and Operax allows us to provide an even more powerful CPE solution to service providers, enabling them to provide a true carrier-grade triple play offering to their subscribers."

“We are very pleased to partner with i3 micro technology”, says Daniel Hydén, VP Marketing Operax. “The evolution of multiple 'always-on' broadband services to the home demand advanced solutions for guaranteed end-to-end QoS. Our partnership strengthens our capability to offer end-to-end QoS solutions for Triple Play services that include all areas of the network, including the customer premises."

In a separate release:

STOCKHOLM -- Operax and i3 micro technology today announced a joint solution that enables broadband operators to provide guaranteed QoS, also for upstream connections all the way from the customer premises. This is a key functionality for making VoIP a secure alternative for delivery of emergency calls, home alarms, and other critical end-to-end applications in Next Generation Networks (NGN).

Under the strategic partnership between Operax and i3 micro technology, a solution for support of dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) in triple play broadband communications that includes the customer premises has been developed. The joint solution allows broadband operators to develop complete service offerings of voice, video and data with guaranteed QoS, also for upstream connections all the way from the customers’ premises, giving the capability to guarantee end-to-end transport of emergency calls and alarm functions.

This is a key component required for broadband operators offering VoIP as a full replacement service to the circuit switched PSTN. It also adheres to Operax capabilities in support of signaling VoIP call end-to-end in the NGN, as demonstrated at the MSF Global Interoperability test 2004. The result was a success and proved that an all-IP network with Operax bandwidth manager fulfills the high demands dictacted by the US National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP).

“The role of the CPE cannot be neglected when broadband operators look to deliver the same service guarantees provided in existing legacy networks for telephony and TV,” says Peter Galyas, CTO at i3 micro technology. “i3 CPE offers advanced and centralized operator managed capabilities, including the upstream application layer QoS handling needed to provide true carrier-grade services. The i3 / Operax partnership allows us to offer an even more comprehensive solution that service providers can count on for all types of triple play services."

The solution, that is well aligned with ETSI TISPAN and the Multiservice Forum (MSF) architecture, combines Operax Triple Play, a carrier class system for resource and policy based admission control, with the i3 product portfolios i3 Vood™ (VoIP and intelligent IP gateway functionality) and i3 Mood™ (set-top boxes for advanced IP streaming media and Internet services).

“We are very proud that we together with i3 can provide an end-to-end QoS solution all the way from the customer premises”, says Daniel Hydén, VP Marketing Operax, “Guarantees for upstream traffic, especially emergency calls, is a key issue for regulators and operators worldwide considering the transformation to VoIP and next generation networks“.

i3 Micro Technology AB

Operax AB