SingTel Picks Cisco VOIP

SINGAPORE -- SingTel is building its new international wholesale voice service, VoicePlus, around a "soft switching" Voice over IP solution from Cisco Systems. Cisco's carrier-class international switching solution, which was tailored specially to SingTel's needs, provides SingTel with a scalable and reliable platform that is open and standards-based. SingTel Aeradio, a systems integrator in Singapore, project-managed and undertook the network build-out for the VoicePlus service. SingTel's VoicePlus provides premium quality voice termination in nine countries in Asia Pacific as well as in the UK and in the US. Cisco's international switching solution enables the VoicePlus network to interconnect seamlessly with existing PSTN networks as well as VoIP networks of other telecom carriers by supporting rich signaling protocols including SS7. Quality of Service technologies permit high quality voice to be carried over a packet network. Cisco's VoIP solution provides intelligent routing, automatic call rerouting, flexible announcement and powerful number translation capabilities that improves on the functionalities of traditional voice switches today. This enables SingTel to develop new and attractive retail and wholesale service offerings, improve network efficiency and resiliency, and enhance quality of service. Additional services such as pre-paid and post-paid calling card, IP-based audio conferencing, and voice mail services can be delivered from the same network using applications developed by companies in Cisco's Service Provider Solutions Ecosystem Partner Program. "VoicePlus is an important service for SingTel because it enables us to push the envelope of packet-based technologies to deliver both traditional voice services as well as new value-added voice services. More importantly, the solution provides us with investment protection, as it is capable of performing the key functionalities of a traditional voice gateway or international switching center. Cisco's proven track record in providing solutions for reliable VoIP networks for not just SingTel but carriers around the world was a key factor in our decision to work with them on this VoicePlus service," said Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, a senior director in SingTel's International Carrier Services Group. SingTel Cisco Systems Inc.