Replacing PSTN with VoIP wise? Was Re: Phone networks struggle in Hurricane Katrina's wake

Wed Aug 31 08:04:27 UTC 2005

At the risk of replying to myself,

The below article is about the core, not the edge....
Theres another article on Telecom's site relating to trials for edge IP
equipment.  So my take on the NZ situation was a bit warped.

I do see a risk in the move toward IP systems at the edge. At the 
core is a different story to at least some degree.
Twas also pointed out that British Telecom are heading down the same track 
as Telecom NZ, and their rollout should be completed earlier.  I trust 
therefore that it has all been thought out in terms of robustness and the 
like.

As was pointed out to me offlist, when the PSTN falls over,
alternate-network based IP systems do have their merits - but I've always 
favoured the simple over the complex from a view of resilience.  IP stuff 
has that many more layers to break?

Operationally, natural disasters and the like do reveal our
reliance on increasingly complex systems, with x number of additional
dependencies that can take the service down.

Of course, events like Katrina are fairly extreme, but in general, people 
should have some sort of fallback position.  Its not a bad general rule.

Mark.

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005, Mark Foster wrote:

>
> Telecom New Zealand announced the other day their intention to do precisely 
> this.
>
> "In relatively short order we will replace the entire PSTN and be delivering 
> all our services for customers over the IP network. That has the potential to 
> reduce costs for customers and put a lot more control and flexibility in 
> customers. hands, wherever they are . at home, at work or on the move.."
>
> From http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/releases_detail.asp?id=3223&page=index
>
> I have to say I would usually agree with you - but it looks like I may not 
> have a choice, going forward... The whole country to be migrated by 2012.
>
> The whole idea of not having POTS to fall back on doesn't sit well with me - 
> As part of AREC we prepare for a situation where all other means have failed. 
> Suddenly it seems so much more likely... ?
>
> Mark.
>
>
>
> On Tue, 30 Aug 2005, Fergie (Paul Ferguson) wrote:
>
>> 
>> Me? I personally never trade my POTS for VoIP...
>> 
>> - ferg
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -- Iljitsch van Beijnum <iljitsch at muada.com> wrote:
>> 
>> On 30-aug-2005, at 22:08, Fergie (Paul Ferguson) wrote:
>> 
>>> "In this age of cheap commoditized consumer electronics and
>>> advanced mobile technology, why can't all the people of a city make
>>> contact during an emergency?
>> 
>> Simple: it's too expensive.
>> 
>> Keep this in mind when trading in your POTS service for VoIP service
>> over the internet. Discounting the local loop which is often the same
>> in both cases, POTS is extremely reliable while VoIP over the public
>> internet, well, isn't. But apparently people that switch to VoIP
>> don't mind the reduced likelihood of being able to make calls during
>> the next large scale emergency.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>