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Intelligent Network Services : Welcome to Bangalore

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CIOL Bureau
New Update

The only thing good about missing a technology wave is that

you have less legacy baggage to leapfrog into the 'next big one'. India did this with the

cellular business as we skipped the analog cellular business entirely while boarding the

GSM bus. But as long as you delay catching the wave you are loosing out on revenues that

could otherwise be earned. Department of Telecommunications, Bangalore has finally decided

on introducing IN services.

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Welcome to Bangalore, IN



The telephone network (PSTN) provides access to Intelligent Network services using the
Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol. SS7 is used to enable call set up, management and tear

down, query databases to handle advanced network wide services and subscriber

authentication.

SS7 has paved the way for a world of new

business opportunities by enabling the Intelligent Network services (IN). The IN is an

architecture for delivery of network based services (as opposed to switch based services).

IN uses the SS7 network as the under lying data communications protocol. The IN functions

with a combination of elements such as the Signaling Switching Points (SSP), Signaling

Control Points (SCP) and Signaling Transfer Point (STP) connected by standardized

interfaces of the SS7 network. The IN allows the service providers to separate service

specific functions and data from the other network resources and centralize service logic.

This way the service providers are in complete control of the services they offer.

The IN services that Department of Telecommunication,

Bangalore is planning to launch shortly are Premium Rate Service (PRM), Free Phone

(FPH),

Virtual Calling Card VCC and Account Calling Card.

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Premium Rate Service establishes a call

that is charged at a premium rate (say, Rs. 6 / minute*) and is used by professionals for

consulting on the phone, for example, attorneys. This is similar to the 900 service in

some countries.

Virtual Calling Card and Account Calling Card

are calling cards services that tremendously increase mobility among the telephone user.

It rids the problem of looking for a pay phone or coins in change. These services may vary

slightly depending on implementation but generally allow the user to use any DTMF

telephone, punch in few digits, get authorized over an IVR, and connect to the destination

telephone. The call charges may be deducted off a pre paid amount or be tied to an

existing telephone connection and appear on the phone bill.



IN services have generated billions of dollars in revenue to operators world-wide.

Factors that will influence the success of IN

services in India:




Marketing, Customer education and fraud control. The D o T should make sure that these
services get the attention they deserve by educating customers through appropriate

messages. The distribution of VCC or ACC card numbers and PIN s should be fool proof and

secure. Billing is a critical requirement for the success of IN services. In the early

1990 s long distance phone companies in the US lost billions of dollars in calling card

fraud that was eventually written off as unrecoverable costs.

IN services promise a great new revenue opportunity for D

OT, provided the business logistics are correctly understood.



(* an estimate)

Some

benefits of the IN are listed below
  • Service Control Logic is contained in a centralized database (SCP) which makes it easy to deploy changes and faster to upgrade switch features or

    customer profiles.
  • Service providers are no longer at the mercy of switch

    vendors as they can independently control service logic.
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