Voice Quality in VoIP Networks
Businesses and organizations everywhere are looking for cheaper communications using VoIP these days. There are huge cost savings from the old telco pricing levels even now for voice and data communications.
Of course, adopting VoIP means different things to different companies. Some find that bridging their existing PBX systems via IP trunking is a cost-effective way to leverage their IP network and preserve their investment in traditional circuit-switched infrastructure. Others are extending IP telephony throughout the enterprise with software-based call servers and IP phones on the desktop. Additionally, many enterprises are also taking advantage of IP-based audio conferencing and call centers. Smaller companies, eager to offload voice infrastructure maintenance, are turning to provider-hosted solutions, such as IP Centrex or unified messaging services.
But whereas some IT professionals are leaping in with both feet, others are hanging back. And while some are not yet convinced of the VoIP business case, the vast majority is hesitant due to well-founded concerns about voice quality -- especially for calls that will be routed over a WAN or the Internet. Voice is a mission-critical application and many enterprises are simply unwilling to make the leap to VoIP until they can be assured that users will enjoy the same voice quality and call reliability they currently have with their legacy PBX/PSTN infrastructure for each and every call.
Is it the IP Network that causes the problems ?
Often this is the main reason ! Loss of packets, network jitter, endpoint jitter and latency all add to possible small but annoying delays, echoes and talkover occurring. This can be very frustrating and particularly in a business situation difficult to work with as it is the unwritten rule it will go wrong when you really need it. The fact that call quality was good yesterday or minutes ago does not ensure good quality on the next call, due to the dynamic nature of IP networks and their ever-changing usage patterns.
Measuring quality ensures your High Quality IP Communications
• Pervasive -- Measurement must encompass all IP network infrastructure and services engaged in delivering the VoIP application.
• Continuous -- The VoIP network must be measured continuously, in real-time, and throughout the life cycle of the VoIP application.
• Comprehensive -- Network measurement must include both active performance verification and passive performance monitoring.
How is Quality measured
Today’s most sophisticated measurement suites deliver an objective measure of voice quality based on the ITU-T G.107 (E-Model) standard.
PUTTING THE QUALITY IN QoS
As legacy systems depreciate and renew more organizations will adopt the advantages of VoIP. As they do so enterprise managers should remember the importance of VoIP measurement strategy to maintain quality levels. Not doing so leaves mission-critical voice and data applications at risk which could be an expensive error.
Good Measurement and Management allows :
• A precise analysis of call quality using the same criteria that determines user satisfaction;
• Pinpoint trouble areas, in time to prevent service interruption;
• Evaluate service provider responsibility for performance issues; and
• Provide the information needed to plan network and service enhancements effectively.
Conclusion
Answer the call of the future with VOIP. Speak to a systems architect who can give you business quality solutions and equipment to ensure you aren’t in hello ! hello ! business communications mode.
