Incumbent local exchange carriers have very little motivation to move to IP for Class 5 telephony applications, according to a recent study by Dittberner Associates Inc.
In interviews with 20 U.S. and European ILECs and competitive LECs, Dittberner found operators are concerned about integration of packet telephony gear with legacy voice network and operational support systems.
The primary application for packet telephony equipment deployment, the firm discovered, is expansion into new service locations or out-of-region areas.
Nonetheless, 50 per cent of the 20 respondents said they will deploy the new equipment in 2003 for voice-over-packet in tandem networks. Thirty-nine per cent said they will implement it for Internet off-load applications.