SIP White Paper

8/12/2019 SIP White Paper

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VoIP Numbering Issues

Prepared by:

BellSouth

Qwest

Verizon

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VoIP Numbering Issues

1) Purpose and FormatThe purpose of this paper is to examine, from a numbering perspective only, the impact of Voice

over Internet rotocol !VoI"# This paper $ill provi%e bac&groun% information on VoI service but

the primary focus is inten%e% to examine ho$ the service uses telephone numbers from the 'T(an% ho$ this use potentially impacts the life an% present assignment an% a%ministration of ()(

numbers#

) !es"ription o# Ser$i"ei" *any companies $ho provi%e VoI service $ill an% alrea%y are competing $ith service

provi%ers in the 'T(# In the +ctober 2002 issue, of I'+-. the + of one VoI

provi%er, states that his company is not selling theirspecific brand of service to customers as

VoI phone service, but they are selling it to them as a replacement to their existing phone

service#3 1

ii" VoI service is %escribe% as a $ay for en% users to get local, regional, an% long %istance

nation$i%e calling# *any VoI service provi%ers offer features such as all aiting aller I,ersonalie% Voice *ail, all or$ar%ing, aller I 6loc& !789", -epeat ialing%

The specific feature offerings that %irectly impact numbering are the ability of the customer to

have:

) telephone number in any area co%e of their choice;

The ability to ta&e their telephone number $ith them $hen they move outsi%e of their

current rate center#

iii) *any VoI provi%ers< services are base% on Internet 'ession Initiation rotocol !'I" 2#

iv" ) high=spee% Internet connection, such as a able *o%em or '. connection is re>uire%# In

a%%ition, a phone a%aptor is re>uire%# +ne such VoI service provi%er provi%es the customer

$ith a isco )T) 1?8 )nalog Telephone )%aptor, $hich converts the tra%itional analog phone

into a 'I VoI phone The a%aptor converts analog voice into %igitie% voice signals an% theninto I %ata pac&ets# The a%aptor is installe% at the customerue 'I a%%resses# ) 'I a%%ress is similar to an e=mail a%%ress an% is in the format ofsip:userIFgate$ay#com# The user I can be either a user name or an #184 a%%ress#

3 The isco )T) 1?8 )nalog Telephone )%aptor is a han%set=to=thernet a%aptor that interfaces regular analog phones $ith I=base%

telephony net$or&s# The )T) 1?8 has t$o voice ports that can only support legacy analog touchtone telephones#

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customer via the Internet# It shoul% be note% that the customer can subscribe to this service $ithout

changing their existing () or rate center#

Figure 1%

New (or

*1 NP+)

,) -.amples o# Numbering Sele"tion 'urrently /##ered by 0wo VoIP Pro$idersa) VoI provi%ers %o not obtain numbers %irectly from ()()# It appears they obtain numbers

from .s that have receive% numbers from ()()# To%ay, the . service provi%er that

provi%es the numbers to VoI provi%ers must report these numbers on (-E as Interme%iate3

numbers# The VoI provi%er in turn re=assigns these numbers to their VoI customers#

In the previously cite% example of service, the VoI service provi%er allo$s customers to obtain

an% &eep telephone numbers from any of the area co%es $here the VoI service provi%er hasreceive% Interme%iate numbers as long as they remain $ith that VoI company# The follo$ing

list inclu%es some of the area co%es serve% by one VoI service provi%er:

alifornia: 21@ @10 @2@ 40? 510 81G 828 850 909 914 980 ?05 ?1? ?@1 ?5? G0G

G25 G4G

ela$are: @02

lori%a: @05 581 9?8 G54

Ceorgia: 404 89? 908

Illinois: @12 8@0 90? 99@ ?15 ?49

In%iana: 21G

*assachusetts: 50? 819 9?1 G9?

(e$ Dersey: 201 80G 9@2 ?58 G0? G9@

(e$ Aor&: 212 @49 518 8@1 848 91? ?45 G14 G19

ennsylvania: 215 289 412 4?4 810

Texas: 40G ?@2 G@8 G9G 214 254 48G ?19 G0@ G40

)t least one VoI provi%er a%vertises that by subscribing to their service the customer is no

longer tie% to their Hlocal area co%eH# The customer can select any area co%e they $ant from thelist of available area co%es $here they operate# or example if a subscriber lives in (e$ Aor&,

they can have a telephone number in a alifornia )rea o%e# Their a%vertisement goes on to

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212=BBB=BBBB

+tlanta 'ustomer with N(

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PS0N

)%aptor

Cate$aylass 5 n% +ffice +r

Tan%em

VoICate$ay

artner

Internet


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state their service gives an appearance of a local presence $ithout having to be physically

locate% in that area#

T$o features that one VoI provi%er presents as uni>ue features of their service inclu%e

allo$ing customers to &eep their telephone number as long as they $ant an% allo$ing customers

to &eep their numbers even if the customer changes location regar%less of the their ne$ location#

Their $ebsite explains these features as follo$s:

eep your JJJJJJJJtelephone number for as long as you


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)n assignment principle in the both the In%ustry (umbering ommitteeuantity of numbers from .s any$here in the country $ithout meeting the re>uirements

applicable to other certifie% service provi%ers# This is in contrast to current re>uirements for

the more conventional service provi%ers $ho must trac& an% report their >uantities of

interme%iate numbers an% use them in %emonstrating their ability to meet the current

*onths=to=xhaust re>uirements for gro$th numbering resources on a per rate center basis#

'ince VoI service provi%ers are interconnecting $ith the existing 'T( an% using 'T(numbering resources, the primary >uestion is: 'houl% the number assignment rules thatapply to conventional service provi%ers apply to VoI provi%ersK

ii" Impa"t on NP+ 3elie# 4 N+NP -.haustVoI provi%eruantity of their numbers for use outsi%e of the state# +n the other han%,

there is an impact on customers $ho &eep their existing numbers $hen they move# In the

past these numbers $ent bac& into a carriers inventory for reassignment to other customers#

+ne other concern stems from the situation $here a typical subscriber may alrea%y have a

$ireline phone, fax, cell phone etc#, $here they presi%e# VoI service may encourage

subscribers to a%% a%%itional numbers from any number of cities# This scenario coul% lea%

to a single customer obtaining multiple sets of numbers from multiple cities# 'houl% this

concept become popular it coul% result in an acceleration of the %eman% for numbers#

4The In%ustry (umbering ommittee !I(" is an )TI' forum provi%es an% provi%es a forum for customers an% provi%ers in the

telecommunications in%ustry to i%entify, %iscuss an% resolve national issues that affect numbering#

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iii" Number 3esour"e 5tilization and Fore"asting *N35F) 3eportingThe %efinition of Interme%iate numbers an% ho$ they are treate% in utiliation calculations

an% in (-E reporting is currently un%er revie$ by the ()(# (umbers obtaine% an%use% by VoI service provi%ers may impact (-E reporting#

Issue !es"ription:

'houl% VoI service provi%ers be accountable for ho$ they use ()() resourcesK

The current arrangement re>uires VoI provi%ers to obtain in%ivi%ual telephone numbers

from existing co%e hol%ers#

)lso, shoul% numbers given to VoI service provi%ers be reporte% an% trac&e% using a ne$

numbering categoryK

b) Spe"i#i" Numbering 2uidelines Issues

i" +ssumptions o# the Industry Numbering 'ommittee *IN') on 5se o# Numbers

This section $ill revie$ I(


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recognie% as service provi%ers subLect to the accountability for their use of T(sK

urthermore, the impacts of area co%e relief measures such as () splits must be

a%%resse% as this may re>uire changes to the numbers use% by VoI provi%ers#

*d) +ssumption %1,:

It is assumed from a ireline perspective that #* codes(blocks allocated to a

ireline service provider are to be utili+ed to provide service to a customer,s

premise physically located in the same rate center that the #* codes(blocks areassi!ned" -xceptions exist% for example tariffed services such as ith the exception

of forei!n exchan!e service".

Issue !es"ription:

'houl% all provi%ers be affor%e% the opportunity to be exclu%e% from this existing

assumption, permitting the use of numbers beyon% rate centersK This is a largeissue since existing number assignment gui%elines an% regulations for the re>uest,

use, an% reporting of numbers are all rate center base%#

") 0e"hni"al Issues

i" Number Portability)ccor%ing to the +ctober 2002 issue of I'+-., in 'eptember 2002, a VoI provi%er

planne% to intro%uce number portability using partnerships $ith local exchange carriers !.s"#

)s VoI service provi%ers begin to offer local service, the impact of VoI service on number

portability re>uires examination#

)s bac&groun% there are three types of portability# They are:

*1) Ser$i"e Pro$ider Portability

'ervice provi%er portability, as %efine% in the Telecommunications )ct of 1GG8, is the

ability of en% users to retain, at the same location, existing telephone numbers as they

change from one service provi%er to another3#

This is the type of portability that has been or%ere% by the an% implemente% by .s

an% $ill soon be implemente% by $ireless service provi%ers#

*) 9o"ation Portability

.ocation portability, as %efine% in the irst -eport M +r%er, oc&et (o# G5=118, is the

ability of users of telecommunications services to retain existing telephone numbers $ithout

impairment of >uality, reliability, or convenience $hen moving from one physical location

to another3#

.ocation portability allo$s customers to ta&e their telephone $hen they move to another

geographic location outsi%e of the original rate center#8

*&) Ser$i"e Portability

'ervice portability, as %efine% in the irst -eport M +r%er in oc&et (o# G5=118, is theability of users of telecommunications services to retain existing telephone numbers

5oreign xchange %iffers in that it uses a %e%icate% facility from the customer premise locate% in a foreign rate center to a s$itch of a co%ehol%er in the serving rate center#

6In the 'econ% *emoran%um +pinion an% +r%er on -econsi%eration in oc&et G5=118, the conclu%e% that nothing in the )ctpreclu%es them from man%ating location portability; ho$ever, they ha% plans to a%%ress location portability#

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$ithout impairment of >uality, reliability, or convenience $hen s$itching from one service

to another service provi%e% by the same telecommunications carrier9#

Issue !es"ription:

The implementation of service provi%er portability $as very complex an% time consuming# The

technical re>uirements an% stan%ar%s or%ere% by the an% a%opte% by the in%ustry $ere

%evelope% by the in%ustry after lengthy perio%s of analysis an% %iscussion# The a%opte%

the in%ustry recommen%ations an% stan%ar%s#

rom a service provi%er portability vie$point, some >uestions that arise are:

No$ $ill porting3 be %one $ith a VoI service provi%erK or example:

If VoI service provi%ers are going to complete calls to an% from the 'T(, shoul%

they also be re>uire% to have to implement .( using .-(K

If VoI service provi%ers offer number portability $ill they nee% to interact $ith the

()K

ill a ne$ subscriber that is assigne% a 'T( telephone number from a VoI provi%er be

able to port their number to a 'T( service provi%er if re>ueste%K If so, $ill that port be

limite% to a specific geographic areaK 'houl% compatible system interfaces be %evelope% to

port numbers bet$een VoI provi%ers an% 'T( provi%ersK

oes the %efinition or the role of (=1 carrier apply or changeK

'houl% the process of snap bac&3 be use% $hen a number is porte% from a 'T( service

provi%er to a VoI service provi%er or is it correct to leave it $ith the VoI provi%er $ho

has obtaine% the number form another type of carrierK

These are Lust some of the portability issues that shoul% be a%%resse% $hen VoI serviceprovi%ers begin to offer local service# In the en%, the concept of location portability as it is

&no$n to%ay may nee% to be revisite%# or example, as other VoI provi%ers enter the mar&et

an% offer limite% location portability, an issue of stan%ar%s may arise# ? o stan%ar% bo%ies nee%

to ensure that location portability is %evelope% in a consistent manner an% is compatible $ith the

'T(K ill location probability nee% to be offere% by tra%itional .sK 'houl% there be a

limitation to the geographic area for $hich location portability appliesK These are Lust some of

the issues that re>uire examination#

d) /ther Issues

i" Number urisdi"tional Issues

ith VoI service provi%ers offering local service $ith ()( resources, concerns regar%ingLuris%ictional authority over numbering resources become a &ey issue# The has plenary

Luris%iction over the use of ()( resources# 'pecific aspects of that Luris%iction have been%elegate% to state regulatory bo%ies# )s such, any concerns as to the ability of VoI provi%ers

to use ()( numbers are to be gui%e% by the intentions of the # )s technology continues

7The is not a%%ressing service portability at this time an% re>uirements for service portability are still un%efine%

8.imite% location portability in I telephony is implemente% by the use of re%irect servers an% proxy servers# It is similar to call for$ar%ing in

the 'T(

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to a%vance an% the integration of I telephony an% the existing 'T( %evelops, it becomes

necessary for the in%ustry as a $hole, !$ireline, $ireless, VoI, ., ., etc#" to provi%e

the $ith soli% %ata an% facts to permit the to ma&e its %ecision on the appropriate usean% applications for ()( numbering resources#

mbe%%e% $ithin the Luris%ictional issue is the matter of ho$ the cost of ()( number

a%ministration is pai% an% prorate%# ith VoI service offerings, VoI is obtaining numbers

that $ere originally allocate% to .s# Therefore the . pays for the a%ministration of thatnumber# In the future, the >uestion $ill become shoul% the VoI provi%ers also pay for the

numbering resources a%ministration un%er the re>uire% gui%elines# These a%ministrative issues

shoul% be %ealt $ith, once the Luris%iction issues are a%%resse%#

inally, G11 an% other (11 %ialing capabilities an% re>uirements may vary from 'tate to 'tate#

These must be clearly evaluate% as a to if an% ho$ VoI $ill support these %ialing capabilities

an% re>uirements#

;) Summary+ne of the maLor challenges resulting from the integration of the 'T( an% Internet is the status of

calls that pass from one net$or& service provi%er to another service provi%er bet$een the 'T( an%

the Internet# ue to multiple architectural configurations for VoI, a lac& of existing all=encompassing in%ustry stan%ar%s, an% an in%eterminate regulatory lan%scape, the current numbering

para%igm as applie% to numbering responsibilities an% obligations nee%s to change in this

%eveloping environment# The change is a complex problem to solve# To%ay

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