In order to have these calls interconnected and completed, carriers need to share massive amounts of data and have to inform each other of changes in network, costs, capacity, etc. The longer it takes to share this information among the interconnected carriers, the less efficiently the industry and carriers can operate. This leads to higher costs and less quality. Here’s one example where IP/VoIP technologies step in to help. 

Because of the data-based design of the IP network, application providers and solution vendors are able to design and build applications that can interact, in real-time or near real-time, with the voice calls as they traverse the IP network. Now, for instance, applications can assess quality, network capacity, and other network-related attributes and adjust the call management in real-time or near real-time. It’s easy to see the impact that this has on call quality, capacity management, and cost. Also—and maybe more importantly—new products can be created because there are almost no constraints. This is why companies like Twilio (and others) have flourished: They can integrate business applications into real-time voice communications networks without worrying about the underlying network technology or the interactions between networks and the carriers that manage them.  

Realizing the benefits

Global Convergence Solutions, Inc. (GCS) has been at the forefront of the industry since the company was founded in 2006. Comprised of industry veterans, it has been exploiting the advantages that IP/VoIP provides to carriers and helping carriers capitalize on them. Currently, GCS platforms manage approximately 150 billion unique call attempts annually, which translates to more than $4B (US) in voice termination costs. GCS customers, including iBasis, Vonage, Windstream, Bell Canada, and more, are exploiting the benefits of VoIP beyond just greater efficiencies and lower per-minute termination costs. They are creating new products, new business models and even new businesses in the voice communications industry. 

These are the real benefits of IP/VoIP technologies that were promised back in the 1990s when Vocaltec and others were experimenting and challenging the status quo. GCS has furthered this effort and developed the premier OSS/BSS platform in the industry. Because of the GCS Interconnect Command Platform, carriers can now manage every call uniquely or in the context of different products or business models. In real time, they can change the interconnect path, determine the qualified interconnect partners, identify and prevent fraud, optimize the call for quality, cost, revenue, margin or whatever the business need is for the carrier.  

The network change was just the beginning. Now OSS/BSS systems, new applications, and new management capabilities will improve the efficiency of voice carriers. This will lead to more investment in voice—not less. The OSS/BSS portion will predominate during the next few years, and then it will be surpassed by the applications the next inventors create.

As carriers look forward to the next decade and consider where voice communications will fit in their product and service portfolio, the industry that embraces the next phase of IP/VoIP benefits and leverages them will be able to rapidly enter new markets, change business paradigms, and revolutionize their voice businesses. Those that don’t will not only miss out on the opportunities that will be created but may inadvertently cede these to their competitors and new entrants. Let’s face it: Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, will look to see how and where voice communications fit into their value propositions. In fact, they are already starting. They are obviously experts at how to leverage the IP network—and they move fast.

Start investing in this next phase of IP/VoIP technologies. The returns on these investments will far exceed what many carriers expect.