Competitive edge for IPLC
International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC) remains a popular option as the IPLC provide the requisite bandwidths for these bandwidth intensive applications. IPLC also makes for seamless integration of data, voice and imaging services. Hence enterprise looking at point-to-point private line opted for IPLC as it supports a wide array of services like Internet access, LAN-to-LAN connectivity, telemedicine and video conferencing.

However IPLC has major drawbacks in situations where traffic engineering and setting performance characteristics for different classes of traffic are required. Factors like delay and jitter also come into the picture in an IPLC connection that can cause major drops in QoS levels. This can cause problems in networks where data like video-conferencing are used.

MPLS has an edge over IPLC on this front since it provides network administrators the ability to set the path traffic will take through the network, and set performance characteristics for a class of traffic.

Factors like delay and bring down the quality of service and can cause problems in networks. Hence enterprises seriously explored MPLS as it works with the Internet IP, ATM, and frame relay network protocols, so the better manageability aspects of MPLS has got an edge over IPLC.

In India prices of IPLC are dropping and competition is being encouraged. Presently, only International Long Distance Operators (ILDOs) are able to sell IPLC services in India and Resellers have not been permitted as the focus has been on the creation of infrastructure. The government has accepted TRAI's recommendations that the "Resale" in the IPLC segment of ILD market be introduced after five years of opening up of ILD sector ie with effect from February 2007.

In another move, last year VSNL slashed prices for its international bandwidth products - International Private Leased Circuits (IPLC) and Internet Leased Lines (ILL). In India, IPLC prices will be reduced by 25% and ILL prices by 40%, effective September 1, 2006.

Diminishing VSAT
VSAT usage seems to be on the wane, and companies are moving to other technologies. Availability of other methods of connectivity such as leased lines at lower costs and with quicker set-up time have had an adverse impact on VSAT as a popular method of connectivity.

Nevertheless, the VSAT market offers considerable opportunities for both equipment vendors and satellite service providers. Growth of the VSAT market is also likely to be driven by the increasing deployments of rural telecommunications, telemedicine and distance education programs.

In the case of VSATs, there is an issue of high latency (in excess of 500 ms), which is a cause of concern for most CIOs as many applications do not work on such networks. However, with the advent of broadband VSATs, the bandwidth availability issues and latency problems have also been addressed greatly.

There is a limitation in the bandwidth capacity that a VSAT network can offer. Another disadvantage with VSAT networks is that enterprises tend to get stuck with one service provider because of investment in the proprietary technology of the service provider.

One of the primary reasons for VSATs not being as popular as some of the other alternatives is because VSATs have been used for wrong applications so far. They are not an ideal choice for carrying out heavy transactions. VSAT's should be used for applications that have low TCP handshakes and light applications such as ATMs, POS, and lottery terminals etc.

If it's an organization with great number of users and applications that result in heavy traffic, then it must go for terrestrial networks. However, if it's an organization with thin client applications and bursty traffic such as ATM, VSATs fit the bill perfectly. Over time, VSATs are far more affordable and stronger than ever before. It is ideal for remote locations where terrain is a major challenge.

ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode or ATM is a cell switching technology that makes efficient use of bandwidth to transfer data at high speeds. ATM is a Layer 2, connection- oriented technology, in which all cells are of fixed length ie 53 bytes each (5 bytes for header and 48 bytes for payload information).

These cells are transferred over logical connections called Permanent Virtual Circuits (PVCs) and because ATM can support network Quality of Service (QoS), different types of time critical services such as voice, video and data, can be provisioned on the same PVC. ATM allows for integration of networks and improves the overall manageability.

There are two types of ATM connections-Virtual Paths, which are identified by Virtual Path Identifiers (VPI), and Virtual Channels, which are identified by the combination of a Virtual Channel Identifier (VCI). A virtual path is a bundle of virtual channels, all of which are switched transparently across the ATM network based on the common VPI. All VPIs and VCIs, have a local significance across a particular link and are remapped, as required, at each switch.

Airtel was the first carrier in India to deploy a widespread ATM infrastructure for voice and data services to provide a quality service to their customers and have a scalable backbone in place in 2001.

Emphasis on Quality
With SLAs and service deliverables becoming very vital for mission critical IT operations, telecom service providers are nudged to constantly uphold the QoS. Hence the reliance of certifications also gained prominence because companies in the telecommunications industry must meet some of the most rigorous quality requirements.

For instance the TL9000 certification became the most aspired benchmark. The TL 9000 is based around international ISO 9000 quality standards and was developed by members of the Quality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications (QuEST) leadership forum to promote a culture for continuous improvement in the telecommunications industry.

To this end Airtel took the first steps in the country and now in the process of acquiring the TL 9000 certification.

In the always on-connected world, the slew of connectivity services plays a pivotal role. With government announcing 2007 as the year of broadband sets the tone for times ahead. In the ongoing year, speed, reliability, security and affordability will be the key driving force behind the connectivity services.

Srikanth G and Malovika Rao 
srikanthg@cybermedia.co.in; malovikar@cybermedia.co.in