Telecommunications ("telecom") is a general term for a vast array of technologies that transmit and receive voice, data, and video information over varying distances through electronic means. For businesses, this can include lines, circuits, and data "pipes" used to access both terrestrial and wireless networks. The utilization of these networks and technologies varies greatly from organization to organization and may include:
- Local, long distance, and toll free voice traffic
- Internet access
- Video conferencing
- LAN's and WAN's
- Call centers
- Converged networks (voice, data, wireless)
Telecommunications, also called telecommunication, is the exchange of information over significant distances by electronic means. A complete, single telecommunications circuit consists of two stations, each equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver at any station may be combined into a single device called a transceiver. The medium of signal transmission can be electrical wire or cable (also known as "copper"), optical fiber or electromagnetic fields. The free-space transmission and reception of data by means of electromagntetic fields is called wireless.
International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000), better known as 3G or 3rd Generation, is a family of standards for mobile telecommunications fulfilling specifications by the International Telecommunication Union,[1] which includes UMTS, and CDMA2000 as well as the non-mobile wireless standards DECT and WiMAX. While the GSM EDGE standard also fulfils the IMT-2000 specification, EDGE phones are typically not branded 3G. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephone, video calls, and wireless data, all in a mobile environment. Compared to 2G and 2.5G services, 3G allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and higher data rates (at least 200 kbit/s peak bit rate to fulfill to IMT-2000 specification). Today's 3G systems can offer practice of up to 14.0 Mbit/s on the downlink and 5.8 Mbit/s on the uplink.
Telecommunications services are a global market worth over US$ 1.5 trillion in revenue. Mobile services account for roughly 40 per cent of this, while mobile subscribers worldwide currently outnumber the use of fixed telephone lines by more than two to one. Over the past decade, the market has witnessed far-reaching changes, with the introduction of competition into a sector that was once principally a monopoly.A total of 108 WTO members have made commitments to facilitate trade in telecommunications services. This includes the establishment of new telecoms companies, foreign direct investment in existing companies and cross-border transmission of telecoms services. Out of this total, 99 members have committed to extend competition in basic telecommunications (e.g. fixed and mobile telephony, real-time data transmission, and the sale of leased-circuit capacity). In addition, 82 WTO members have committed to the regulatory principles spelled out in the “Reference Paper”, a blueprint for sector reform that largely reflects “best practice” in telecoms regulation.
Today's telecommunications markets are among the most competitive in history. New technologies, a contradictory and confused regulatory environment, and evolving user needs alter the competitive landscape on a daily basis.
For our clients, launching new products, responding to competitive threats, incorporating new technologies and interfacing with strategically designed front and back office systems have become a continuous process. Failure at any point in the process can be a disaster.
Telecom Services provides detailed market analysis, assessment of technology alternatives and competitive analysis for telecommunications-related products and markets worldwide.
We assess pricing strategies, technology adoption, market growth and product configuration in a proprietary integrated framework. This framework includes the recognition that within the competitive landscape for a particular product or service, numerous companies with vastly different goals, resource pools, capital structures, systems capabilities and organizational structures are all players. At any time one can be key in altering pricing and technology for all.
Telecom Services
Voice - Fixed line -
PSTN PSTN is short for Public Switched Telephone Network, which refers to the international telephone system based on copper wires, which carry analogue voice data. This service allows only a limited amount of information to be conveyed, such as for fixed line telephony.
Voice - Carrier Pre-Selection
Carrier Pre-Selection (CPS) is an another mechanism to provide narrowband access that allows customers to select, in advance, CPS Operators (CPSOs) to carry their calls without having to dial a prefix or install any special equipment at their premises. The customer subscribes to the services of one or more CPSOs and chooses the type of calls (e.g. all calls, national, international) to be carried by them. The customer may have a direct retail relationship with the CPSO, or may purchase the service via a CPS Reseller. The customer is billed for these calls by the CPSO or CPS Reseller. Note the end user will continue to be invoiced separately for the line rental charges and maintains a contract with Eircom for the rental of the line. The end-user may opt for CPS on three different types of voice call.
Voice - Carrier Access & Carrier
Selection Carrier Access (CA) and Carrier Selection (CS) are narrowband access products which enable customers to choose their carrier on a call-by-call basis. This is achieved by dialing a prefixed access code and is usually used, though not exclusively, for routing international calls to an Other Authorised Operator’s (OAOs) network for onward routing and termination.
Voice - Single Billing (SB) - Wholesale Line Rental (WLR)
SB-WLR enables service providers to issue one single bill to customers for Carrier Pre-Selection (CPS) “all calls” and line rental charges. The service provider may offer its own branded telephony service to its SB-WLR to customers based on wholesale services provided by Eircom. Eircom provides wholesale billing details to service providers, which then bill customers at their own retail rates for calls. Initially, when the end-user transfers to a single billing service, the appropriate ancillary services and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) rental product elements will also be transferred to the customers SB-WLR account. In addition the end-user will receive a final bill from Eircom for services that will now be billed for by the new service provider. The final bill will contain any credits due to the customer, for example retail charges that may have been paid in advance by the customer. Most types of outgoing traffic will be routed to the Carrier Pre- Selection Operator’s network in line with the CPS all-calls routing rules.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
VOIP is a general term for a family of transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications over IP networks such as the Internet or other packet-switchednetworks. Other terms frequently encountered and synonymous with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, and broadband phone.
Internet - Broadband Connections There are two main types of internet service available – dial-up internet (sometimes known as narrowband) and broadband. Dial-up internet services offer users slower connection speeds than with broadband services. This means it will take longer to download from the internet or send and receive e-mails with large files attached. Unlike with a broadband service, you have to ‘dial up’ each time you want to go online and cannot make normal phone calls over the same line while online. Broadband internet services offer high-speed internet connections which enable users to download large files such as large documents, reports or technical designs very quickly. With broadband, the customer’s phone line is independent to broadband while online. Dial-up Slower connections speeds (up to 28.8 Kbps) = slower internet access Takes longer to send/receive or download larger files May be more suitable for very infrequent internet customers who require a speedy internet connection. Broadband High-speed connection Enables fast downloading of reports, large files etc Always on connection (no need to 'dial up') and fixed monthly fee Phone line free to make calls while online
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
DSL is a wireline transmission technology that transmits data faster over traditional copper telephone lines already installed to homes and businesses. DSL-based broadband provides transmission speeds ranging from several hundred kbps to millions of bits per second (Mbps). The availability and speed of your DSL service may depend on the distance from your home or business to the closest telephone service provider facilities as well as the physical condition of the line.
The following are types of DSL transmission technologies:
Cable Modem able modem service enables cable operators to provide broadband using the same coaxial cables that deliver the television service.
Most cable modems are external devices that have three connections: a pass through from the cable wall outlet to the television, on two f connecters and the other a USB or RJ45 jack to a computer. On a properly engineered cable network they can provide speeds and quality of service similar to DSL grades.
Fixed (FWA) and Nomadic Wireless Access (NWA)
Wireless broadband connects a home or business to the Internet using a radio link between the customer’s location and the service provider’s facility. Wireless broadband can be nomadic or fixed.
Most cable modems are external devices that have three connections: a pass through from the cable wall outlet to the television, on two f connecters and the other a USB or RJ45 jack to a computer. On a properly engineered cable network they can provide speeds and quality of service similar to DSL grades.
Fixed (FWA) and Nomadic Wireless Access (NWA)
Wireless broadband connects a home or business to the Internet using a radio link between the customer’s location and the service provider’s facility. Wireless broadband can be nomadic or fixed.
Fibre
Fibre optic technology converts electrical signals carrying data to light and sends the light through transparent glass fibres about the diameter of a human hair. Fibre transmits data at speeds far exceeding current DSL or cable modem speeds.
The actual speed you experience will vary depending on a variety of factors, such as how close to your computer the service provider brings the fibre and how the service provider configures the service. The same fibre providing your broadband can also simultaneously deliver voice (VoIP) and other data and video services.
The actual speed you experience will vary depending on a variety of factors, such as how close to your computer the service provider brings the fibre and how the service provider configures the service. The same fibre providing your broadband can also simultaneously deliver voice (VoIP) and other data and video services.
Leased Lines & Partial Private Circuits Leased lines are symmetric telecommunications lines connecting two locations. Unlike traditional PSTN lines they do not have a telephone number, each side of the line being permanently connected to the other. They can be used for telephone, data or Internet services. Partial Private Circuits (PPCs) are leased lines which are delivered or handed over to operators via interconnect (ISH In-Span Handover) or existing voice or ISI (In-Span Interconnect) interconnects, or directly into the Other Authorised Operator’s (OAOs) premises on CSH (customer sited handover). PPCs enable OAOs to gain efficiencies by expanding their infrastructure rather than relying on traditional leased-line delivery.