With the introduction of its Managed PBX solution, MTN Business took the decision to make the first deployment of its new software offering an in-house one. This not only allowed the company to gain valuable experience in the design, configuration and implementation of the solution, but has also demonstrated the advantages which its clients can look forward to by opting for a managed software PBX to replace obsolete hardware.

SOFTWARE-DRIVING REALITY

With the shift to Internet Protocol-driven networks, the possibility of replacing outdated communication technologies with software-driven solutions has become a distinct reality. Nowhere is this potential better realised than with the PBX. The centre of telephony for many companies, the PBX – or Private Branch Exchange – is traditionally a hardware device which manages the internal communications of a private organisation.

As Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) matures, the hardware PBX has become increasingly irrelevant. All of its functions can be replaced by software, while a range of additional functionality can be introduced.

The MTN Managed IP PBX is a hosted telephony solution, based on a combination of products and technologies. The service is hosted within carrier-grade MTN Core Network Infrastructure and uses a unique combination of technologies to deliver an IP telephony service to customers. According to MTN Business general manager Edwin Thompson, the advantages of a hosted software PBX are numerous.

“By removing the requirement for an onsite hardware device, the first benefit is that there is no longer any need to manage or administer hardware. The capital expenditure associated with purchase or upgrade of hardware is removed, with the cost becoming an operational expense. Then there is the advantage of being able to quickly provision new users with telephony services and to scale up or down to accurately meet business requirements,” he explains.

PREREQUISITES FOR IP PBX

Douw Viviers, MTN Business Converged Communications product manager, explains that there are prerequisites for companies looking to take advantage of a hosted IP PBX. “Since telephony has to be extremely reliable, and since IP telephony depends on computer networks, it is necessary to ensure that all elements of the corporate network are appropriately configured and specified,” he says.

When gauging the requirements of MTN Business, Viviers says the wide area network links as well as the local area network links required meticulous examination. “Across the enterprise, it is essential that there are no bottlenecks and no restrictions on the passage of voice traffic on a network which also handles all data communications.” It was more a case of appropriate configuration than replacing network equipment. Viviers explains: “With voice, it is necessary to have end-to-end quality of service assured for this traffic.

While data packets can come through randomly and can tolerate delay, there is no such luxury when it comes to voice.”

Viviers says the company’s MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) network plays a key role in enabling the appropriate quality of service. “This network also provides for a high level of security; with other customers, a Virtual Private Network can be used to provide the quality of service and security required.”

Additionally, Viviers says IP telephones, which replace the ‘traditional’ landline phone, are driven by power over Ethernet. “With the phones powered by the LAN, dependency on the standard power supply is insufficient; phones have to be available even if a power failure takes place.”

There is also the question of number portability. “While we can provide our own number range, 99% of clients looking to move to an IP PBX will want to keep their existing telephone numbers, given the value of their customers remembering these legacy numbers. This is possible owing to recent changes in legislation which render landline numbers portable and is achieved by putting in a media gateway which facilitates connections into the terrestrial telephone networks.”

RAPID DEPLOYMENT

One of the advantages of a softwarebased telephony solution is that it should be far quicker to get the solution in place and delivering value. This is especially true for companies which are opening new offices, obviating the wait for a terrestrial telephone line. Thompson confirms that regulatory changes have equipped MTN Business to establish its own fibre and wireless networks to rapidly connect new premises, but adds that this is dependent on network reach. “The major urban areas are obviously not an issue; we have fibre and WiMAX connectivity in these locations. However, network roll-out obviously takes time,” he says.

Assuming that network coverage is available, Viviers confirms that the establishment of full-function telephony services is a relatively rapid process. “In the case of implementing our IP PBX solution for MTN Business, we had some 250 users to connect. The experience showed that verification of the network configuration and capacity is perhaps the most time consuming and critical phase of the project,” he explains.

However, since there is no need to configure or deploy any back office hardware, such projects are substantially accelerated. “A hardware PBX means finding a location for it, a power supply and air conditioning. It also means configuration and testing. With a managed IP PBX, it is a matter of ensuring that connectivity is established, then configuring and provisioning services with a few mouse clicks.”

Hardware requirements are limited to the telephones which go on desks. Of course, users can also access all telephony services using their computers with a ‘soft phone’ installed, providing complete portability for a corporate telephone service.

“The IP phone and media gateways are all provided on the supplier network – that is, the MTN network. We use a 3rd party provisioning tool which provides for the building of service profiles which are then simply assigned to users,” Viviers adds.

RELIABLE CONVERGED COMMUNICATIONS

By implementing its own managed IP PBX solution, MTN Business has demonstrated its confidence in the solution and is seeing the benefits. Thompson says the company no longer has PBX hardware, provides its users with a fully converged communications environment and is able to stay current with the dynamic telecommunications environment. “With the solution hosted in our own high availability data centres, we are assured of the reliability demanded of a telephony system,” he says.

MTN Business has also put into practice the benefits of a hosted IP PBX. These include:

• Limited Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) investment – Only hardware is IP handsets and optional Voice gateway equipment.

• Future proof – Changing technologies are integrated into the MTN Managed IP PBX.

• Converged communication – Integrated data and voice lowers operating costs and increases efficiency in the work place.

• Secure and safe – The system is hosted in an environmentally controlled data centre with high security standards, redundant network connections. All components of the MTN Managed IP PBX service are constantly monitored for availability, reliability and performance.

• Scalable – the Managed IP PBX scales to any business size across any number of locations.

• Cost – reduced capital expenditure limits initial implementation cost; highly competitive call costs and self management reduce operational expenses.

Thompson adds that the Managed IP PBX service is available over any MTN IP network infrastructure from MPLS to ADSL, administrators will be able to implement, manage and monitor user services and trends via secure management interfaces.  

C O N T A C T

Elia Tsouros

General Manager: sales: MTN Business
Telephone: 0877 40 40 40
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.mtnbusiness.co.za