N3 Voice Services
There are now in excess of 30,000 NHS connections on N3, which provide a high-quality, fully-managed IP infrastructure. The N3 network supports data applications, voice and multimedia traffic utilising Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritise their delivery needs. N3 has also deployed a fully resilient national NHS Internet Protocol (IP) voice switching
N3 Voice Services
N3SP provide a comprehensive range of converged IP voice services. These are:
N3 Local Gateway Service
The N3 Local Gateway Service provides access from existing voice infrastructure to the N3 Voice Services platform. This access enables free on-net calls to other N3 voice users, centralised PSTN calls and access to mobile networks through the Blended Minutes Service. N3 Local Gateway Services are suitable for sites, using 2Mbps or higher N3 connections. This Local Gateway Service is also available for customers with IP PBXs which support the H.323 protocol and have been tested for compatibility.
N3 Hosted Voice Service
The N3 Hosted Voice Service removes the need for on-site voice switches and equipment, providing centrally managed IP telephony
platform with associated services. N3 now enables NHS organisations to integrate their existing voice estates, giving them access to new and cost effective communication solutions. N3 Voice Services are industry standards based and support the development of an exciting range of future multimedia services.
The existing NHS voice requirements are varied and complex, generally procured and managed locally. N3 has developed a set of voice services that enable NHS organisations to deploy new converged IP voice services. The N3 Service Provider (N3SP) has upgraded the core network infrastructure including the provision of a central IP voice routing
capability, and direct resilient links to the mobile operator, O2.
High level architecture
To enable N3 Voice Services, the N3 core network infrastructure has been upgraded on a fully duplicated basis with no impact on the resilience of the network. The hosted platforms are located in secure service provider buildings with full uninterruptible power supplies and standby generators.
All N3 Voice Service central platforms are directly connected to the N3 core network with fully resilient security devices and high capacity network links.
The N3 Voice Service central platform is proactively managed 24x7, ensuring optimum availability and performance. This platform enables NHS organisations to access better services and tariffs than generally available at an individual site or organisational level.
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Benefits of N3 Voice Services
The immediate benefits will vary between organisations and their particular needs, but are summarised below:
Reduced call spend through free on-net •
calls, i.e. calls will be free of charge between subscribing N3 Voice Service customers/sites with N3 catalogue services
Reduced PSTN call charges through access •
to mobile gateways for all N3 Voice Service customers/sites
Leverages existing investment •
Provides the opportunity to reduce •
dependency on locally provided outbound PSTN/ISDN channels
Provides an opportunity for local NHS •
organisations to review how large sites are currently integrated. For example, existing locally provided private circuits and voice VPNs could be replaced
The hosted model reduces local NHS •
administration overheads and allows organisations to focus on local service improvements
N3 Local Gateway Service
N3 Local Gateway Services provide an interface between existing TDM local PABX or IP PBXs and the N3 Voice Service central platform. This enables free on-net calls (calls to other users of N3 Voice Services) centralised PSTN calls and access to mobile networks through the Blended Minutes Service. N3 Local Gateway Services currently offer standard options for between 10 to 60 channels (incrementing in blocks of 10 channels), connecting TDM PBX to an E1 interface on an N3 router. IP PBX will be connected using the H.323 Trunking protocol. A bespoke service of up to 90 channels is available depending on customer requirements and N3 connection type; an additional router will be provided. Customers will have the option of using Least Cost Routing to configure the PBX to route PSTN calls locally or centrally using N3 to achieve the best tariffs.
Standard template configuration
An N3 Local Gateway Service can be ordered for the following N3 catalogue services:
Existing N3
catalogue service Associated voice channels
N3-2-24 10 N3-2-25 10 N3-2-26 10, 20, 30 N3-2-27 10, 20, 30 N3-2-28 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 N3-2-29 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 N3-2-54 10 Supported interfaces
The following interfaces will be supported: Digital Private Network Signalling System
•
No.1 (DPNSS)
Products overview
•
E1, (2.048 Mbps), G.703 interface with G.704framing with either an RJ45 120 Ohm or twin coax 75 Ohm connection
H.323 Trunking protocol over LAN/WAN
•
DPNSS signalling functionality provides, as a minimum, the capability of sections 1 - 6 of BTNR188 Issue 6.
Service levels
The repair times for an N3 Local Gateway Service are in-line with the terms of the existing N3 Catalogue Service.
Pricing
N3 Hosted Voice Service
The N3 Hosted Voice Service enables sites to run a number of phone extensions without needing an on-site PABX or small telephone key system. It provides an IP telephony based infrastructure deployed at a customer site with all call management functions performed by the central service within the N3 core network.
The ports for the handsets may be provided by the customer’s current LAN infrastructure. If required LAN switches may be ordered from N3SP, to provide Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Existing N3
catalogue service Available N3 Voice Channels Site handsets Local PSTN lines supported
N3-2-24 10 up to 40 1 - 2 BRI – 1 to 4 voice channels 3 - 4 BRI – 5 to 8 voice channels 1 x PRI – 8 to 30 voice channels N3-2-25 10 up to 40 1 - 2 BRI – 1 to 4 voice channels 3 - 4 BRI – 5 to 8 voice channels 1 x PRI – 8 to 30 voice channels N3-2-26 30 up to 120 1 - 2 BRI – 1 to 4 voice channels 3 - 4 BRI – 5 to 8 voice channels 1 x PRI – 8 to 30 voice channels N3-2-27 30 up to 120 1 - 2 BRI – 1 to 4 voice channels
3 - 4 BRI – 5 to 8 voice channels 1 x PRI – 8 to 30 voice channels N3-2-28 60 up to 240 1 - 2 BRI – 1 to 4 voice channels 3 - 4 BRI – 5 to 8 voice channels 1 x PRI – 8 to 30 voice channels N3-2-29 90 up to 360 1 - 2 BRI – 1 to 4 voice channels 3 - 4 BRI – 5 to 8 voice channels 1 x PRI – 8 to 30 voice channels N3-2-54 10 Up to 40 N/A
ports for the connection of the handsets. It is the local organisation’s responsibility to provide the cabling between the router device and the site of each new handset.
Each N3 connection type has a finite capacity for voice channels. It may be necessary to upgrade the N3 Catalogue Service depending on call profiles. As a guide, the table below shows the available capacity for a number of commonly installed N3 catalogue services:
N3 Hosted Voice Service Self Serve
Self Serve enables customers to manage their HVS handsets and features without the need to order a small move or change via the N3 helpdesk. The Self Serve option is provided in 3 different variants.
User Level
•
Allows a User to make non-chargeable changes to their telephony profile. Site administrator
•
Allows an authorised user to make changes to all the telephones on a site. Divisional Administrator
•
Allows an authorised user to make changes to all telephones on a number of nominated sites.
N3 Hosted Voice Service Business Continuity
A number of options exist to increase the resilience of the Hosted Voice Service: Call Forwarding UnRegistered (CFUR)
•
CFUR allows the customer on a per handset basis to provide an alternative contact number which can be a direct dial number (PSTN) or mobile number to which calls will be forwarded should a handset go unregistered.
Secondary Data Connection
•
For N3 Hosted Voice Services running over the Primary Data Connection of Symmetrical
Catalogue Service (Primary & Secondary data links with the same bandwidth), it will be possible to order the Hosted Voice Service with a second connection to the Secondary Data link. In the event of the Primary link being lost, calls will be routed via the secondary Data Connection.
Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST)
•
6
N3 Hosted Voice Service IP telephone handsets
There are three handset options available: Cisco 7911G (Standard); Cisco 7941G (Enhanced); and the Cisco 7961G (Premium).
The handset features provided can be decided by each site, and will include the following common facilities:
Model 7911G 7941G 7961G
Description Standard Enhanced Premium
Integral LAN switch
Programmable line/feature
buttons 1 2 6
Display Monochrome pixel based based (320 x 222)Greyscale – pixel based (320 x 222)Greyscale – pixel
Interactive soft keys 4 4 4
Handsfree
xx
Message waiting indicator
Headset port
xx
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Extension mobility*
xx
*A user profile must be ordered to enable this facility
Cisco 7911G Cisco 7941G Cisco 7961G
Dedicated resilient network hardware has been deployed in the N3 Core Network to connect the N3 Voice Services platform with these gateways. Call routing and the creation of call records to bill these services are provided by the core voice infrastructure.
To access the N3 Fixed to Mobile Gateway Service from an N3 Local Gateway Service site, the local PABX can be programmed using Least Cost Routing, to route calls to N3 if required. Maintaining a quality service
Service standards for the N3 Hosted Voice Service will be agreed with each customer and will be dependent upon the solution provided and the overall requirements. Handsets, for example, will be provided on a post out/post back basis.
Pricing
Prices for the services depend on requirements and site survey. N3SP can provide estimates with a small amount of information, including projected savings based on local calling patterns.
N3 core services
Blended Minutes
The N3 Voice Services platform has gateways to the PSTN and to the O2 mobile network. The Blended Minutes Service optimises the routing of mobile calls to all mobile vendors (including Vodafone, T-Mobile, Orange etc) across these gateways based on the attractive tariffs offered by N3SP, presenting cost savings to users of the Local Gateway Service and Hosted Voice Service.
