For Immediate Release
1200 G Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
202/628-6380
202/393-5453 (fax)
Contact: John Bernhards
Director of Public Relations
Phone: 202/434-8850
E-mail: jbernhards@atis.org
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For Immediate Release
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ATIS Incubator Solutions Program to Address Control, Ownership Issues for Signaling System 7 (SS7) Point Code
July 3, 2001, Washington, D.C. - The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) announced today that it is launching work under its Incubator Solutions Program to address changes in Signaling System 7 (SS7) point code control and ownership.
"The telecommunications industry needs to investigate and validate the need for establishing a consistent method of notification and coordination, regarding the control and the administrative ownership of the SS7 point code," said Ed Hall, ATIS vice president for technology development.
As a result of telecommunications carrier mergers and acquisitions over the past two years, carriers acquired and divested typically keep the point codes associated with the switch. However, these same carriers may or may not remain as the assigned owner of the network or full cluster. There are operational risks associated with this practice involving proper authorization to change routing assignments and network outage trouble isolation. "The industry needs an agreed to, coordinated mechanism to inform the industry and implement guidelines -- or amend existing guidelines if needed -- in order to mitigate potential network outages," said Hall.
The point code issue will be addressed within the ATIS Incubator Solutions Program, a "fast track" venue for resolving urgent technical and operational issues established by ATIS in October 2000. The first meeting of the Point Code Incubator will take place July 17 at ATIS headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is anticipated that the Point Code Incubator will be completed within a four to six-month period to best coordinate and align with publication of T1.111-2001 (Signaling System No.7 - Message Transfer Part). T1.111-2001 will serve as the revised version of T1.111-1996 which is now being prepared by the ATIS-sponsored Standards Committee T1. T1.111 addresses the numbering scheme of signaling point codes for SS7 for the purpose of clearly defining responsibility for signaling network management.
Companies wishing to participate within the July 17 Point Code Incubator meeting, should contact Bill Breslin of ATIS at 202/662-8667 (email: Wbreslin@atis.org). A meeting agenda, as well as reference documents are available on the ATIS Incubator web page at www.atis.org.
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The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) is a member company organization that defines standards and operating procedures for the telecommunications industry. Nearly 3,000 experts from 500 telecommunications companies participate in ATIS committees, whose work focus includes network interconnection standards, number portability, improved data transmission, wireless communications, Internet telephony, toll-free access, and order and billing issues. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) frequently refers operations issues to ATIS committees for recommended solutions. Members of ATIS and committee participants include, but are not limited to, telecommunications service providers, manufacturers, software developers, resellers, enhanced service providers, and providers of operations support.
Information on ATIS is available on the World Wide Web at www.atis.org, by contacting the ATIS headquarters at 202-628-6380, or by writing to: ATIS, 1200 G Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20005.
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