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

Service Providers Agree on Expectations and Requirements for Deploying Quality Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Services

BellSouth CTO Calls for Communications Standards before VoIP Deployment

August 14, 2002, Washington, D.C. - Leading technical officers from key wireline and wireless service providers pointed out the strengths of VoIP noting the promises of new customer services and reduced costs, but also cautioned the need to ensure quality, security and reliability of the VoIP network. Their comments were delivered during the ATIS and Standards Committee T1 two-day "Signaling for VoIP" Summit held August 13-14 in Washington, DC.

"Service providers view VoIP as a platform from which new services can be built, however, carrier grade service and reliability are critical," said William L. Smith, Chief Product Development and Technology Officer for BellSouth. "VoIP represents an important transition for the industry and Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) need to develop standards for quality of service, reliability and security that will be compatible in this new environment."

Smith served as moderator for the "Service Provider Vision," panel and was joined by Eva Low, VP of New Technology Introduction for SBC Communications, Eberhard Wunderlich, Director of Connectivity and Network Services for AT&T, and Dennis Francis, VP of Technology Development for Nextel Communications.

"SDOs play a critical role in the promised vision of realizing VoIP," said Ms. Low.
"A total solution for VoIP needs to be delivered for all service providers so the transition from legacy networks to VoIP net works is graceful."

The panelists stressed the need for SDOs to focus on developing communications standards that integrate and interoperate the disparate pieces of public and private networks; achieve end-to-end quality of service; achieve reliability, scalability and security in the VoIP network; provide tools and systems necessary for troubleshooting; and are consistent when implemented among service providers and vendors.

The two-day Summit features key domestic and international SDOs and forums interested in coordinating communications standards and other requirements relating to VoIP. The output of the Summit will be publication of a Committee T1 Technical Report containing a "gap analysis" for VoIP standardization.

The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) is a member company organization that is the leader for standards and operating procedures for the telecommunications industry. More than 1,500 experts from over 400 telecommunications companies participate in ATIS' 19 committees, forums, and Incubator Solutions programs, where work focus includes wireline and wireless network interconnection standards, number portability, improved data transmission, Internet telephony, toll-free access, telecom fraud, and order and billing issues, among others. ATIS is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit the ATIS web site at www.atis.org.

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