Voice over PacketStar (TM) Gateway Solution for service provider networks

The global communications industry is undergoing fundamental transformation s on multiple fronts led by technology and regulatory forces. The growing d emand for telecommunication services on a worldwide basis is fueling an exp ansion of the industry in this last decade of the 20(th) century. Internati onal standards have played a key role in the expansion by ensuring interope rability and economies of scale. Growth in data traffic has caused most of the expansion, necessitating a convergence of voice and data networks to im prove the use of infrastructure, minimizing investment and operations costs . Furthermore, today's multiple network solutions, such as virtual private networks (VPNs), leased line networks, and the public switched telephone ne twork (PSTN) can be consolidated through Internet protocol (IP) and asynchr onous transfer mode (ATM) technologies, resulting in additional operational savings. Finally, such enhanced services as universal mailboxes, voice/vid eo conferences, and broadcasts are now feasible through integrated access a nd multiservice access devices.