Introduction to Softswitch

Since the successful launch of the first product in the telecom market, the concept of "Softswitch" has become a popular term in the telecom industry. Because it can implement the same functions as hardware-based traditional telephone switches and simultaneously process IP communication, the Softswitch technology promises to provide many advantages, for example, it is easy to integrate circuit switching and group switching, reduce network costs, and enable operators to earn revenue more quickly.

What is Softswitch?

What is Softswitch? When we ask such a question, we often get a series of characteristics: it is the core of NGN, it has an open architecture, it can achieve the separation of Call Control and media transmission ......
Yin Kang, chief technical consultant of Cisco Systems Asia Pacific NGN/VoIP, believes that although "Softswitch" is currently a hot topic in NGN discussion, its concept is still somewhat plausible. He said: "The term 'softswitch 'is translated from Softswitch. Softswitch refers to the concept of 'hard' switch 'in the PSTN network in the traditional telecom field, the difference is that it emphasizes the meaning of separation of group-based online call control and media transmission bearer. At the beginning, someone in China Translated Softswitch into 'softswitch '. However, the term 'softswitch 'is not very clear enough, so it is hard to understand whether it is a device system concept or a system concept ."
Yin Kang pointed out that China's telecom industry has always translated switch in terms of terms and concepts into "switch", and switching in terms of terms as "Exchange ". X25 switch is translated into X25 switch, ATM switch is translated into ATM switch, L2/L3 switch is translated into L2/L3 switch. Therefore, he suggested that softswitch should be translated into "soft switches" more accurately for the seriousness of academic research ". This is just a translation concept. However, the vague concept of softswitch also reflects that the industry still has deviations in some aspects of understanding of softswitch, and there are capabilities that emphasize one aspect too much, or, the softswitch function is exaggerated. It can even be said that for a long time, Softswitch has been artificially "mythical". It is regarded as a technology that represents the future of the Communication Industry and seems omnipotent.
Softswitch is a developing concept that includes many functions. Its core is an open architecture that adopts standardized protocols and Application Programming Interface APIs. This opens the door for third-party development of new applications and new businesses. Other important features of the softswitch architecture include application separation de-coupling of applications, call control, and bearer control.
As a functional entity, Softswitch provides Call Control and Connection Control functions for businesses with real-time requirements for the Next Generation Network NGN. It is the core of next generation network call and control.
To put it simply, Softswitch is an entity that implements the "Call Control" function of a traditional Programmable switch. However, the traditional "Call Control" function is integrated with the business, the call control functions required by different businesses are different, while Softswitch is irrelevant to the business. This requires that the call control function provided by Softswitch is the Basic Call Control Function of various businesses.