Overview
Member carriers have joined together in a unified effort to expedite global IP-based voice implementation to enhance the way we communicate.
We are laying the foundations and looking at the very basic elements of our businesses. This is important now because we are reaching an IP tipping point.
- Philippe Millet, Chairman, i3forum
The i3 Forum’s approach is simple and pragmatic to ensure efficiency. Our current focus is on how to develop and implement possible paths for the industry transition of international bilateral voice to IP.
Current i3 Work Streams:
The various Workstreams and other workgroups operate under the control of the i3forum Steering Committee, where each member has two seats.
Technical Aspects Work Stream:
Leads the discussions and provides specifications on all technical issues related to IP migration for voice and other services, including Inteconnection Models, Codecs, Signaling, QoS, Security, VoIPX etc… This groups liaises efficiently with other industry bodies like GSMA, Sip Forum, 3GPP, IETF…
Services Work Stream:
Leads the discussions and provides recommendations on all business impacting aspects related to IP migration for voice and other services (HD voice, IPX…), including Business models, Service Definitions, SLA etc… This group also liases with GSMA and other relevant bodies
Operations Work Stream:
Brings together the Operations experts, in odrer to share and publish best practises and tools, assess processes, conduct trials etc…
Fraud Control Work Stream:
This groups operates under a very clear charter that outlines the standard of conduct that members have agreed to adopt in order to promote ethical conduct and to work in compliance with antitrust legislation. The focus is fraud in the International Wholesale market, and they liaise with Industry groups like GSMA Fraud Forum, FIINA, CFCA etc…
HDVC Workgroup:
This ad-hoc work group looks at the issues related to interconnection and interoperability of High Definition Video Communications interconnected to IPX.
Communications Committee:
This group works to promote the work and recommendations of the i3forum and to accelerate IP migration in the Industry.
Vision
To provide specifications, on the basis of existing standards, which can be usefully implemented from the wholesale international industry in order to have an efficient and effective migration path from existing voice services towards IP technology.
The long-term objective of i3forum is to contribute to, explore and promote ideas for innovative services within the international telecommunications sector, while considering international service interconnection requirements for different players and services. The desired result of this collaboration is to enable end-users to enjoy new and better quality IP-enabled services and applications, such as streaming video and high-bandwidth conference sessions and voice calls across all networks.
