Nigerian interconnect firm ICN (Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria) has deployed an IP communications solution from Cataleya.
The Network Session and Application Manager combines the functionality of a Session Border Controller with increased control, intelligence and real-time automation.
The Orchid One Network Session and Application Manager is specifically designed to enable the delivery of IP communications services and high-performance applications. It offers service providers full end-to-end quality of service and experience with visibility from the transport to applications layers, which is critical for the delivery of IPX-enabled infrastructure. Service providers using Orchid One can utilise this visibility to maintain or enhance network performance in real-time.
ICN has started migrating its TDM interconnects to IP and will use Orchid One to serve local and regional mobile operators and fixed-line service providers with intelligent IP connectivity.
Jay Jayasimha, Chief Technology Innovation Officer at Cataleya, said: “The scalability of Orchid One is ideal for a rapidly growing market like Nigeria and we are excited to help ICN deliver IPX-enabled networking in Africa’s largest telecoms market.”
After a successful trial period beginning in May 2014, Orchid One is fully operational within ICN’s network infrastructure. Orchid One was integrated into ICN’s billing system thanks to its built-in call detail record (CDR) reformatting module and is already managing interconnect traffic for some of Nigeria’s largest mobile operators.
“Orchid One is a real differentiator for us in terms of quality and service visibility. Our customers want to migrate their interconnects from TDM to IP and Cataleya’s Network Session and Application Manager provides a next-gen infrastructure that can interwork with legacy networks and scale while delivering real-time quality of service and experience which we found unique in the SBC market,” says Uche Onwudiwe, Chief Operating Officer at ICN.
The partitioning capabilities of Orchid One will allow ICN to resell hosted services to Nigeria’s tier 2 service providers. ICN intends to develop its network across Africa beginning with West Africa, South, East and then North Africa. Orchid one will provide the proper SIP based infrastructure to ensure customers get the same service level regardless of where they connect to the network from.
