After wide-scale deployment of its softswitch technology over the past year, Ericsson rolled out an enhanced IP technology package at the CommunicAsia expo in Singapore on Tuesday June 20.

It is the next step in the evolution toward an all-IP environment in which operators can offer seamless services over the internet, regardless of whether consumers access them from a wireline phone, computer, or mobile phone. This step lets operators differentiate through telecom quality and superior user experience in an increasingly competive environment.

Ericsson's goal is to help operators run their IP-based networks more intelligently, and with the reliability and security offered by traditional telephone networks.

The new version of Ericsson's SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) technology can, among other things, reroute traffic during node failure. If a node goes out, another picks up the traffic automatically without service ever being interrupted.

Another solution lets operators constantly monitor and control the traffic that goes into the network. They can then charge customers differently depending on the type of content they send.

This enhanced feature of Ericsson's Service-Aware Charging and Control system is critical at a time when content is becoming more complex and competition is squeezing operator revenue margins.

Growth in demand for broadband services worldwide is pushing the need for IP. So are low-cost internet telephony newcomers such as Skype, which are winning market share from both fixed and mobile operators.

Also at CommunicAsia, Ericsson is introducing a new solution that gives fixed-network operators more control over their systems. Next-Generation Resource Control (NGRC) will help them better determine factors including who gets access to their networks.

Jan Ögren, vice president of Sales at Ericsson's Business Unit Systems, says: "We can help operators enter this new world and help them decide what kind of business model they need to adapt to this new environment.

"And we're launching solutions both for fixed and mobile operators here in Singapore to highlight that Ericsson is moving toward convergence and more functionality."

The foundation for the new services is Ericsson's solid experience as a provider of IP-based networks, Ögren says.

A year ago, the company became the first in the US to install IP-based SGSN nodes that can "pool" traffic to provide uninterrupted service and grow the network more efficiently. Sören Elsborg, Cingular key account manager, says the USD 100 million deal with Cingular allowed the Atlanta-based wireless operator to significantly increase its capacity overnight.

"So, introducing SGSN pooling will let Cingular manage its tremendous forecasted growth," Elsborg says. "At the same time, pooling makes the network extremely reliable - and makes it a cornerstone in the all-IP network."

Even if not all parts of the IP network products are from Ericsson, Ögren says the company can provide operators with the complete connectivity solutions they need to put an efficient network in place.

"Functionality, new nodes - it's all part of the reference architecture that we can offer," he says.