Main.net’s Telephony over Power Line
Introduction
Main.net offers comprehensive, cost-effective PLC telephony solutions over power lines. It is a scalable solution that runs on the existing electricity grid.
The telephony solution is based on Main.net’s broadband platform, creating the advantage of having a second telephone line (next to the existing telecom one) from any electrical outlet in the home. For the end user, there are only benefits and no drawbacks: he can use his familiar standard analog phone, but now from any electrical outlet in his house.
By providing their existing customers with telephony, the power utilities can now penetrate the newly opened and profitable market of telecommunication.
In order to enable a complete operational telephony solution, Main.net provides all the necessary system elements (partially based on third party’s products), fully integrated and interoperable with Main.net’s last mile solution over the power lines.
The additional elements can include:
1. Gateway
2. Gatekeeper
3. Softswitch
4. Billing server
5. Added value services servers (unified messaging, voice mail etc.)
In developed countries, Main.net’s Plus telephony solution runs on top of the Internet platform that PLC provides, in these markets the Plus telephony solution also supplies the end user with added value services like unified messaging, conferencing etc.
In emerging markets, Plus addresses the urgent need for a scalable, economically feasible telephony solution to provide to consumers that are not connected to any telephone system. Main.net’s Plus uses the existing electricity infrastructure, so high investments in an expensive copper infrastructure and home wires are avoided.
PLC Telephony as the first line or second line
In some countries, like the ones with an emerging economy, the penetration of telephony is low. Since the copper wire infrastructure is missing and difficult or expensive to build (it requires huge investments), PLC is the perfect answer. The PLC infrastructure uses the existing electricity grid, so no digging in the ground, no expensive copper infrastructure and no new wires in the home are required. Main.net’s telephony system solution is therefore the most suitable, scalable and economically feasible telephony solution to provide to consumers that today are not connected.
In countries, where PLC users already have a PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network) Telephony connection, the PLC Telephony connection can serve as a second line. Apart from the inherent advantage of having an additional line available in every electricity outlet, there are other advantages to the PLC Telephony line.
While phone sockets are not usually available throughout the house, electricity outlets are all over the place. That means that the user can connect the phone anywhere in the house. Another huge advantage is the cost-effectiveness, of international calls. PLC Telephony also enables advanced services like unified messaging voice portals, palm integration and others.
PLC Telephony doesn’t limit the number of lines for the end user. Therefore, over time, the user may wish to discontinue using his first line, or replace it with an additional PLC line.
The PLC infrastructure contains advanced quality of service capabilities, including queuing and voice prioritization. Together with the network mechanisms they provide high quality calls
Main.net’s Telephony Architecture
The system is based on Main.net Plus technology which consists of CuPlus, RpPlus, NmPlus ( should be hyperlink to each of the products under tab 2) the main difference from a data only system will be in having TelPlus or NtPlus with telephony within the customer premises and the VoIP components in the infrastructure.
End-user products:
TelPlus – The TelPlus is a Plus unit that provides telephony applications. It has only RJ11 connectors (the standard telephone connector) for connecting a standard analog phones. This unit is primarily aimed at emerging markets, where telephony is at a penetration stage while the demand for Internet is not as high as in developed markets.
NtPlus – the NtPlus (Network Termination) is the basic unit that provides Internet connection between the electrical outlet and the PC (or any other peripheral). The units come with a standard connector to the PC (USB and Ethernet) and optional telephony abilities. It is aimed at industrialized countries where the basic demand for Internet capabilities is high and telephony abilities can be added. The unit enables parallel use of telephony (utilizing standard analog phone) and Internet. Several units can be plugged-in to create a home networking platform. In order to connect to broadband, the end user simply plugs the unit to any electrical outlet, and connects it to a PC and/or a telephone.
Telephony infrastructure
In order to implement telephony service, one should add to the system additional components that will interface with the TelPlus or with the NtPlus with the telephony option:
Softswitch or Gatekeeper – a third party product that manages the telephony endpoints. The Gatekeeper is responsible for address translation, authorization and authentication of terminals and gateways, routing services and bandwidth management. This unit is required when telephony services are provided.
Gateway – a third party product that interconnects the TelPlus units within the PLC network to terminals located in the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). (Note: a Gateway is not required for communications when all terminals are located within the same H.323 network.)
In order to provide commercial telephony services, the power utility will have to set up soft switches that provide the end user with services, set up gateways between the system and PSTN, clearing houses, and any other telephony provider with whom the end user wants to communicate.
The above components will communicate with the NtPlus and TelPlus that will enable the connection of a phone.
Benefits
Fast implementation
Utilizing the Plus broadband platform
Uses standard analog phones
Significant savings on investment
New locations only need the electricity infrastructure
Guaranteed safe interconnection by using standard interfaces to the PSTN and concentration of traffic
Advanced VoIP telephony services like call forwarding, hold, conference, using standard analog phones
Lower telephone exchange costs due to concentrated traffic
Option of pre-payment