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A unified voice and data network over cost-effective packet switched infrastructure
To transport Ethernet traffic end-toend over PDH/SDH infrastructure when no IP network is available
RAD’s TDMoIP IPmux gateways and DXC multiservice access nodes
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Annual communication costs cut by one-third
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Solution payback period of less than three years
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Latest-generation IP voice infrastructure (TDMoIP/MPLS)
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Optimum voice quality, maximum availability
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Future-proof investment
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The German Aerospace Center (DLR) decided to migrate its worldwide voice infrastructure over to IP primarily because IP-based packet networks offer a major benefit: they reduce costs. DLR's innovative strategy, designed around components from RAD Data Communications, was devised by SCALTEL, a local RAD partner in Germany.
DLR operates facilities across Germany and other parts of Europe, and works closely with international research and development partners in other countries, including the United States, Russia and Japan.
“The high potential cost savings and the replacement of outdated transmission technology were the key factors that drove our decision to invest in new and innovative voice communications,” explains Markus Trost, the project supervisor at DLR's German Space Operations Center.
Voice communications had been run over an ATM backbone, as is common with conventional phone systems. However, from DLR's standpoint, there was little merit in using ATM for voice in the long run. “ATM is extremely costly, and our service provider is not committed to supporting it in the longer term,” explains Gabor Szücs, the systems engineer responsible for WAN solutions at DLR and technical supervisor on the project. “Our aim was to migrate all our locations' voice communications over to MPLS.”
“By moving our voice traffic over to IP/MPLS, we're cutting our annual communications costs by a third. What's more, the solution will pay for itself in just three years,” says Trost.
SCALTEL designed, then configured and tested all the components up front. This approach helped avoid possible complications during the actual implementation phase. Thanks to this preparatory work, as well as valuable tips provided by SCALTEL's engineers, the team at DLR was able to install and commission the solution's components on their own. Their ability to accomplish this independently was important because NASA's security requirements are extremely tight. “We planned that we would need one or two weeks for the rollout at each location. Also, the system switchover had to work immediately because otherwise partner organizations' ability to communicate with the astronauts would have been compromised,” Trost points out.
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The high potential cost savings and the replacement of outdated transmission technology were the key factors that drove our decision to invest in new and innovative voice communications.
Markus Trost, Project Supervisor, DLR |
“If we phone NASA and there's noise on the line, they hang up immediately,” Trost states. This kind of interference on communication links cannot be allowed to happen because it would indicate technical problems, reflecting poorly on DLR.
IPmux gateways from RAD Data Communications, used to connect the voice systems at DLR's key locations, soon proved to be the right choice. They support the virtual provisioning of all services over IP/MPLS networks, and the latency with voice traffic running over network connections is less than 20 milliseconds, which is crucial for voice quality. DLR deployed an IPmux at each location and two more at its primary and backup data centers to provide redundant connectivity for all its voice systems. This solution enables trouble-free, IP-based voice communication between the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, the National Centre for Space Studies in Toulouse, France, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) in Moscow, and NASA’s facilities in Houston and Huntsville in the United States.
The primary challenge was the special communication systems used between DLR’s ground control and flight control centers. These systems are operated via touch panels, which are much like giant digital pushbutton phones with quick-dial keys. “They offer a fast and simple way for each location to join or leave a voice loop (a conversation in progress) and keep up with what's happening at the space station,” explains Gabor Szücs. Detailed rules are in place to define who can speak and who can just listen in. These systems enable all locations to know what their partner organizations and astronauts in the space station are doing and to respond quickly and easily when required.
Each facility is equipped with three of these communication systems, and each system has two highspeed X.21 interfaces controlled from two touch panels. Migrating voice communication to IP involved using a combination of RAD’s DXC multiservice access nodes and IPmux gateways. TDMoIP converts a steady stream of speech into IP packets that are then transported over a worldwide IP/MPLS network. Two DXCs and two IPmux units were installed at the two data centers, plus one DXC and one IPmux at each other location.
This means that all the major parties collaborating on research and development work are permanently connected with one another at all times.
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By moving our voice traffic over to IP/MPLS, we're cutting our annual communications costs by a third. What's more, the solution will pay for itself in just three years.
Markus Trost, Project Supervisor, DLR |
“This is a very cost-effective solution for a carrier seeking to extend its Ethernet customer base by linking up small cities that do not have fiber infrastructure,” explains Alexey Bobrov, of SNT, the RAD Data Communications partner in Ukraine that served as the project’s system integrator. “The project has made a substantial contribution towards expanding Ethernet service throughout the country.”
