TComLabs slates IPCablecom interop event

Roger Brown, CED
CED Broaband Direct, October 21, 2002

The European version of packet telephony over cable TV networks will get its first tryout during the first IPCablecom interoperability event, slated to occur Jan. 6-10, 2003 at the tComLabs facility in Ghent, Belgium.

This inaugural event will focus on IPCablecom, Europe's version of the PacketCable specification. In its first version, it standardizes the voice-over-IP services of a single-zone network belonging to one operator and the interfaces to the PSTN (public switched telephone network) network. Deviations between the European and U.S. version are related to the differences in the traditional telecommunication systems that are used in Europe and the U.S. These are mainly related to the use of V5.2 and the differences in SS7 implementation. Another area of difference is the POTS interface and supported CLASS-features.

"The objectives of the interoperability event are to determine what the state-of-the-art of the IPCablecom products is, to give an opportunity for the product developers to test their products with regards to interoperability and to accelerate the introduction of IPCablecom compliant products on the cable market," said Luc Martens, CEO of tComLabs, in a press release.

The interoperability event will focus testing on the access equipment of the IPCablecom system and the interfaces to the PSTN network. To help manufacturers achieve interoperability for the security interfaces, a separate lab will focus on the security aspects.

This event is the first of what is anticipated to be a series of interoperability events, said tComLabs officials.