This trefor.net working lunch will focus on Session Routing Engines and is targeted at engineers running ITSP networks. Modern VoIP networks have a growing set of variables to contend with when managing the routing of calls. For example:

• QoS based routing
• Load balancing
• Integration of customer PBXs
• Reaction to presence based stimuli
• Number porting/ENUM
• Fixed Mobile Convergence

For the operators of large networks the need for sophisticated routing capabilities has been long since evident. This is less so for smaller players who have often relied on the routing capabilities inherent in their softswitch platforms. There are however a number of factors driving change in everyone’s routing strategies.

Firstly as the market matures smaller players are growing in size and complexity of networks and introducing more complex features to their product sets (eg mobile integration and connectivity to diverse platforms such as Skype For Business). This is creating a need for more sophisticated network intelligence.

Tier 1 networks are also evolving to accommodate new API based standards such as IMS and VoLTE that potentially offer the reward of easier network management, lower cost and faster implementation of new services to their customer base.

Our guest speaker is Laurent Debacker of Belgian telco Voo where he is Voice and Mobile Service Manager. As the company has grown and its services evolved Voo has seen the need to develop its infrastructure to cope with the increased complexities of running a next generation voice network. Laurent is going to take us through Voo's journey and act as a catalyst for a stimulating debate.

As usual the trefor.net working lunches are limited to a maximum of 12 guests so that everyone can get involved in the discussion. Everyone who attends one of these sessions leaves having learnt something and felt it was time well spent. These are very technical events.

The lunches start at 12.30 and nominally finish at 2.30/3pm so that people can get back to the office. However this is not a hard finish and the discussions often continue to the end of the working day.

These lunches are open to anyone from the VoIP network operator community and are free to attend. They are sponsored by Netaxis Solutions UK of which I am Managing Director. Voo are a customer of Netaxis and user of our Session Routing Engine.

Please note you do need to be involved in VoIP network operations to properly benefit from these lunches. If your profile doesn’t fit I’m afraid you can’t come.