The transport of voice over MPLS networks has been considered by several standards forums, including IETF, MPLS Forum, and the ITU-T. Several standards, RFCs, and Implementations Agreements are now available concerning VoIP over MPLS. Fortunately there is a high degree of alignment of the standards emerging from the various forums. However, this does not mean there is a single standard for the transport of voice over MPLS networks. Rather a family of protocols is being adopted by most of the standards organizations.

This session will discuss the status of standards for voice over MPLS and VoIP over MPLS, and the various forums progressing these standards. It will demonstrate how the individual protocols relate to each other and why more than one protocol is being adopted. The network and service scenarios where the major Voice over MPLS protocols are applicable will be identified. The presentation also will define the strengths and weaknesses of each protocol. The standards section will conclude with an update on the current status of the key standardization efforts for voice over MPLS.

This session will then provide an update on the implementation and deployment of VoIP over MPLS in live networks. It will identify differences between the protocols in terms of OAM, packet loss concealment algorithms, bandwidth efficiency, and robustness. Implementation issues will be considered in the context of both enterprise and service provider networks. The paper will conclude with a look at the future directions for VoIP over MPLS.

Bio:
Mr. James McEachern is responsible for defining standards strategy for the Succession product, at Nortel Networks. For the past 20 years, Mr. McEachern has been involved in network and product planning, with experience covering SONET/SDH, high-speed access (DSL, cable, and fiber), fixed wireless access, operations, VoIP, Data Networking, and Service Management. Mr. McEachern has extensive experience working with North American and international operators, and for two years led Nortel Networks European Network Planning team. He holds three patents in Optical Networking.

Mr McEachern is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Multiservice Switching Forum (MSF), and the editor of ITU-T Recommendation Y.1414 (Voice Services over MPLS).

Mr. McEachern graduated with an Honors BSc. from the Royal Military College, in Kingston Ontario, Canada.