Triple-Play Service Deployment

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Chapter 1: The Vision–Reliable Triple-Play Service Delivery
Prior to turn-up, technicians focus on VoIP QoS testing and
placement of IP phones. Provisioning errors and voice quality
issues are identified and resolved before service provisioning is
completed.Test records gathered during this phase of the process
should be captured and recorded for future use. If problems with
service do occur later, these records can expedite the trouble
resolution process.
During turn-up, technicians must verify connectivity to signaling
gateways, service provisioning, and call quality. Call quality must
be verified by placing both on-network and off-network (to PSTN)
test calls. Critical test call parameters include packet delay, packet
loss, and jitter. However, the mean opinion score (MOS), a
measurement that includes these parameters, is the most critical
single quality metric. MOS is widely used in SLAs to measure
overall VoIP service quality.
During service delivery, a variety of issues can cause poor VoIP
service quality. A comprehensive service assurance plan is critical
to ensure continued customer satisfaction. Issues that can degrade
VoIP service include customer premises equipment (CPE)-related
trouble caused by handsets, processor/DSP performance, and
microphone/earpiece acoustics. Network echo canceller performance
also can affect service. Network hand-offs between the packet
network and the TDM network, typically managed by a voice
gateway switch, are critical test points in all networks.
IP Video
For broadcast video service, what happens in the headend (HE)
propagates through to the home. Quality in/quality out truly
epitomizes IP video service delivery. This is why content source
inputs must be monitored closely and analyzed thoroughly—prior
to transcoding, grooming, and entry into the distribution network.
HE quality control strategies must be established.