Residential VoIP Challenges
Since the year 2000, I've been using VoIP at my home. Initially, my
VoIP phone was driven by a lab that I had built to test the initial
concepts that eventually evolved into Telus' IP-One service. Back then,
I couldn't understand why companies weren't launching VoIP based
residential services. After all, it worked very well and it was
relatively inexpensive to build a service that had a huge potential for
growth. Since that time, I've experimented with a multitude of
residential based VoIP services including Skype, Vonage, Free World
Dialup and many others.
No matter which service I used, the voice quality has always been excellent. In fact, the voice quality sometimes exceeded my traditional Bell service. As a result, in conversations with colleagues and clients, I would boast that even without QoS, I enjoyed great service 98% of the time.
From my earliest VoIP tests in 1998, I have always maintained that strict end to end QoS mechanisms were mandatory for business based IP Telephony services but I contended that best effort mechanisms were adequate for residential service. Well, I've changed my opinion.
Over the last several months the poor quality of my broadband connection has made my VoIP service virtually unusable. Tests have revealed huge delay, jitter and packet loss. So naturally, I called my broadband service provider; the only broadband service provider in my area. They acknowledged that they have a severe congestion issue in my area, that a rebuild will be required and that it could take two days, two weeks or two months to complete; perhaps more. But, to ensure that I remain a satisfied customer, they would give me a month of free service; great I save $40.00!
Under the current mode of operation, the quality of most VoIP based residential services is totally dependant on the network connections that are used to transport the encapsulated voice to and from their client locations. I say most because there are exceptions. That same service
provider who is currently providing me with the lousy broadband service has the capability of supplying me with a QoS enabled VoIP service that would work fine even on my congested connection. Why? Because, they own and control the infrastructure and can prioritize my voice traffic. Well, for a number of reasons, I won't subscribe to their phone service.
Ultimately, I believe regulators will have to get involved to ensure that the owners of the last mile do not have an unfair advantage over their VoIP competitors. Two issues must be addressed:
1. Residential broadband service providers must offer their VoIP competitors the ability to prioritize voice traffic. I'm not saying that this service should be free, but it needs to be priced fairly.
2. Residential, and other broadband service providers, must be prohibited
from intentionally hindering or blocking their competitors' voice traffic. I've heard of a couple of incidents of this already. Without intervention, there will be more. Regulators should be taking proactive measures on this issue.
Unless the regulators get involved there's a chance that the only viable choice for residential voice consumers will be dictated by the same old monopolies and that the promise of true choice and innovation promised by VoIP technology will be unfulfilled.
Rick McCharles
Telecom Consultant, Toronto, Ontario Canada
President, RIC Services
Stumble It!
No matter which service I used, the voice quality has always been excellent. In fact, the voice quality sometimes exceeded my traditional Bell service. As a result, in conversations with colleagues and clients, I would boast that even without QoS, I enjoyed great service 98% of the time.
From my earliest VoIP tests in 1998, I have always maintained that strict end to end QoS mechanisms were mandatory for business based IP Telephony services but I contended that best effort mechanisms were adequate for residential service. Well, I've changed my opinion.
Over the last several months the poor quality of my broadband connection has made my VoIP service virtually unusable. Tests have revealed huge delay, jitter and packet loss. So naturally, I called my broadband service provider; the only broadband service provider in my area. They acknowledged that they have a severe congestion issue in my area, that a rebuild will be required and that it could take two days, two weeks or two months to complete; perhaps more. But, to ensure that I remain a satisfied customer, they would give me a month of free service; great I save $40.00!
Under the current mode of operation, the quality of most VoIP based residential services is totally dependant on the network connections that are used to transport the encapsulated voice to and from their client locations. I say most because there are exceptions. That same service
provider who is currently providing me with the lousy broadband service has the capability of supplying me with a QoS enabled VoIP service that would work fine even on my congested connection. Why? Because, they own and control the infrastructure and can prioritize my voice traffic. Well, for a number of reasons, I won't subscribe to their phone service.
Ultimately, I believe regulators will have to get involved to ensure that the owners of the last mile do not have an unfair advantage over their VoIP competitors. Two issues must be addressed:
1. Residential broadband service providers must offer their VoIP competitors the ability to prioritize voice traffic. I'm not saying that this service should be free, but it needs to be priced fairly.
2. Residential, and other broadband service providers, must be prohibited
from intentionally hindering or blocking their competitors' voice traffic. I've heard of a couple of incidents of this already. Without intervention, there will be more. Regulators should be taking proactive measures on this issue.
Unless the regulators get involved there's a chance that the only viable choice for residential voice consumers will be dictated by the same old monopolies and that the promise of true choice and innovation promised by VoIP technology will be unfulfilled.
Rick McCharles
Telecom Consultant, Toronto, Ontario Canada
President, RIC Services
Stumble It!
