scope:

GENERAL

Throughout this document the CCSN and PSTN are addressed as separate networks, even though both subnetworks comprise the new public switched network and both are necessary to complete calls. This is done in order to better focus on their uniqueness and concerns, separately, before attempting to merge the two, and perhaps miss some important issues. In addition, although more is presented on the maintenance side, maintenance should not be construed as more important than network traffic management. In the order of things, however, maintenance is vital with the advent of the CCSN. The CCSN must evolve to a consistently stable network to allow Network Traffic Management (NTM) efforts to be effective. Additionally, NTM functions can greatly assist in this stability.

Recent Common Channel Signaling Network (CCSN) outages are causing speculation that more severe problems will occur in the future. The industry in general is concerned that they may not be properly prepared to diagnose troubles quickly and contain their proliferation in an integrated CCSN. One of several areas being addressed in this document is the recovery procedures for CCSN failures. Also addressed are actions that might be taken to contain the spread, or worsening, of network failures when Telecommunications Providers (TPs) and Telecommunications Customers (TCs) are interconnected. These two areas of concern are inter-related and require both an understanding of their inter-relationship and a comprehensive plan of action.

This document assumes a 100% deployment of CCS interconnection between an TP and TC.

It provides a view of factors that a typical Network Provider might consider in planning responses to potential network events.