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AT&T, BT and Tata prove TelePresence can be like the PSTN

Tony Chan | July 3, 2009 | 0 Comments

Three global carriers and Cisco Systems has completed a successful trial of the latter’s TelePresence system across multi-carrier networks, paving the way for the day when HD video conferencing may be use like today’s PSTN.

The proof-of-concept trial by AT&T, BT and Tata Communications, was carried out at the Cisco Live 2009 event, and involved AT&T sites in Bedminster and Morristown, NJ., and Chicago, IL., a BT site in Colorado Springs, a Cisco site in San Francisco and Tata sites in Boston and London.

“Today’s demonstration marks a significant milestone for Cisco’s service provider partners and our customers. With inter-carrier intercompany Cisco TelePresence, we’re extending the power of video communications and collaboration across network service providers to bring people a new visual experience that’s as easy as making a phone call,” said Marthin De Beer, senior vice president, Emerging Technologies Group, Cisco.

According to Cisco, the trial proves that the TelePresence system will work between “participating networks,” and with high levels of security and reliability. In other words, it proves that the technical parameters of interconnection and traffic handling for TelePresence sessions between different carrier networks works, and that users can now set up sessions with other TelePresence users as long as they have some kind of identification, such as their IP address.

The only thing missing for the system to act truly like the PSTN is, cheaper TelePresence systems, more coverage with a greater number of participating carriers and some kind of global directory (Yellow Pages), so you can find people/companies on those networks that you don’t already know.

“This proof of concept with AT&T and BT showcases how Tata Communications will conveniently support B2B sessions among any connected private and public Cisco TelePresence rooms, on the Tata Communications global network and also inter-carrier,” said Peter Quinlan, director, Managed TelePresence Services, Tata Communications. “This pioneering global service pushes managed TelePresence from being a private intra-company experience to an open inter-company experience able to bring together the full ecosystem of employees, partners, customers and prospects. This open inter-carrier B2B capability enriches Tata Communications’ comprehensive approach to managed TelePresence services.”

Bill Archer, chief marketing officer, AT&T Business Solutions, added: “Inter-carrier connectivity is the next step in building out TelePresence for improved collaboration for businesses throughout the world. With the AT&T TelePresence Solution we are providing companies today with the ability to interact with customers or other key businesses in a highly-secure environment. Looking to the future, AT&T is committed to working with other network service providers to bring this proof of concept to market as soon as possible.”