Business Telecom Strategies
Businesses that have a critical need for different telecommunications technologies would normally consult with experienced network engineers in terms of implementation. If the business requires a combination of several types of telecommunications technologies such as voice, internet, ISDN, frame relay, etc, the network expert will recommend integrated access solutions.
Integrated access solution is a strategy that consolidates all IT needs of the company to improve efficiency of the network at lesser cost. Network engineers would install an Integrated Access Device (IAD) that aggregates the different information channels across a shared access link, which can either be T1, Cable or DSL, to the service provider.
Implementation of integrated access solutions to the entire network infrastructure of a company provides has many advantages:
- Cost. Any business would always think of ways on how to reduce costs. Integrated access is one way to accomplish that. Instead of having separate T1 line for voice and another one for data, the installed IAD can consolidate the two and just use a single T1 line. Also, installation of integrated access devices is very simple that network staff need not go through costly training just to learn the process.
- Flexibility. Simple businesses would also require just simple IADs. However, if the business requires more than just voice and data, advanced and sophisticated IADs are needed. What’s good about the IADs is that they are modular, which means that it can easily adapt to any change the business would require in the future without the need to change the device. Each type of information is connected through a modular card that can be removed or added depending on the need of the business.
- Marketing strategy. Service providers also benefit from integrated access solutions. They are able to customize different service packages for different types of clients. For smaller and simpler businesses, they can offer a bundle of voice and data services. For more complicated businesses, they can all integrate voice, frame relay, data and ISDN, depending on the need. With integrated access, they are able to offer these bundles at more reasonable and competitive price ranges.
- Redundancy. As all forms of technology are bound to fail at one point or another, redundancy is very important for network infrastructures that are crucial to the success of the business. With the integrated access device’s modular design, redundancy is easy to implement as network operators simply need to add backup cards should one or more of the used cards fail.
Integrated access is indeed a solution for more future technology evolutions. Its versatility and flexibility allows simultaneous implementations of old and new technologies as it helps businesses gradually adapt to the ever-growing demands of the world.