Managed VoIP Network

Galaxy Telecom has developed a proprietary "converged" voice and data network using the Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) standard. SIP is an open, non-proprietary standard, modeled after HTTP that seamlessly integrates with the Internet. Because of its ease of integration and its ability to inter-operate with other protocols and service vendors, SIP is the foundation for Galaxy Telecom's flexible and scalable VoIP solutions.

Galaxy Telecom owns and operates the core routers, switching and server equipment that provide converged network protocol translation, load balancing, traffic management, authentication and application services.

Galaxy's digital network is more cost effective than a traditional circuit switched network due to:

• The avoidance of international settlement rates of as much as 0.50¢ per call when voice calls are routed from one country to another over traditional, analog circuit switches
• Lower infrastructure costs for equipment that uses far less space and requires less maintenance
• The economic benefits of voice compression and packet switching that are only available with digital technology

To ensure the quality of the network, all equipment is installed in Tier 1 facilities with 100% guaranteed up time, 24x7x365 manned services, air conditioning and high security. Galaxy Telecom's VoIP solutions operate on an infrastructure that is built with equipment from multiple vendors to help ensure greater fault tolerance and reduces our reliance on downstream providers.

Global Termination

Galaxy Telecom has extensive worldwide coverage to the PSTN through strategic alliances with various VoIP wholesale carriers. This allows us to offer carrier grade off-net termination services (VoIP subscriber calling a traditional telco customer) to our customers at the most competitive rates.

Network Design Principles

To ensure highest standards in flexibility and quality of service Galaxy Telecom’s design principles include:

• Standards-based solutions
• Integrated platforms
• Carrier-class reliability
• True scalability
• High performance
• Distributed & efficient network management
• Support for partner & subscriber self-service

Network Scalability

Galaxy Telecom designed the network architecture to accommodate scalability, load spikes and fail-over redundancy. The network can be scaled for regional demand increases by adding computing hardware into our points of presence. Geographic demand shifts can be accommodated by replicating these access points globally as necessary depending on the load of the system and quality of data services in each area. Our architecture is designed around the deployment of "Super Nodes" and "Mini Nodes" that serve as global route points.

Super Nodes

The “Super Nodes”, or Typical Continental Operations Centres, route traffic between continents and are placed directly on top of major fiber optic transmission points around the world and connect to multiple first class voice and data carriers. These Super Nodes also contain fully replicated accounting and authentication data, plus enhanced application services such as voice mail, unified messaging and conferencing platforms.

Mini Nodes

The “Mini Nodes”, or typical Regional Operations Centres, perform country or regional amalgamation of voice traffic, and act as voice/data proxy points to collect and redirect voice traffic from the regions of our network directly into our Super Node network. These Mini Nodes perform regional IP PBX features, handle direct communication with the subscriber Voice Gateway equipment, perform the actual authentication / CDR collection services as well working closely with the Super Nodes above them.

Galaxy Telecom’s core network architecture design is composed of 5 Continental Super Nodes connected by multiple fiber connections.

• All routers connecting to our systems make use of Cisco's HSRP (hot standby routing protocol).
• All routers within our systems also make use of Cisco's HSRP protocols.
• All super node locations feature multiple redundant OC (Optical) network connections to multiple suppliers and feature Cisco Systems BGP dynamic routing architecture.
• All data communications bandwidth providers that we connect to offer 99.999% service level agreements, including Performance guarantees of 99.999% uninterrupted connectivity to the Internet, zero packet loss transiting through their networks, and connectivity to other carriers inter city of less than 5 ms.
• All computing devices are managed in live cluster environments with automatic failover and spare unit utilization.
• All core network databases, and data services are replicated in real-time between super nodes to ensure full data redundancy within our core global network.
• All core network servers feature dual power supplies, RAID controllers, multiple hard drives, and emergency remote reboot equipment.
• All database structures utilized in the back end systems of Galaxy Telecom's voice services and partner portals are designed for maximum security and multiple data locations to protect against data loss or corruption of systems.
• All network infrastructure locations utilize Cisco Systems PIX and state-full inspection firewall services within core routers to protect data integrity and high availability within the network.
• All key network components are monitored 24X7X365 by trained Cisco network professionals.

In addition, Galaxy Telecom engineers take all possible measures to insure that all customer voice traffic reaches its destination in a timely fashion suitable for VOIP services globally. We take into account multiple route selection, dynamic and manual route adjustments, and the placement of Mini Nodes for voice proxy where necessary to improve voice quality.

Future Network Enhancements

Future enhancements will primarily focus on geographic expansion, enhanced applications roll-out and enhanced Network Operations Control (NOC operations). Expansion of NOC capabilities will allow the highest standard in VoIP quality of service and translate into benchmarks that will be used in setting partner service level targets.