Sprint Sets Up Wholesale IP Exchange

Sprint-Nextel Corp. is launching a direct exchange for its wholesale customers that want to directly swap VoIP service between themselves while operating on Sprint's global Tier 1 IP network.

The Partner Interexchange Network (PIN) sets up a community of partners who will reap the benefits of direct interconnection that does not employ the PSTN, like the lowering or elimination of access termination fees and LEC tandem fees.

Using a switchless routing framework based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), minutes that cross the PIN architecture are charged at a lower rate than traditional PSTN networks and drive down transport costs. Leveraging next-generation network routing technology, PIN delivers high-quality, low-cost VoIP exchange to multiple on-net partner network destinations (in contrast to establishing multipeering arrangements with multiple partners) and terminations to the PSTN.

"Operators are searching for alternatives for how to deliver voice and data traffic," said Dan Dooley, president of Sprint Wholesale Solutions, in a statement. "At Sprint, we are seeing greater demand for Voice over IP services. As more companies adopt VoIP and migrate away from traditional TDM voice services, there is a definite need for affordable, scalable technologies to securely exchange voice traffic. This is what PIN provides."