UBC first deployed VoIP in 2004 for use at the Life Sciences Building. Since then, all newly constructed buildings at the UBC Vancouver campus have used VoIP for telephone services. Currently there are about 4000 phone lines on VoIP, or about 26% of the total phone services at the Point Grey campus.
The VoIP Migration Project will extend UBC’s VoIP environment to provide service to most TDM users at the UBC Vancouver campus. Currently, UBC’s VoIP environment is running on up-to-date hardware and software, and it will provide a reliable platform for the university’s phone system.
About 4500 users will be moved off of the Henry Angus PBX to VoIP in Winter 2012.
What is VoIP?
An enterprise VoIP phone system works much like a traditional phone system from an end-user perspective. VoIP phones have a different appearance, but all of the features and capabilities of a TDM phone are there.
One of the key differences, and benefits, between VoIP and TDM is the network. A TDM switch uses dedicated copper circuits between the phone on the user’s desk and the telephone switch for connectivity. VoIP, on the other hand, uses the data network for communications between the phone and the call server.
VoIP represents the larger industry trend towards the convergence of voice, video and data into IP-based networks and infrastructure.
