Olongapo Telecom & Information Technology

Friday, April 15, 2005

PROPOSED INTEGRATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS


BACKGROUND

Telecommunications services are crucial elements in the conduct of business activities. Its availability on a regular and uninterrupted basis is essential for the efficient functioning of industries, commerce and trade, offices and institutions; it contributes directly to the over all development of the city and its neighboring communities. In aspiring to achieve this goal, the members of the newly created Olongapo City Telecommunications and Information Technology Board consider TELECOM and Information technology as “top priority” among the programs to be developed in order to meet the ever growing demand of efficient and reliable TELECOM and IT infrastructures and services.

Inspired by the leadership of Mayor James Gordon, Jr. we at the TELECOM and IT Board, put a premium on rendering service to its residents, businessmen and investors by performing our individual tasks and with teamwork in striving to contribute our share to attain this goal.

The growth and expansion of SBMA economy and activities imposes a continuing need for efficient, reliable and cost effective Telecommunications to satisfy and identify the best Telecommunications and IT provider, particularly in the area of technical requirements. The following should be considered:

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

All switching elements shall employ a 4-wire Pulse Code Modulations (PCM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Solid State Store Program Control(SPC) Matrix Capable of direct interface with 1.544 Kbps PCM-24 and or 2.048 Kbps PCM-30 and capable of supporting synchronous data traffic up to 56 Kbps, 64 Kbps when CCS is employed, with no intermediate Digital to Analog or Analog to Digital conversion from the times the data is accepted at the input port which is delivered is to output port.

1. Flexibility to accommodate new services- the system must be capable of supporting ISDN interface, without the need for system upgrade or modification, or for the installation of interface equipment at the user location.
2. Availability- each CPU including power supplies and memory shall be fully redundant. Hardware/software though the system shall be duplicated as necessary to satisfy the availability requirements. Protection lines with automatic switch over shall be provided for Fiber Optic and PCM lines at the rate of a minimum of one protected line to every three active lines. Each remote switching elements shall have the capability to handle the entire switch operation for its community of interest in the stand-alone-mode.
3. Commonality of hardware- the proposer shall provide an integrated switching system with all the elements provided from a single family of equipment in which the remote units were designed not to modified, to function as a remote of the specific host, components, such as circuit assemblies, line and trunk cards etc… which are common throughout the system shall be 100% interchangeable. The proposer shall specify his proposed method of intra system connectivity to satisfy the requirements of an integrated switching system. All switching elements shall provide any tandem switching, dual homing, alternate routing capabilities to achieve the network architecture. Connectivity between the main central office exchange (Host Switch) and remote switching Units Elements at Barangay Barreto, Gordon Heights and New Cabalan will be accomplished primarily through a fiber optic backbone system to be designed. Processed and install and with capability as a back-up system TI/EI carries equipment into multiplexers for the optical Fibers provided by the Proposer. File Optical Fiber Cable Shall be of sufficient strand to meet future growth.

Description/ Specification and Technical

Scope
This is a Request for Proposal ( RFP) – The Proposer will submit technical proposal that best satisfy the present and future requirements of the City of Olongapo and its seventeen Barangays. The Proposer’s proposal is evaluated “Acceptable” the proposer will qualify:

A. Location
Olongapo City Government
2/f City Hall Building
West Bajac-bajac, Olongapo City 2200

B. Existing Telephone System

The existing Telephone System in the City of Olongapo is Pilipino Telephone Corporation (PILTEL) owned and operated, maintained and managed by Subic Telecommunications Company INC. A general Telecommunications network connectivity include SBMA and the Town of Subic, Zambales. Piltel’s main exhange is located at Dela Cruz Drive, East Tapinac Olongapo City. The inside plant Facilities is Fujitso (Fetex 150) installed sometime in the mid1980’s. Records of service performance of the Fetex 150 system during the past years were unsatisfactory. City Resolution NO 120, Series of 1984, calls for service improvement of PILTEL’s inefficient services.

In 1996 City Resolution No. 65, brought to the attention of PILTEL the prevalence of sights of dangling telephone wires and to make corrections. City Resolution No. 82, Series of 1997 calls the attention of the Management Hierarchy of the Pilipino Telephone Corp. about numerous subscriber complaints about the Company’s perceived deficiency in providing Quality and reliable telephone services to the public. It was further Resolved by the City Council to consider a review of its existing contract between PILTEL and the City Government of Olongapo executed on June 19,1975. Pursuant to Resolution No. 90 Series of 1975 granting PILTEL the Franchise to operate a telephone system in the City. Another City Resolution No. 61, Series of 1998 was approved. “ A Resolution manifesting the desire of the City Government of Olongapo to encourage the further entry of franchises engaged in the operation, maintenance and provision of Cable Television and Telephone Systems to afford the City Residents with better alternatives or choices.

C. The Request for Proposal is not for the replacement of the existing Telephone System but to invite or put up another Telecom System by interested provider as manifested, contained under City Resolution No. 61 Series of 1998. Basically the said City Resolution, invites / entices new companies to venture in Olongapo and offer competitive, CATV and TELECOM services to City residents.

D. INTEGRATED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
The new Telecommunications System will be an integral part of the Olongapo City’s development infrastructure program. The network will be required to interface with other digital / analog switching and transmission facilities with in the City, SBMA and surrounding communities. The main (HOST) switch at the City of Olongapo’s strategic location will be designated as a Multi-function NODAL switch. Remote Switching Units (RSU) at Barangay Barretto Gordon Heights and New Cabalan shall be capable to operate on stand-alone-mode.

E. OPERATOR CONSOLE
The Proposer shall be required to install and operate Operator Console for Management Information, directory assistance and administrative system function

F. APPLICATION OF ALL DIGITAL SPECIFICATION
Any switches proposal shall meet the requirements set forth by NTC and International Performance Standard and grade of service.

G. SIZE
The Total Configuration shall be designed to satisfy the following approximate number of station
• Equipped - 10,000 lines
• wired for - 15,000 lines
• potential growth - 20,000 lines

H. TECHNOLOGY
The technology shall use Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). The switch shall provide digital data and voice communications utilizing and virtually non-blocking switch to satisfy the single line concept. The Multi-function Nodal Switch End Office switch and Remote Switching Units shall illustrate the basic relationship between these various switches the subscribers and the users of the Network when separate switches are provided to satisfy MF Nodal switch requirements complete features and functions transparency shall be provided. That is the use of the MF Nodal switch features or functions. The technical requirements and features of the Multi-Function Nodal switch are described in the main body of the specifications of the “Host Switch”.

The END OFFICE (EO) switch shall perform the function of a Central Office or PABX. This type of switch shall function as a terminating office in Barangay Barretto, Gordon Heights, and New Cabalan cluster of interest.

I. CONNECTIVITY
Fiber optic shall be provided to satisfy the major backbone cable requirements Barangay Barretto, Gordon Heights and New Cabalan Remote Switching Units or END-OFFICE (EO) or the case maybe.

J. WARRANTY DOCUMENTS
The proposer shall provide warranty documents indicating that all equipments shall conform to its published specification and be free from defect in materials and workmanship. The proposer shall guarantee all wiring and equipment to be free from inherent defects for a period of one year from the date of acceptance. Replacement of parts or corrections of any defects including labor shall be rendered without additional cost to its customers / subscribers. The proposer shall install the system in accordance with industry recommended engineering and maintenance practices, providing all parts, test equipments and labor.

K. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

1. GENERAL
All specifications stated are to be complied with and in addition, there to specified. In any parts of these specifications, any use of word phrase or sentence, which closely resembles the exact word phrase or sentence of any particular proposer, is meant to impart the meaning of the operation of that feature and not meant to imply only that particular proposer can supply said features.

2. COMPATIBILITY
The MF and EO switches shall be compatible with transmission supervisor and signaling characteristic of the latest Telecommunications technology.


3. TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN SWTCHES
The system shall be capable of total transparency of all the features and functions between EO, RSU switches and the MF switch.

4. DATA CAPABILITY
a. The New Installed Switch shall be capable of reliably transmitting and receiving and switching data in digital format full and half duplex without the use of modems at up to 19.2 kbps a synchronously and 64 kbps synchronously. The system shall interface with dial-up terminals through the current CCITT standard interface.
b. The system shall prevent intrusion or a data circuit by any overriding feature such as indication of a camp-on station attendant or executive override station monitoring busy verification or routine online maintenance, any link or trunk circuit connected to a data circuit shall be protected from intrusion, as well as the data circuit.

5. LINE AND TRUNK QUANTITIES
System line and trunk quantities shall be specified and growth potential capability of the switch.

6. GRADE OF SERVICE
The system shall provide sufficient cross-office switching and voice channels between line and trunks to provide as a minimum, a traffic handling capability during its office busy hour of 9 hundred calls. per second (CCS) per voice line and 36 CCS per data line. The system shall be engineered to provide a grade-of –service as ff:

Type of Connection Grade of Service Required

a. Terminating calls P.01
(Trunk to subscriber or trunk-to-trunk)

b. Originating calls (subscriber-to-trunk) P.01(after dial tone)

c. Intra-office calls (subscriber-to subscriber) P.001 (after dial tone)

d. Dial tone connection not more than 1.5 per cent
(Subscriber to-dial tone source) busy hour calls developed
over 3 sec

e. T1 or E1 carrier spans per inter-connect P.01 (after dial tone)
between switch


7. MEMORY CAPACITY
The proposer shall supply sufficient memory to meet the “wired for” requirement of the system and features, which was proposed.

8. ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE
The proposes shall be responsible for surveying the equipment spaces per Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interface (EMI) and ensuring that equipment selected is conditioned to meet the environment. Proposer-furnished equipment shall not cause interference with or degrade the performance of existing co-located system.

9. INTERCEPT
The system shall provide for all be designed for intercepting all vacant service code, unassigned subscriber numbers, discontinued subscriber numbers. The system shall provide a recorded announcement advising the caller of non-working numbers and automatically providing new numbers if applicable. The proposer shall provide a State-of-Art announcement system at the multi-function switch with one spare unit.

10. BATTERIES
New batteries shall be provided at each switch station.

a. The batteries shall be designed to last a minimum of twenty year (20) as industry practice standard.
b. Racks of suitable structure and designed shall be provided to mount batteries including earthquakes tracing.
c. A battery room safety kit (wall mounted) shall be provided, that contains as a minimum the following items:
1. Two glass eye cups for flushing eyes.
2. One pair full coverage eye goggles with air vent
3. One pair rubber gloves
4. One plastic bottle of distilled water
5. One rubber apron with straps
6. One plastic holder on wall mounting
7. Baking soda

11. AC POWER
The proposer will provide AC power including stand by emergency generator power.

12. MISCELLANEOUS CIRCUITS
Miscellaneous circuits line required for time weather alarm etc... These circuits line by pass the switch. The proposer shall install adequate connectivity to these lines.

13. FEATURES
The following features shall be provided in addition to those listed by the proposer’s system features.
a. Data Privacy - this feature eliminates the possible interruption of the transmission of data.
b. Diagnostic Circuitry – the telephone system shall contain circuitry, which continually checks idle circuits for fault conditions. If fault conditions are detected, an alarm is raised, display, and identifies the fault.
c. Direct Inward Dialing (DID) - station shall assign seven digits (7)listed directory numbers and can be called directly from the central office on special trunk, thus by-passing the attendant console.
d. Direct In Line - the capability shall be available to assign a trunk to a station so that in coming calls on a trunk shall ring the station directly. The station is the same as any other PABX station in all other respect.
e. Last Number Re-dialed - the system shall automatically remember the last numbers dialed if it is busy to redial, one need only use a two-digit code.
f. Uniform Call Distribution - Incoming call shall be distributed to the station within a pre-arrange group that has been idle to the longest time.
g. Emergency Service -the system shall support emergency services (Fire, Hospital, Police, Rescue, etc…) by dialing a three-digit code example 911.
h. Automatic Station Release - stations which do not hang-up at the end of a call or which go off-hook and don’t dial for a predetermined length of time shall be released from the common equipment
i. Line Privacy - the station user shall have privacy on his line during incoming and outgoing calls.
j. Conferencing - progressive, preset and meet-me types of conferencing shall be required. The conferencing system shall not introduce more than 3db loss between any input and output.

14. Management Administrative Equipment (MAE)
The system shall include complete and comprehensive Telecommunications management system that provide the following on site information and report processing capabilities;

(a). Most Economical Routing (MER)- The system shall have the capability of routing outgoing calls initiated by stations to the most economical circuit available based on analysis of the call destination. The system shall provide the capability for;


(1) call back queuing (distinctive ring)
(2) more expensive route alert
(3) circuit utilization by time of day
(4) prioritized calling by class of service

(b) Call Detail recording (CDR)- Information required for its outward call in a station by station basis:

(1) extension number used
(2) date
(3) starting time
(4) length of call in minutes
(5) number of calls
(6) outside line used
(7) account number
(8) authorization code

(c) Cost Accounting System (CAS)- Cost per call. These cost shall include:

(1)actual cost of call
(2) actual cost of call plus surcharge
(3) credit control
(4) extension detail
(5) summary by extension
(6) special code
(7) and others

(d) Exception Report- The management system shall provide:

(1) detail of Frequently called number
(2) all calls over specified duration
(3) cost of call over specified amount

(e) Network Summary Report – The management system shall provide:

(1) trunk/line utilization
(2) area code summary
(3) other applicable summary

(f) System Inventory- as a minimum the management shall be capable of storing the following inventory information, pertinent to the management of the system and establish the cost by station department offices, companies, institution.


1. Circuit facilities
2. Telephone sets
3. Miscellaneous equipment cost items
4. Service cost items
5. Cable inventory

G. Automated Directory Service – The system shall be equipped for the placing of directory information into a master data file. The directory data base shall be automatically updated when moves and changes are entered into the End-Office switch data base through the management system data terminal. The system shall provide retrieval of this information using CRT for directory assistance and information. It shall be capable of printing the following information into a telephone directory.


Capacities Installed Potential Growth
Last Name 10,000 20,000
Extensions Numbers 15,000 30,000
Govt. , Dept. / Businesses 500 1,000
Special Addresses 1,000 2,000



15. Numbering Plan

a. The proposer shall describe in detail the proposed numbering plan, and the proposed numbering plan shall conform to NTC/ SBMA TELECOM DEPARTMENT established numbering program.

b. Access Code – The access code provides the indication to the switch that specified digit which follow will indicate service connection for other system or network.

c. Route Code – The route code is a special purpose code which permits the customer to inform the switch of special routing or termination requirements. The usage maybe used to determine whether a call will use a data or voice-grade trunk.

d. Address Code – The address digits are used to identify and route calls to a customer in any part of the world, and is made up of the area country code, the city code and the switch code, and the line number.

16. Maintenance of Administrative Consoles

A maintenance and administrative consoles shall be provided at the Host SWiTCH location and shall provide the means to change class of service and line assignments, incorporate patches to the system, insert software patches and initiate maintenance programs used to isolate faults.




Submitted by:



LEONADO C. PEREZ

Thursday, April 14, 2005

We'll regulate, not engage in, mobile phone gambling—Pagcor

Posted 02:57am (Mla time) April 14, 2005
By Erwin Lemuel Oliva
INQ7.net

THE PHILIPPINE Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) denied on Wednesday that it will be operating a mobile gambling service via cellular phones.
While Pagcor has asked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant them a specific code or special access number for a supposed text-based betting and gambling service, officials insisted that this was meant only to allow the government-owned and controlled corporation to "regulate and control" existing text-based games of chance, deemed as gambling, in order to prevent minors from engaging in such activities.

"We have no intention of promoting or introducing new text games,"
Pagcor said in a statement during Wednesday's public hearing at the
NTC.

"It is the stand of Pagcor that text games are games of chance. As the sole authority to regulate all games of chance in the country, these games therefore fall under Pagcor's jurisdiction," the agency added.

In an interview with INQ7.net after the NTC public hearing, Eduardo King, managing head Pagcor’s PR and advertising department, tried to clarify the public misconception that Pagcor itself will be operating mobile phone-based gambling services.

"There are so many text-based games of chance right now. Some are treading on gambling. So there has to be a system to determine whether a certain game of chance is gambling or not. Initially, all these [games of chance] have to apply with the Department of Trade and Industry. If it is deemed a sales promo, DTI gives the seal of approval. However, if it is deemed gambling, then Pagcor will step in," King said.

King stressed that Pagcor is "here to regulate text-based games that are and will be offered by content providers."

For a game of chance to be considered gambling, he said, three elements must be present: a fee to play the game or to wager, a chance to win, and a cash prize.

The Pagcor official stressed that the application for special access codes is part of an inter-agency agreement to regulate and monitor existing text games offered by telecommunication companies and content providers.

During a power point presentation, however, Pagcor indicated that it was requesting NTC for the special access numbers with the objective of ensuring that "government receives its just and rightful share of the profit from text games."

Pagcor also pointed out that it intends especially to protect the public, minors in particular, from numerous text-based scams and fraudulent games of chance.

"It is our mandate to centralize and integrate the rights authority to operate and conduct games of chance," while exploring new revenue opportunities, Pagcor added in its presentation.

The agency added that it already has set up an Internet and mobile intermediation platform through which mobile phone games will be monitored and regulated.

It also disclosed that it will require participants of mobile phone gambling services to register with the agency and provide personal information via text messaging. Upon confirmation, the agency will require each person to present at least three valid identifications to ascertain identity and ensure player security.

On top of that, Pagcor will offer pre-paid cards to be sold only to adults at different peso denominations, starting from 500 pesos up to 5,000 pesos. "Such high value will discourage people with limited disposable income from gambling," the agency added.

The Pagcor system illustrated at the NTC hearing is purportedly meant to handle registration as well as the filtering of minors and unwanted players from the mobile phone gambling service.

This system, Pagcor said, will eliminate scam and fraud because the public is now aware of a legitimate mobile phone-based gambling service.

Curiously, it is also requesting NTC for a list of all the value-added service providers in the country.

Globe senior vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs
Rodolfo Salalima rejected Pagcor's reasons for asking the NTC for the special access numbers at the hearing.

"[Pagcor is] saying that no new text games will be introduced. But in the end, they say they will look for ways to earn more revenues? Are you using these codes to monitor text games or are you using it to introduce new text games?" Salalima wanted to know.

The Globe lawyer argued that operators are in a better position than Pagcor to regulate text-based games of chance.

"If you find any text games that are deemed gambling, tell us, and we will take it down," he added. "Have you found any operators engaged in gambling? We're not engaged in it. I will personally tell management to stop it if you find one," Salalima said.

The Globe executive stressed that Pagcor's objectives are ambiguous.

"If you're not going to engage in text gambling, then why screen minors? Minors could easily get a proxy to play for them. If you're simply going to monitor and regulate this activity, then let's not play with words," Salalima said.

"Globe is distressed about Pagcor's statements. It's our policy not to
engage in gambling. Nasunog na kami d'yan (We already got in trouble because of this). But if you're going to lease our lines to offer this service, you have to enter a commercial relationship or agreement with us. Gambling is not a public service," the Globe executive pursued.

Salalima said that Globe and other local mobile phone operators have been through many congressional investigations after Pagcor complained that they were operating an alleged games of chance, which should be regulated by the government owned and controlled corporation.

The Wednesday's hearing was also attended by representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, National Consumers Association Inc., HatchAsia, and some other service and content providers.

The NTC has asked all stakeholders in the issue to submit their position papers and presentations to the agency within 15 days. After this period, the agency will determine if it needs to hold another public hearing before it makes a decision on Pagcor's request for the special access numbers