Deutsche Telekom's wholesale arm has rolled out a global VoIP interconnect solution using VocalTec hardware.

Using VocalTec's Essentra EX solution, the interconnect offering is commercially available now  through DT's International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS) group to enable IP interconnection of DT's international VoIP network to other VoIP networks and affiliates. Wholesale providers and ISPs can now route traffic onto DT's network and get all the goodness of assured QoS, security, and optimal routing plan management.

VoIP interconnection is the name of the game for VoIP providers wanting to avoid the PSTN wherever possible and/or avoiding the laborious process of having to convert calls between VoIP and analog in order to reach a final destination. 

Will interconnects lead to peering arrangements by DT? Given the time DT has taken to get to interconnection services, it's not likely to happen anytime and unlikely to happen with independent Tier 2 players unless there's a really compelling reason.

For more:
- VocalTec/DT VoIP interconnect [1] release

Related articles:
Vodafone hit for lack of a VoIP interconnect [1]
VoIP peering [1] shapes up to disrupt