The present invention describes a system and method for communicating
voice and data over a packet-switched network that is adapted to coexist
and communicate with a legacy PSTN. The system includes soft switch
sites, gateway sites, a data network, a provisioning component, a network
event component and a network management component. The soft switch sites
manage the gateway sites to request the set-up and tear-down of calls.
The gateway sites originate and terminate calls between calling parties
and called parties through the data network. The provisioning and network
event component collects call events recorded at the soft switch sites.
The network management component includes a network operations center
(NOC) for centralized network management.