This Recommendation defines the signal processing functionality and performance of an IP-to-IP gateway that is optimized for the transport of voice and voiceband data. Such a gateway may be used by network operators for the bulk interconnection of voice and voiceband data traffic at the IP level. This is not meant to restrict an IP-to-IP gateway from being used within one provider's network.

The following areas are addressed by this Recommendation:

1) Codec transcoding

2) Packetization time

3) Voice performance

4) Facsimile, voiceband data and text telephone support and performance

5) Support and performance of in-band signalling tones

6) Jitter handling.

This Recommendation does not define any new protocols but, where necessary, refers to existing protocols developed within the ITU or by other standards development organizations.

Support of tandem-free operation (TFO) and other in-band mechanisms for improving speech quality by avoiding tandem codecs is for further study in this Recommendation.