How relable does the Internet need to be? (Was: Re: Converged Network Threat)

In article <578F3C8F6DD3D411850600508BF320CA03A60E64@aries-exch1.uk.eu.corp.vizzavi. net>, "Pendergrass, Greg" <Greg.Pendergrass@vodafone.com> writes

if you want to call an ambulance you DON'T use the internet

And you also need a way to persuade the Ambulance Service not to terminate their calls via VoIP, or send dispatch instructions via public-IP over GSM (or whatever) to their vehicles. Or the IP bits need to be assured as "good enough" that it doesn't matter. It's perhaps three years since I heard that there was real possibility of some of the above. That stable door may be more open than you think. -- Roland Perry