The next generation signaling core: we’ve been using this term of late to describe a transformation taking place in service provider networks as they migrate to all-IP networks such as LTE and IMS. But what is it? It’s the network that coordinates the communication protocols associated with establishing voice and data services. It is solely internal to a single service provider and handles signaling traffic headed north and south (to/from access networks and core elements) as well as east and west (across network domains to/from external network). It does not connect directly to the access or external networks, but to the network elements that manage those security boundaries. Nor does it handle the actual media itself, just the signaling.
It is altogether different from the core signaling of SS7 used in 3G, PSTN and other TDM or hybrid networks. The signaling core of all-IP networks is based on two protocols: SIP to establish communication sessions (voice, video, messaging) and Diameter to exchange subscriber profile data (authentication, charging, QoS and mobility information).
There are two products that lie at the heart of this core and play traffic cop and maestro to the huge volume of disparate and potentially discordant exchange of messages: session route proxies (SRPs) and Diameter signaling controllers (DSCs).
As networks move to all-IP, service providers need to manage the SIP signaling environment for soft MSCs, softswitches, CSCF servers and interconnect SBCs. Using the session routing proxies, this alleviates challenges associated with scaling and managing routing in a highly distributed architecture.
In both IMS and LTE, service providers face complex routing and interoperability challenges and as well as an extensive mesh of Diameter connections that can negatively impact network scalability. DSCs simplify provisioning and routing of Diameter signaling and provide interoperability between vendors and elements.
In fact, today Acme Packet announced that one of our customers is embarking on this core network evolution. Telefónica Germany chose Acme Packet’s Net-Net Session Router and Net-Net Diameter Director to provide a comprehensive solution for SIP and Diameter routing. This next generation signaling core supports current fixed VoIP and 3G mobile network, as well as its future LTE network. The solution protects Telefónica Germany’s core IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and Diameter servers from overloads, assuring service availability, while solving incompatibility challenges between vendors and networks with programmable interworking features.
While we have multiple customers with Acme Packet’s SIP routing solutions, including Verizon Wireless to power its nationwide inter-domain routing, this is Acme Packet’s first announced customer across multiple dimensions:
- First announced customer for Net-Net Diameter Director
- First announced customer for new Net-Net 7000 platform series (launched in May 2012)
- First announced customer deploying the entire Acme Packet next generation signaling core solution for SIP and Diameter
Telefónica Germany is a long-standing Acme Packet customer, having deployed our IMS service delivery and SIP interconnect solutions in its fixed line IMS network.
Globally, this transformation is just getting underway and as service providers continue to launch LTE and VoLTE, you’ll see more activity associated with putting a core network in place that addresses the unique challenges of the all-IP world.
Source: http://www.sipmobilematters.com/articles/215589/the-next-generation-signaling-core-for-lte-and-ims/
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