Strategies towards Telecommunications Convergence Ray Adensamer Senior Manager, Product Marketing RadiSys Session IMS-12: Intro to Fixed Mobile Convergence January 26th, 2007

2 Topics Common Definitions of Telecommunications Convergence Strategies towards Telecommunications Convergence –Core Network Convergence –Access Network Convergence –Service Delivery Convergence –Hardware Platform Convergence Conclusions

3 Fixed Mobile Convergence “A clear trend is emerging in the form of FMC - A fixed and mobile telephony convergence. The aim is to provide both services with a single phone, which could switch between networks ad hoc” 1. Example: BT Fusion in UK 1. From (January, 2007) Source: BT website

4 Triple Play “Triple Play” is a marketing term for the provisioning of the three services over a single broadband connection 1. –High-speed Internet, –Television (Video on Demand or regular broadcasts) and –Telephone service over a single broadband connection. Plus…. Wireless Services gives you a “Quadruple Play” Triple Play services are offered by –cable television operators –telecommunication operators. Triple Play focuses on a combined business model rather than on solving technical issues or a common standard. 1. From (January, 2007) This presentation will explore strategies towards achieving telecom convergence

5 Technical Requirements for Telecommunications Convergence Multiple Service Platforms Unified Services Architecture Incompatible, Proprietary Platform Technologies Common, Reusable Platform Technology Inconsistent service delivery dependent on device and access technology Ubiquitous service delivery to any device using any access network Convergence Barriers Convergence Requirement Multiple Transport Common Transport

6 Internet Protocol The Transport Network for Convergence Internet Protocol (IP) is a packet-based protocol. –Packets take different routes through the network, and can arrive at different times. –Higher traffic increases network delays. Different services have different tolerance to network delays –Network delays are tolerable for data services (e.g. file transfers, , or music downloads). –However, interactive voice and video services require “real-time” response. Optimizing IP network design is important for converged IP services. –The generic Internet has limited (if any) ability to ascertain voice and video packets, hence quality varies signficantly. –Carrier IP networks improve use additional techniques, including using Multi Path Label Switching (MPLS), to transmit delay- sensitive packets with higher priority and dedicated capacity. Source: BT website

7 Example: BT 21 st Century Network Convergence to IP/MPLS network Source: BT 21CN website

8 Access Convergence in IMS Architecture Internet 2G Wireless 3G Wireless CableDSLWLANPSTN Access Layer Transport Layer Access Convergence to IMS Core Network Telecommunications services are delivered today over a variety of access network technology DSLAMCMTSRNCBSCWAG SGSN/ MGW BAS / A-BGF PDG / GGSN I-BGFIMS- MGW IP/MPLS Transport Network Access convergence is achieved by the Transport Layer of the IMS architecture

9 Voice Services Traditional Deployment Approach Legacy TDM Network Class 5 Switch Messaging Solution Announcement Servers Speech Services Conferencing Bridge Prepaid Services Services delivered as stand-alone “Service Nodes” Each Service Nodes often has their own: –Proprietary architecture –Management systems and service databases –Often tied to a access network subset Resulting characteristics and operational limitations –Multiple systems and databases to manage –Voice only -> complex interworking with IP-based data services –New service introduction – complex and slow IVR

10 Service Decomposition The first step towards convergence “Service Nodes” decomposed into –Application logic and –Media processing. Application logic executes on off-the-shelf servers. Media processing is shared across many services. Interconnection through open standards-based interfaces. Conferencing Software Messaging Software Class 5 Softswitch IVR Software Prepaid Software Speech Portal Software Media /Signalling Gateway IP/MPLS Backbone Multimedia Resource Function Processor (MRFP) Legacy TDM Networks Common Infrastructure SIP RTP TDM SS7

11 HSS S-CSCF I-CSCF P-CSCF/ RACS/PDF MGCF/ SGF IBCF Multimedia Resource Function Processor (MRFP) Service Convergence in IMS Architecture Internet 2G Wireless 3G Wireless CableDSLWLANPSTN DSLAMCMTSRNCBSCWAG Access Layer Transport Layer Application Layer MRFC SGSN/ MGW IP/MPLS Transport Network Application Servers (AS) Access Convergence to IMS Core Network Service Convergence to IMS Core Network MRF Control Layer BAS / A-BGF PDG / GGSN I-BGFIMS- MGW SCIM

12 Functional Decomposition: Application Servers vs MRFP Multimedia Resource Function Processor (MRFP) Playing Tones and Announcements Digit Detection and Generation Record and Playback Bridging and Mixing Speech Recognition / Text to Speech Transcoding Application Server (AS) Application Logic Application Signaling Subscriber Web Interface MRFC S-CSCF SIP H.248 / SIP Voice & Video over IP (RTP)

13 IMS Services reusing Multimedia Processing Functions Multimedia Processing Functions of an IP Media Server (MRFP) IMS Services

14 AdvancedTCA (ATCA) Common Reusable Platform ATCA is a hardware platform specification for telecom equipment manufacturers. Enables manufacturers to design plug-compatible equipment and components that work together. Provisionable ATCA Cards for Network Processing, Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Data Processing, Switching, Storage etc. Common ATCA Hardware Chassis + + OS and System S/W High Availability Platform Management Security etc. = Reusable Platform Provisionable For Many Telecommunication Applications

15 ATCA in IMS Architectures Reusable ATCA Platforms + Vendor IMS Application Software = Cost-Efficient IMS Deployment Using Common ATCA-based Infrastructure + +

16 Strategies for Telecommunications Convergence Multiple Service Platforms Unified Services Architecture Incompatible, Proprietary Platform Technologies Common, Reusable Platform Technology Inconsistent service delivery dependent on device and access technology Ubiquitous service delivery to any device using any access network Convergence Barriers Convergence Requirement Converged Access in IMS Converged Services in IMS ATCA Multiple Transport Common Transport Convergence Strategy IP/MPLS in IMS Core

17 Conclusions Convergence often described as business models and end-device experience –However, to achieve convergence requires rethinking service delivery in the core network Strategies towards Telecommunications Convergence –Core Network Convergence Everything over IP (Internet Protocol) –Access Network Convergence Mapping any Access/Device to IP using IMS –Service Delivery Convergence Decomposed Services Approach for Voice/Video over IP Mapping Any Service to IP using IMS –Hardware Platform Convergence ATCA Platforms provide flexibility for any IMS application

18 Thank you RadiSys Promentum ATCA Platforms RadiSys Convedia Media Servers RadiSys is a leader in application-enabling technologies for telecommunication and IMS equipment vendors and their service provider customers Ray Adensamer Senior Manager, Product Marketing RadiSys Incorporated +1 (604)