IMS Interconnect: Peering, Roaming
and Security
Part One
By Alcatel-Lucent
Published 2007, Posted January 2008
Abstract:
While service providers are rushing
to bring their initial IMS service offerings into commercial service, a number
of them are also beginning to look beyond their basic IMS architectures to
explore the potential for connecting to other carrier’s networks. By
interconnecting their networks, carriers are looking to extend their reach and
to leverage opportunities to explore new business models with partner providers.
These types of provider-to-provider connections are not a new phenomena, there
are examples of interconnected carriers in the PSTN world, the mobile telephone
environment, and in the IP service provider industry. The Internet is a perfect
example of a fully interconnected network - subscribers can interact with other
subscribers and services, regardless of which service provider they belong to.
The advantages of creating interconnected IMS networks include:
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Carriers can provide services to
their IMS subscribers while those subscribers visit geographies, regions, or
networks where that carrier does not have a physical presence.
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For voice traffic, carriers can
bypass potentially costly network handoffs for calls to subscribers on other IMS
networks by utilizing an IP network connection between the IMS networks to carry
the traffic.
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Carriers can utilize the transport
and access networks of their business partners to offer seamless access to their
subscribers, such as in a scenario where a wireless provider might team with a
DSL carrier to enable their customers to utilize IMS services both in the home
(via the DSL connection) and while they are traveling (via a 3G data
connection).
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Carriers can partner with multiple
IMS applications/services providers to enhance the portfolio of applications and
services they offer to their customers.
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