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Backoffice & OSS
IMS Forum takes on billing and security interoperability
Group is confident that Plugfest 4 was a success
by Doug Allen
The IMS and the NGN (Next Generation Network) Forum announced the
results of their recently concluded (February 25-29) interoperability
testing at VON.
The latest in a series of certification tests performed by the University of
New Hampshire InterOperability Lab, IMS Forum Plugfest 4 deemed the
outcome a bona fide success, for two important reasons: first, by
providing two test networks in which each IMS component hailed from a
different vendor (a heterogeneous network) and was set up to complete
calls across a variety of technologies.
These ranged from triple play, VoIP, fixed mobile convergence, SIP, some
class 5 features such as voicemail, diameter IMS stacks, instant
messaging with presence support, and test and measurement equipment.
In addition, "Plugfest 4 fully tested for the first time mutual
authentication of user equipment (UE)and the network using IMS-
authentication and key agreement (AKA) signaling," said Manuel Vexler,
chair of the technical working group for the IMS Forum. "The testing
showed wide support and interoperability for IMS–AKA and the ability to
complete calls between different brands of UEs through a best-of-breed
multi-vendor network."
Participating vendors in Plugfest 4 include: HP, Amdocs, Acision, Mu
Security, NextPoint Networks, Sonus Networks, Tekelec, Aricent, Empirix,
Startent, Radvision, Mavenir Systems, Shenick Network, Alpha Networks
and Data Connection.
Secondly, Plugfest 4 incorporated billing and charging interfaces in an
IMS environment, allowing carriers to track usage via business support
platforms, from HP and Amdocs. Carriers are already looking for ways to
derive new revenues from IMS, not just to lower operational expenses
through OSS integration (another IMS Forum focus).
More granular billing will likely help do that, paving the way for less flat-
rate pricing—the current model—and more marketing-savvy charging
mechanisms like targeted advertising or pay-per-use for IMS
services.
“The ability to monetize and charge for services in an IMS
environment is one of the last hurdles to overcome to facilitate the
widespread deployment of IMS–based services,” wrote Jeff Ogle, Senior
Analyst, Carrier IP Telephony Infrastructure, in a recent Current Analysis
Competitive Intelligence Report. “…But in the IP-based environment of
the future, detailed billing and charging is required to allow service
provides to upsell services and charge premiums for advanced services
or special delivery of content on demand.”
It’s hard to get a firm sense of just how “real-world” these
interoperability tests are in terms of scale. According to Vexler, Plugfest
4 did not attempt any traffic load testing, and specific test results are
under NDA. However, previous Plugfests have achieved network
scalability of up to 250,000 subscribers, a significant starting number.
Those numbers will likely rise as more carriers start to deploy IMS
services.
Though it varies by service portfolio and footprint, providers are looking
at all kinds of IMS-enabled services right now according to Vexler,
including: an evolution from current network architectures to VoIP and
softswitching; new services enablement through IMS including fixed
mobile convergence and voice call continuity; femtocell integration; real-
time billing and online charging; integration of unified communications
and IMS services (e.g., end-to-end presence) and security of the IMS
network and customers); and using IMS to build a cost-efficient triple
and quadruple play network for providers who lack the building blocks to
provide the requisite services.
Plugfest 5 is scheduled for June 2008, also at UNH-IOL, under the aegis
of the IMS and NGN Forums, and plans to test consumer and enterprise
M-play interoperability. The “M” stands for mobility, of course, and all
kinds of mobile applications will be fair game, such as wireless
technologies GSM4, LTE, WiFi and WiMAX, as well as landlubbers like
cable TV technology and policy management functionality.
One caveat: Overall, the IMS and NGN Forums’ Plugfests represent an
important contribution to the carrier industry. But it’s important to note
that though the most recent tests included 15 vendors representing a
wide spectrum of technologies, the forum membership still lacks a few
key vendors and carriers who are critical to shaping IMS standards.
These include Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson and Nortel.
As Current Analysis’ Ogle writes, “Without the backing of these major
vendors, which are influential in standards bodies such as 3GPP, as well
as major carriers, the relevance of the IMS Forum and its interoperability
events remain in question…The IMS and NGN Forum should establish
strong working ties with 3GPP, IEEE, ETSI and any other relevant
standards bodies” as well.
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