SS7 and SIGTRAN technologies continue to be important for connecting new and existing networks due to their proven reliability and ability to support legacy infrastructure. They enable critical applications like value-added services, IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) adoption, and the rollout of 4G/LTE networks. Vendors offer integrated hardware modules and software solutions using SS7 and SIGTRAN to help telecom providers accelerate development and reduce costs.
Using SS7 & SIGTRAN to Solve Today's Network Challenges
1. Slide 1
Using SS7 & SIGTRAN
to Solve Today’s
Network Challenges
May 13, 2010
2. Slide 2
Speakers
Todd Mersch
Director, Product Line Management,
Trillium Software
Continuous Computing
HJ Li
Sr. Director of Product Management
and Corporate Business Analysis
Interphase Corporation
3. Slide 3
Continuous Computing Overview
Over 150 Customers Worldwide
Protocol Software
LTE
Femto
DPI
ATCA Professional
Platforms Services
4. Slide 4
Interphase Overview
#1 Brand of SS7 Boards
Products/ Signaling/Media Professional Engineering Design Services
Solutions Services
LTE/WiMAX Electronics Contract
Interworking Manufacturing Services
Security
Packet Processing
Communications Aerospace-Defense Enterprise
Trusted by Top Companies
Worldwide
5. Slide 5
Agenda
• Technology and Market Overview
• Applications Driving the Market
• Building SS7 / SIGTRAN Solutions
6. Slide 6
SS7 Protocols – Narrowband
Transaction-oriented Call control-oriented
Application / User CAP MAP INAP IS BSS
Parts
634 AP ISUP TUP
TCAP
SCCP
MTP Layer 3
Message
Transfer MTP Layer 2
Parts
MTP Layer 1
7. Slide 7
Broadband SS7 in 3G RAN
Transport Network User
Control Plane Plane
AMR
UP
ALCAP
STC
MTP3b
SSCF-NNI
SSCOP SSSAR
AAL5 CPS AAL2
IuCS interface ATM
UE Ph. Layer
3G CS-MGW
RNC
L3
RANAP
SCCP
MTP3b
Control
SSCF-NNI
Signaling Transport SAAL Plane
SSCOP
(UMTS 25.412) -NNI
AAL5
ATM
Ph. Layer
MSC server
8. Slide 8
SIGTRAN Software
DPNSS
TCAP TCAP Q.931 V5.2
Layer 3
ISUP ISUP
SCCP SCCP
MTP3 SUA IUA DUA V5UA
M3UA
M2UA
M2PA
SCTP
IP
9. Slide 9
Evolution of SS7 Infrastructure (1)
• SS7 infrastructure market is still
growing ($8.5B by 2012)
– CAGR of 3.6% throughout period
8704,1
– Expansion in China, India, MEA
9000 8477,2
8250,3
7971,4
8000 7692,5
– Flat in NA and Europe 7161,1
7380,8
7000
6000
• SS7 infrastructure includes the 5000
Networks Elements deployed 4000
by Service Providers 3000
– 2G/3G MSCs, HLRs and SMSCs 2000
– Wireline SSPs 1000
– STPs 0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
– SS7 Gateways
Global Market of SS7 Network Elements ($B)
– SS7 & Application Platforms (Source: VDC, April 2008)
10. Slide 10
Evolution of SS7 Infrastructure (2)
• Top 3 growing SS7 elements
– Signaling Gateways
9%
– SMS Centers 8%
– MSCs 6%
4% 4%
• Main drivers
2%
– Migration to IP
– Signaling Gateways enable
Carriers to add NG elements SS7 Gw SMSC MSC STP HLR Platform SSP
-1%
into their legacy SS7 networks
2006-2012 SS7 Network Elements Growth Rates
– Continuing expansion of SMS (Source: VDC, April 2008)
drives demand for SMSC and
MSC
11. Slide 11
Why SS7 / SIGTRAN?
• Service Continuity
– New applications & networks need connectivity to existing
deployed circuit switched networks
• Amortized & Proven Technology
– SS7 network backbones still deployed in developing regions
• Wireless Subscriber Growth
– 2G / 3G networks largely deployed on SS7 backbones
• Cost Reduction
– Leveraging IP to reduce network OPEX and CAPEX
13. Slide 13
Scenarios for SIGTRAN Adoption
• New Generation of Traditional SS7 Equipment
– Wireline and 2G Wireless Networks
– Upgrades and new deployments
– (internal) IP-based architecture
• STP, SSP (Class 4/5, MSC), SCP, Service Node
– (external) IP environment
• STP, SCP, HLR, SMS-C, SGSN
• Equipment for IP Networks
– Wireline and Wireless (2G and 3G)
– New deployments
– NG Networks
• IP MG, Softswitch
– 3G Wireless Networks
• CS-MGW, MSC-Server, IM-MGW, MGCF
14. Slide 14
Key Growth Applications
• Value Added Services (VAS)
– SMS / MMS, Location, Presence, Ringtones, etc.
• Rebirth of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
– IMS critical for Next Gen Mobile
– Service Continuity
– Voice over LTE
15. Slide 15
The VAS Opportunity
• Mobile messaging = $102B market today
– SMS, MMS, E-Mail, IM
– Other VAS: gaming, music, TV, navigation,
search, marketing, stock trading, payment
• Source of ARPU growth in dev markets
– China MVAS over $22BM in 2009*
– India MVAS over $5B in 2009 – 2010*
• Low investment with high returns
– Leans on existing network infrastructure
– SS7 / SIGTRAN is the tap for VAS providers *Sources:
Research & Research (2010),
IResearch (2009)
16. Slide 16
Network Elements Used in VAS
SS7 / SIGTRAN
Transport used in
Critical VAS Network
Elements
Messaging
Enablement
Location, Subscriber, Billing
Enforcement
17. Slide 17
The IMS Opportunity
• IMS Suffered the Hype Cycle
– A concept without an application
– Next generation mobile is the application
• Service Continuity over NGNM
– VAS / IN porting to new mobile core / RAN
• LTE OneVoice Initiative
– Specific IMS “profile” for delivering VoLTE
• GSMA -endorsed
– Support from almost every major operator
worldwide
• 3 Group, AT&T, Bell Canada, China Mobile,
NTTDoCoMo, TeliaSonera, Verizon, Vodafone …
18. Slide 18
IMS Service Layer for the EPC
Application Server
SIP AS IM SSF OSA SCS
Application
Porting
Signaling
Conversion
Service
Coordination
19. Slide 19
SS7 / SIGTRAN Offerings
• Solutions for the low protocol layers
– SS7 Boards
• Hardware + MTP1-2 protocols
– SIGTRAN Protocol Stacks
• SCTP + Adaptation layers => to build Signaling Gateways
– Signaling Gateways
• SS7 boards + SIGTRAN protocols + NIF + HA and management, in a fully-
packaged appliance
• Solutions for the upper layers (for SS7 and SIGTRAN)
– Protocol Stacks
• MTP3 to User/Application Parts (ISUP, MAP, INAP, etc) => to build endpoints
– SS7 Board+Stack packages
• Pre-integrated solutions
– Signaling Servers
• Front-end units, including boards, protocols & interface to back-end systems
20. Slide 20
Trends in SS7 Technology Demand
• Off-The-Shelf SS7 solutions
– Especially from Tier 1 TEMs
– With higher level of integration
• PCI-Express interface
– But demand for PCI/PCI-X solutions still strong
• Low-Profile add-on cards
– Market split between LP and FH
– Technical challenge for high-density cards
• Solutions for ATCA/µTCA systems (telco apps)
– SS7 AdvancedMC modules (AMC)
– Demand for IP-based Host/Module interface
• Higher T1/E1 port density
– 2 ports 4 ports now 8 ports per SS7 module
• Mixed Media Interface & SS7 solutions
– e.g., with I-TDM (ATCA systems) or raw data mode (HMP
on rack-mount servers)
21. Slide 21
System Architecture with Add-On Modules
Connectivity Solutions
Mngt Control App. Sig. App. Control User Media App
Host
Processors Plane ISUP
Plane Plane
= App. MTP3 App. App.
iWARE API
MASTERS
Driver Driver
PCI-Express H110TDMEthernet
/ / I-TDM PCI-E
iWARE GE GE API
Add-On
Modules iSPAN I-TDM
DSP I-TDM
= 3639 OAM
AMC
SLAVES MTP2 Media Engines
T1/E1/J1
8 T1/E1 (248 TDM channels)
SS7 Media
22. Slide 22
System Architecture with Interworking AMCs
Interworking Solutions
Mngt Control App. Sig. App. Control User Media App.
Plane ISUP
Plane Plane
Proc. MTP3 Proc. Proc.
iWARE iWARE API
TCP/IP TCP/IP TCP/IP
Full IP-based RTP
IP
Platform
TCP/IP UDP/IP UDP/IP TCP/IP
iWARE API
iSPAN RTP
DSP RTP
3640 OAM
AMC
MTP2 Media Engines
T1/E1/J1
8 T1/E1 (248 TDM channels)
SS7 Media
23. Slide 23
Interphase iSPAN T1/E1/J1 SS7 Platforms
Form Ports Processor Media Product Msg/s LSL / Target Application
Factor Process. Name (each HSL
(EC, NR) (iSPAN) dir.)
PMC 2/4 PQII (8264A) No 4538/39 ~10k 124 / 4 Signaling
PCI 4 PQII (8264A) No 5539F ~10k 124 / 4 Signaling
PCI-X 4 PQII Hip7 (8280) No 5539 ~20k 124 / 4 Signaling and/or Media
PCIe 4/8 PQIII (8560) No 5639 ~45k 124 / 8 Signaling and/or Media
PCIe 8 PQIII (8560) Yes 5639E NA NA Media
PCIe LP 4 PQIII (8560) No 5639L ~45k 124 / 4 Signaling and/or Media
AMC 4/8 PQIII (8560) No 3639 ~45k 124 / 8 Signaling and/or Media
AMC 8 PQIII-QE (8568) No 3640 ~70k 248 / 8 Signaling
+
iWARE SS7 Software
Development Suite
24. Slide 24
Application-Ready Solution Architecture
Application
SMSC IW SMSC IW
GW App GW App
Standby MAP API MAP API
C++ Stack Manager & Lib Lib
Management Fault Manager MAP/ MAP/
API Library TCAP TCAP
Active
Stack Manager & Active Standby
Fault Manager
SNMP SCCP SCCP
M3UA MTP3 MTP3 M3UA
Command
Line
Interface Cfg Cfg
SCTP MTP2 MTP2 SCTP
& &
Logging Logging
T1/E1 T1/E1
IP IP
Legend
Off-the-shelf Active Components Application Standby Components
Solution
25. Slide 25
Trillium Signaling Solutions
Deployment Proven C-Source Code
Integrated Application-Ready Binaries
All Generations of Wireless, SS7 / SIGTRAN, VoIP / IMS & Legacy
26. Slide 26
Summary
• Don’t Sleep on SS7 / SIGTRAN Technologies
– Growth potential in multiple markets
• SS7 / SIGTRAN Critical to Next Gen Networks
– VAS, IMS, 4G …
• Leverage Integrated Modules and Software
– Accelerated time-to-market and cost savings
