Wanderlust: Enabling roaming in the LTE era Don Troshynski Vice President, Solutions Architecture
Acme Packet Trusted, first-class services and applications Apps & services Session delivery network April 5, 2012 Acme Packet Rapid Service Deployment with IMS Simplification 2
The future is all IP Internet IMS Other IP networks SS7 over TDM SS7 over IP (BICC/ SIGTRAN) Diameter & SIP over IP PCRF Core PSTN NGN IMS EPC P-GW EPS S-GW 4G LTE/M-WiMAX MME RAN 2G 3G LTE LTE enodeb 1990-2000 2001-2010 2011- All services IMS/SIP services Data services Diameter Mobility tracking 3
LTE versus 3G roaming technologies 3G LTE Switching Circuit Packet Voice bearer TDM voice Packet voice Roaming signaling (policy exchange) MAP/CAP Diameter Subscriber data HLR HSS Session Signaling SS7/ISUP SIP QoS element n/a PCRF
LTE data roaming overview 1. Attachment procedure 2. Authentication procedure 3. Update location procedure 4. Subscriber data retrieval procedure 5. QoS policy exchange Roaming border Visited network Home network 1 Attach MME PCRF PCRF HSS 2 Authenticate 2 3 Authenticate Update Location Subscriber Data 4 Policy exchange 5
Diameter signaling critical to enable roaming in LTE Diameter subscriber authorization, location, charging and QoS Roaming signaling policy sent between network elements or across network boundaries Data centers Subscriber authentication Core transport EPC Admission control, QoS, charging Access
Addressing the signaling challenges Visited service provider Interoperability Home service provider Visited service provider Rapid time to market Home service provider Security & overload risks Protected core & secure edge Opaque network Network intelligence Network complexity Streamlined and lower TCO May 2012 Acme Packet www.acmepacket.com 7
Benefits of a cohesive Diameter signaling strategy Expedites time to market Real-time resolution of Diameter interoperability Provides visibility for planning and troubleshooting Select and interoperate best of breed products Simplifies scaling Defines and secures roaming borders Diameter signaling rate limiting Hides topology from roaming partners Confidentiality of roaming information Enables new business model: Over the top services with QoE QoS and transport controls over broadband network New revenue stream Enables wholesale hubbing of LTE roaming services IPX carriers provide multilateral roaming interconnection Complement SIP and SIP-I interconnects
3GPP approaches to IMS service delivery Many access networks will co-exist Complex deployments attempt the tightest coupling Common authentication Consolidated gateways Access-specific policy Focus on EPC may limit service delivery April 5, 2012 Acme Packet Rapid Service Deployment with IMS Simplification 9
Home Network Five ways to roam in LTE/IMS There are various approaches to roaming in pure IMS Home routed with data backhaul to home network (existing data model) Distributed policy control with policy interfaces Visited P-CSCF with policy control in visited network Visited services with IMS core in visited network Hybrid model Provides the right mix of network architecture elegance, efficient routing/lbo, seamless services without compromising on charging. Home Routed Distributed Visited Visited Hybrid Model Policy Control (local P-CSCF Services datacenter) H-PCRF PCRF H-PCRF PCRF PCRF V-PCRF V-PCRF Visited Network April 5, 2012 Acme Packet Rapid Service Deployment with IMS Simplification 10
An efficient way to roam in LTE Hybrid of distributed policy control and visited services Leverages local data break out for foreign LTE data roaming Home network consulted for authentication, authorization and policy information for LTE data roaming All other services delivered from a local data center closer to the point of UE attachment Cloud Services -- localized data center PSTN IP peer H-PCRF Home Network Visited Network V-PCRF Acme Packet Rapid Service Deployment with IMS Simplification 11
LTE roaming solution must encompass all services & entire ecosystem SIP & Diameter MNOs & IPX Voice & data Visited Home Services & apps IPX Core transport IPX proxy IPX proxy S6a Internet S9 S9/S6a S9 Aggregation PoP (EPC) S6a Access SIP signaling SIP media Packet data Diameter Visited P-CSCF DRA I-BCF/TrGW 12
Net-Net Diameter is the key IP signaling roaming protocol Diameter Signaling Controllers provide security, routing, interoperability functions IMS EPC LTE IPX IMS EPC LTE VoLTE roaming requires additional SIP controls and new architecture 13