IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) - Enabling Convergence
Date Published: 20 Jul 2009
By Sivakumar Narayanaswamy, Senior Research Analyst
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), new network architecture, is an open, standardized
architecture for mobile and fixed services convergence that has been designed to
give telecom operators options in delivering various services to their customers. It is
a flexible system that enables service providers (SPs) to deliver convergent services
like voice, video, data, and messaging to end-users with a consistent Quality of
Service (QoS), usually better than legacy networks irrespective of the type of network
they function in. Moreover, investing in IMS architecture enables service providers to
manage complex services in terms of content handled as well as from a commercial
view point.
Because of its capability to increase operator's average revenue per user (ARPU)
while simultaneously reducing churn in a network, every major telecom industry
player is currently looking at IMS with huge interest. In the value chain, the
importance of IMS can be highlighted by the willingness of companies such as
Siemens-Nokia beginning to offer IMS based systems rather than the legacy carriers.
Companies like Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and many more in this technology space
remain optimistic regarding growth opportunities for all-IP networks with IP routing,
IMS, broadband access and transmission. Investment in these areas by the
aforementioned companies is driven by the vision to be the first vendor to provide a
single platform that combines fixed and mobile networks, which will offer service
providers and carriers significant savings and new revenue opportunities.
The market is still in its nascent stage with the technical specifications still evolving.
With IMS architecture deployment, service providers could gain significant revenue
opportunities for converged services which provide end users with personalized
multimedia services independent of the transport media. Also IMS essentially
provides greater scope for scalability. In the current economic scenario, given the
declining revenues in the voice services, the SPs look towards IMS for generating
revenues and improve margins. IMS is well capable of delivering these applications as
well as lead to the development of new applications by third-party application server
vendors and independent software vendors, made easy by data and multimedia
applications perfectly fitting in its scope. Some of the new innovative applications
that were considered by SPs are Push-to-talk-over-Cellular (PoC), Video Telephony,
Music, Social Networking, Television Voicemail /Caller Id and so on.
With IMS-based services requiring a mix of session, event, and subscription-based
service pricing including revenue sharing with partners, the operators in this space
need reliable test and monitoring solutions in order to meet the above challenges
which will enable them to have flexibility in pricing the models. This introduction of
new IMS network elements which is likely to result in moving away from the legacy
mediation systems for implementation of converging and flexible mediation solutions
is dependent on the ongoing evolution of networks and services over the next
decade.
Investment in IMS architecture is starting to happen with SPs leading the way which
in the short term is likely to streamline network architectures and result in the
reduction of operational costs. This will result in reduction of operating expenses
expansion and enable new competitive revenue opportunities associated with the
growth in multimedia, content and FMC services. A recent example in this case, is
Oracle Communications. After merging with BEA systems, it has added a tweak to its
support in order to increase IMS deployments with its Oracle Service Delivery
Platform (SDP) Partner Initiative. This initiative supported by a rapidly growing group
of companies leverages Oracle SDP's open, standards-based execution environment
to provide a multitude of standards-based solutions including a full range of network
components, applications and services. The partner in this venture consists of
independent software vendors, infrastructure vendors and system Integrators. The
Oracle SDP Partner Initiative has already gained the support of more than 30 leading
service delivery partners around the world such as FeedHenry, NewStep Networks
and OptiMobile AB.
Moreover, with initial LTE deployments scheduled for 2010 and larger versions likely
to follow in a couple of years, IMS is poised for tremendous growth. LTE's support for
IP-based traffic with end-to-end Quality of service (QoS) augurs well for IMS. IMS's
capability to evolve and fulfill various communication services like IP technology, rich
multimedia features which include high-quality audio, video, and multimode
communication will aid in the growth of this technology.
Chart 1.1 shows some of the applications that are enabled by the IMS architecture
implementation in the wireline and wireless networks.
Conclusion
Irrespective of the worldwide economic crisis, the sale of IMS equipments and servers
in 2008 from 2007 was estimated to have grown at 'explosive' growth rates of >80
per cent. The technical and commercial evolution of IMS also has ensured that IMS
adoption continues to increase. This is expected, because it enables implementation
of communications services delivering enriched content to customers with many
revenue generating applications. With many service providers like Alactel-Lucent,
Ericsson, Nokia Siemens and others showing intent to deploy new IMS architecture in
their networks, the IMS equipment market expected to grow in the next couple of
years unlike many other markets. This augurs well for the test and monitoring
equipment vendors in the IMS space promising greater long term growth potential.
This series of FOKUS IMS events will be continued in 2009!
Fraunhofer FOKUS, FOKUSfriends and DLC e.V. in cooperation with the Chair for
Next Generation Networks (AV) at the Technische Universität Berlin organize the
5th International FOKUS IMS Workshop 2009
“Next Generation (Mobile) Networks and the Future Internet -
Towards Rich Communications and Interactive Media”
Fraunhofer Institute for Open Communication Systems FOKUS, Berlin, Germany
November 11-12, 2009
General Chair: Prof. Dr. Thomas Magedanz, TU Berlin/Fraunhofer FOKUS
This is the fifth of a series of FOKUS events around innovative multimedia services and
related enabling technologies and protocols in the field of Next Generation Networks
(NGNs), Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMNs), and the Future Internet (FI).
Although the name of the event still features the term IP Multimedia System (IMS), the
event has over the last year tremendously extended its scope, as also the scope of IMS
and related technologies has extended in view of progressing convergence of networks
and services.
Whereas the first workshop in 2004 was devoted to the official opening of the FOKUS
Open IMS Playground, the 2006 workshop has been used to make publicly available the
core of this NGN testbed, namely the Open Source IMS Core System (OSIMS) and to
discuss hot topics like Fixed Mobile Convergence and PSTN replacement. Since then this
enabling software for NGN and IMS testbed establishment has been downloaded many
ten thousand times from various operators, vendors, integrators, and academic institutions
all around the globe. We are proud to state, that a global and vivid OSIMS and IMS test
bed community has been established since then. The 2007 event, which was attended by
nearly 300 people from 29 nations, has given insights into the broadening scope of
service convergence in the fields of interactive IPTV and Web 2.0 impacts on NGN
service and platform evolution. Last year´s event proved the continuously high interest in
the addressed topics and the related FOKUS open technology test beds and brought again
more than 300 people from industry and academia to FOKUS. This 5th anniversary
workshop should continue the mission to provide a premier information source and
technical networking platform for international experts from the related industries and
well known academic institutions.
4th International FOKUS IMS Workshop 2008
“Challenges and Opportunities in a Converged Services World -
an Update on IMS, IPTV, SDPs, SOA and Web X.0”
Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS, Berlin, Germany
November 6-7, 2008
About FOKUS and this Workshop Series
The Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS (Research Center for Open Communication Systems in
Germany) is an independent research organization performing since 20 years with 220
international scientists applied research in the converging fields of internet,
telecommunications, entertainment and information technologies. Basis for the many
industry sponsored research and development projects, mainly performing new concept
and architecture and protocol developments, as well as concept prototyping proof are so
called technology testbeds. One of these is the Open IMS Playground, a global
pioneering IMS testbed established in the year 2004, which has been extended following
the market trends into two directions in 2006, the FOKUS Open SOA Telco Playground,
focusing on Next Generation Network and Future Internet Applications based on SOA
(Service Oriented Architecture) and Web 2.0 principles, and the Media Interoperability
Lab, which addresses the global trend to integrate IPTV with interactive communication
capabilities and other multimedia content services.
This is the fourth of a series of FOKUS events around IMS and NGNs. Whereas the first
one in 2004 was devoted to the official opening of the FOKUS Open IMS Playground,
the 2006 workshop has been used to make publicly available the core of this NGN
testbed, namely the Open Source IMS Core System (OSIMS) and to discuss hot topics
like Fixed Mobile Convergence and PSTN replacement. Since then this enabling software
for NGN and IMS testbed establishment has been downloaded many ten thousands times
from various operators, vendors, integrators, and academic institutions around the globe.
We are proud to state, that a global and vivid OSIMS and IMS testbed community has
been established since then. The last year’s event, which - as the previous events - was
again attended by 300 people from 29 nations, has given insights into the broadening
scope of service convergence in the fields of interactive IPTV and Web 2.0 impacts on
NGN service and platform evolution.
Based on our presence of most of the international IMS events and the intense
discussions at these events and with our partners and customers, we know that
nevertheless some key challenges for successful IMS deployment have to be still
mastered. Thus we shaped the 2008 event around these issues.
About this Year's Event
The many questions around IMS are no doubt primarily based on the inherent complexity
of a converging network world, the emerging role of open service delivery platforms and
the uncertainty about future business models and value chains. Therefore we want to
discuss at our upcoming IMS event the following questions:
what has operators family driven to deploy IMS regardless the many uncertainties
about the business case;
how many standards and to which extend must an IMS system support, and how
these are exploited for emerging Triple Play and IPTV service offers;
how does an IMS integrate with service delivery platforms and how will such an
environment be controlled and managed and most importantly how does IMS
relate to SOA and Web 2.0 principles;
and finally
what are the future directions in IMS developments and what role will IMS as
standard NGN and related open testbeds play in face of the future internet
research activities?
Based on the many positive comments about the last events, we want to maintain the
basic size and structure of this event to maintain the appreciated ”open family
atmosphere” and stimulate the discussions among the participants.
On Thursday morning two parallel tutorials about the IMS Basics and Standards as well
the Open Source IMS Core System will enable newcomers to the topic and our family to
get up to speed and prepared for the remaining workshop.
Thursday afternoon features four parallel interactive workshops, which will feature 2-3
stimulus presentations and then allow the participants to present their ideas and to start a
vivid discussion about the specific subject matters.
Again we will prepare an interesting evening event which allows continuing the
potentially hot debates of the afternoon in a more relaxed atmosphere. We know it will be
tough to top the previous social events, but be assured, you will be overwhelmed again.
The following conference day (Friday) will address the workshop topics from an industry
perspective, where mainly operators are presenting their views in presentations, and
vendors will add their views in corresponding session panels.
Alongside the workshops and the conference we will have again a vendor exhibition
showing the state of the art of IMS technology and applications, as well as now service
demonstrations from the FOKUS Playground, such as converged media applications as
well as Telco-enriched Web 2.0 applications. More details about these demos and the
sponsors/exhibitors will be made available in the future.
3rd International FOKUS IMS Workshop 2007
“IMS Deployment reviewed in Face of Triple Play, IPTV, SOA and Web 2.0”
Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS, Berlin, Germany
November 15-16, 2007
About FOKUS and this Workshop Series
The Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS (Research Center for Open Communication Systems in
Germany) is an independent research organization performing since more than 18 years
with 220 international scientists applied research in the converging fields of internet,
telecommunications, entertainment and information technologies. Basis for the many
industry sponsored research and development projects, mainly performing new concept
and architecture and protocol developments, as well as concept prototyping proof are so
called technology testbeds. One of these is the Open IMS Playground, a global
pioneering IMS testbed established in the year 2004 and the new FOKUS Open SOA
Telco Playground, focusing on Next Generation Network and Future Internet
Applications based on SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) principles.
This is the third of a series of FOKUS IMS events. Whereas the first one in 2004 was
devoted to the official opening of the FOKUS Open IMS Playground, the last workshop
in November 2006 has been used to make publicly available the core of this NGN
testbed, namely the Open Source IMS Core System (OSIMS). Since then this enabling
software for NGN and IMS testbeds has been downloaded many thousands times from
various operators, vendors, integrators, and academic institutions around the globe. We
are proud to state, that a global and vivid OSIMS and IMS testbed community has been
established since then.
Based on our presence of most of the international IMS events and the intense
discussions at these events and with our customers, we know that nevertheless some key
challenges for successful IMS deployment have to be still mastered. Thus we shaped this
year's event around these issues.
About this Year's Event
The many questions around IMS are no doubt primarily based on the inherent complexity
of a converging network world, the emerging role of open service delivery platforms and
the uncertainty about future business models and value chains. Therefore we want to
discuss at our upcoming IMS event the following questions:
what has operators family driven to deploy IMS regardless the many uncertainties
about the business case;
how many standards must an IMS system support, and how these are exploited for
emerging Triple Play and IPTV service offers;
how does an IMS integrate with service delivery platforms and how will such an
environment be controlled and managed and most importantly how does IMS
relate to SOA and Web 2.0 principles; and finally
what are the future directions in IMS developments and what role will IMS and
related testbeds play in face of the next generation internet research activities?
Based on the many positive comments about last year’s event, we want to maintain the
basic size and structure of this event to maintain the appreciated ”open family
atmosphere” and stimulate the discussions among the participants.
Two morning tutorials about the IMS Basics and Standards as well the Open Source IMS
Core System will enable newcomers to the topic and our family to get up to speed and
prepared for the remaining workshop.
We slightly changed the first day afternoon setup, which now features four parallel
interactive workshops, which will feature 2-3 stimulus presentations and then allow the
participants to present their ideas and to start a vivid discussion about the specific subject
matters.
Again we will prepare an interesting evening event which allows to continue the
potentially hot debates of the afternoon in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The following conference day will address the workshop topics from an industry
perspective, where mainly operators are presenting their views in presentations, and
vendors will add their views in corresponding session panels.
Alongside the workshops and the conference we will have again a vendor exhibition
showing the state of the art of IMS technology, as well as demonstrations of new IMS
based applications within the FOKUS IMS Playground, such as OSIMS based IPTV and
Triple Play service as well as the eGovernment ServiceLine 115 multimedia call center.
Telecoms industry forms next-generation network plan
Thursday July 30 2009
The Telecommunications and Internet Federation (TIF) is funding an Analysys Mason
study into the best way Ireland can build its future next-generation network (NGN).
Tommy McCabe is director of TIF
There seem to be numerous groups focused on Ireland's future NGN. What is the motive
behind this study?
It's TIF setting out what are the options. We're talking about 50Mbps to homes and
business and an uplink of 10Mbps. To deliver that, and to cover 90pc of the population,
we need to cover 100pc of urban areas particularly in gateway hub towns designated in
the Government's national spatial strategy. We're looking at the next three to five years to
deliver this essential infrastructure.
What options will the report set out for the industry and the Government?
We will firstly examine what are the technologies that are needed and the cost of building
them. We will also look at how it has been done in other countries, and if we are to do it
in Ireland, is one company capable of doing it or will it be a consortium of companies.
We also need to know what would be the policy and regulatory framework necessary to
support such an investment and ensure it will enable competition in the market.
Are you assuming the Government won't be in a position to fund this vital infrastructure?
Not entirely. The logical view is the industry is best placed to make the investment if you
look at the Government's financial situation, the constraints on the public purse and the
likelihood the Government will be in a position to invest €3bn-€5bn.
The study will look at fibre-to-the-home and the whole of the country that needs to be
covered. We may not achieve that, but it's a significant investment and what speeds we
will result in.
It is not just an industry dilemma, but for the business community and Government too.
An entity is needed that will operate on a wholesale basis, guarantee a return on that
investment and ensure the network is opened up to competition with all retail telecoms
operators who would include Eircom treated the same as any other telco.
What will be the price for Ireland if we fail to invest in this infrastructure?
We've caught up now in terms of European average for broadband and in some places
exceeding it, the worst case scenario is that we start lagging it in terms of fibre, which
will be the new highways for business.
Fibre will be more important than roads; this investment is vital not just for the telecoms
sector, but also for the whole economy.
Our conference on 21 September will concentrate on empowering the smart economy. If
you look at the broader picture, Ireland needs to be powering ahead.
How essential is this infrastructure to the nation's future economy?
We need to be looking beyond this recession, beyond recovery and make sure that we're
putting in place an infrastructure that's going to allow the Irish economy to grow.
We need to be building upon the services sector, that is the future of the Irish economy.
For this to thrive, we need a strong telecoms sector, we need fibre everywhere and ensure
we have the backbone to support wireless technologies like Long-Term Evolution and
WiMax.
The TIF conference 'Telecoms: Powering the Recovery and Enabling the Smart
Economy' takes place at Dublin Castle on 21 September. www.tif.ie
Next Generation Networks (NGN) provide ubiquitous connectivity with pervasive
accessibility to service, application, content and information. NGN will bring
tremendous advantages to companies and individuals, in terms of access to information,
education and knowledge, efficiency, dematerialisation and new user experiences.
Next Generation Networks: Perspectives and Potentials explores the potentials of NGN
and provides an outlook of future services for the end users and opportunities for the
traditional network operators and new players. It creates a framework to aid the
understanding of NGN, exploring the strategic development and practical deployment of
NGN. This book provides a complete and comprehensive picture of the future directions,
substantial benefits, issues, applications and services for NGN.
Offers an in-depth exploration of NGN covering both basic and advanced
concepts
Examines critical issues with the implementation of NGN
Covers NGN technology, architecture, transport, services, and evolution and
standardization.
Written by industry experts focusing on the business opportunities of NGN with
chapters on NGN standardization, development and corporate responsibility
Next Generation Networks is ideal for network operators, equipment vendors,
researchers, Telecoms regulators and engineers working in next generation networking. It
will also be of interest to graduate students on electrical engineering and computer
science programmes with a focus on networks.
