Date: 25/10/2010

Acme Packet introduces SBCs for delivering Voice over LTE

Acme Packet has released the Net-Net session border controllers (SBCs) that is compliant with the latest GSMA specification for delivering Voice over LTE (VoLTE).

Acme Packet's Net-Net SBC is compliant with the newly published VoLTE profile. In IMS networks, the Net-Net SBCs perform several key IMS access functions: Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF), Emergency-CSCF (E-CSCF) and IMS-Access Gateway (IMS-AGW). Additionally, Acme Packet SBCs provide the Interconnect Border Control Function (IBCF) and Transition Gateway (TrGW) functions for interconnection of VoLTE networks. In this role, Acme Packet SBCs can manage the interconnect border for all SIP multimedia communications and traditional mobile telephony.

"We expect the number of worldwide IMS-based subscribers to grow at a compounded annual rate of 49 percent through 2014. The growth later in the period will be fueled by mobile operator deployments including VoLTE which will benefit vendors such as Acme Packet," said Diane Myers, Directing Analyst, Service Provider VoIP and IMS with Infonetics Research.

Acme Packet SBCs can perform the P-CSCF and IMS-GW functions that provide security, routing, media management and interoperability for VoLTE and SIP multimedia communications. In visited networks, Acme Packet SBCs can anchor media for 3GPP-defined Local Breakout (LBO) and Optimized Media Routing (OMR), which eliminates backhaul to the home network.

Other key functions supported on the Acme Packet access SBC/P-CSCF for VoLTE, RCS and other mobile IMS-based services include:
--Rx for queries to the PCRF for bandwidth-based admission control
--IMS-AKA for strong authentication
--IPv4-v6 interworking for SIP signaling, including MSRP sessions

"Acme Packet is one of the most experienced IMS vendors in the world," said Seamus Hourihan, Acme Packet's vice president of marketing and product management. "We are using that experience to further enhance our strong collection of security and control functions to allow mobile service providers to effectively and profitably deliver next generation multimedia communications over 3G and LTE networks."