Is it Softswitch or IMS mobile core network "transformation"

As the mobile market becomes more competitive and ARPU declines, it urges equipment providers and telecom operators to provide and build next-generation mobile core networks that are more cost-effective, powerful, and convenient for future evolution. This next-generation mobile core network should achieve cost optimization, taking both CAPEX and OPEX into account. It is conducive to rapid business introduction, including network architecture and equipment transformation. It meets the requirements of integrated development of telecom/IT technology and business, it is more open, ensures network quality and stability, and ensures the satisfaction of end customers.

Transformation of GNET to Softswitch

The evolution of the mobile core network is roughly divided into two phases: one is based on the R4 mobile Softswitch, and the other is the IMS advanced stage.

Chen Xiaofeng, a telecom industry expert, believes that China Mobile has invested heavily in WCDMAR4, focusing on the promotion of mobile Softswitch, while IMS has not yet reached the commercialization stage. At present, China Unicom's gnetwork is still dominated by GSM network, and Liaoning Unicom and Hebei Handan Unicom smoothly cut over the R4-based Softswitch core network, marking the formal commercialization of mobile Softswitch in China Unicom. In the transformation of the mobile core network, the transformation of the G network will also evolve to R4. It can be seen that Softswitch is a necessary stage for the transformation of mobile core networks.

Mobile Softswitch Based on 3GPPR4 specifications is the core technology of mobile NGN. This concept is applicable not only to 3G networks, but also to 2G networks. It is in line with the development direction of China Telecom to NGN. Mobile Softswitch is mainly used for core network switching and does not involve the transformation of access networks. The core concept of mobile Softswitch is to separate the control plane from the user plane.

Introducing a Softswitch-based architecture in the existing mobile core network will bring many benefits to mobile operators. The fully-IP bearer structure based on Softswitch technology is used to separate transmission networks, network control, and service provision. It provides a layered, open, reliable, and scalable network system.

The architecture of softswitch has basically met the requirements of the mobile core network. Its advantages include:

Cost optimization. This includes the IDC environment cost, Bureau quantity cost, transmission resource cost, and maintenance personnel cost. Softswitch can significantly reduce the manpower and material resources required by China Mobile.

Fast business introduction. In terms of network architecture, as the circuit business is basically completed on MGC without affecting MGW, only a small number of MGC needs to be modified to facilitate the introduction of services.

In terms of equipment transformation, MGC of some equipment providers adopts an advanced general platform, and the business development cycle can be greatly accelerated.

Network evolution and convergence. R4 devices can still communicate with each other in the IMS stage, while network devices using a general platform can ensure smooth evolution to IMS, thus ensuring network evolution.

Network stability and reliability. Telecom operators also have a high threshold in terms of Device Access and network access testing. After nearly two years of adoption and operation of R4 equipment on 2G networks, it indicates that mobile NGN equipment has completely reached the capability of large-scale commercial use. At present, major Chinese operators have completed a large number of R4 tests, and the test results show that the devices of various manufacturers have met commercial conditions.

Coexistence of IMS and Softswitch

As user requirements change, voice messaging and Internet services alone cannot meet user requirements. 3GPP proposed IMS from R5.

IMS is not a new business, but an incubator and catalyst. It can quickly hatch more specific services that meet user needs. This is exactly what carriers need for transformation. The business model from IMS terminal to terminal is highly controllable, and billing is a revolutionary development for the existing business model. IMS can encapsulate services provided by different carriers to ensure seamless integration of services provided by different carriers. Moreover, IMS provides great support for new types of businesses and deployment of such businesses, so as to expand and flourish the business to provide the market. These two points technically ensure the operator's Business Transformation and the effect after the transformation.

In the domestic communication market, a wide range of operators, weak business connectivity, complicated billing methods, and declining profits are common phenomena. Under the impact of Internet services, telecom operators are already facing great difficulties, and IMS can change the current situation. Although the formal commercialization of IMS has not yet begun, however, the formulation of various transformation strategies and the test of IMS indicate that the ice-breaking journey of IMS has started. IMS is the future of communication transformation and development. It has developed a complete and effective framework for communication transformation. It develops and deploys new applications, especially killer applications, provides complete network bearer and technical support. IMS is a development path that connects the present and future of the communication industry.
The performance of IMS has far exceeded Softswitch in many aspects and is highly praised by the industry. Isn't Softswitch no longer suitable for network development, and is it "outdated? Professor Zhang Yu of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications believes that SoftSwitch and IMS have their own characteristics and will coexist and communicate with each other for a long time. In the long run, IMS represents the future direction of the next generation network, but there is still a long process from the commercialization of IMS.

Therefore, how to deal with the relationship between SoftSwitch and IMS is a key issue for mobile operators to consider when formulating the core network transformation strategy.

Professor Zhang believes that, judging from the current practical application, Softswitch has been compatible with the original network for a long time, and management technologies supporting systems and terminals are relatively mature. The challenge facing IMS is that it still needs to do some work in the whole industry chain, value chain, and standard improvement, and experts and people in the industry need to discuss it together.

In this case, the mobile operator should take into account both the long-term strategy and the short-term goal, and work out a plan for the evolution of the mobile network to the NGN network based on the IMS architecture based on the current product technical maturity.

Cnetwork transformation is relatively easy

As a full-service operator, China Unicom also has a cnetwork in addition to the gnetwork, and China Unicom has spared no efforts in the construction of the cnetwork. Therefore, China Unicom said that China Unicom is now more inclined to upgrade the CDMA 2000 network to 3G first, and a series of 3G field tests showed that, china Unicom only needs to upgrade the software on the existing CDMA 1X network and change the device board to complete 3G network deployment. This will inevitably greatly reduce the cost of 3G network construction.

The relevant standards of CDMA 2000 are formulated by the PP2 standards organization, and the mobile softswitch architecture based on CDMA 2000 is developed by the pp2tsg-s Working Group.

Zhang yunyong, a postdoctoral fellow of China Unicom's digital solid business department, said that the evolution of China Unicom's CDMA to the whole IP network is divided into four stages according to the standard. The first stage is the starting point of evolution to the entire IP network. The second stage is the enhanced network in the process of evolution to the entire IP network. The Group network capability is expanded, the access network and the Group network signaling and bearer start to be separated, and the signaling is transmitted using IP addresses. The third stage is the first step towards the evolution of the entire IP network. The signaling and bearer start to evolve independently, and IP addresses are used for transmission. The core network and the access network are also separated. The fourth stage is the final goal of the entire IP network, which is eventually completely replaced by IMS.

According to their actual situation, each operator adopts a stable evolution solution that conforms to their own characteristics, which is conducive to the transformation of the core network in the optimal way at the minimum cost. The industry has recognized IMS as the direction of the transformation of mobile core networks. At present, major operators are dedicated to each other and follow their own evolution to seize the commanding heights of IMS.

Link: application of mobile Softswitch in 3G value-added services

3G has three main methods to implement value-added services: first, it is directly implemented by the MSCServer (in some cases, MGW is required), and second, it is implemented through intercommunication with the mobile SCP (Business Control Point; third, it is implemented through the open business system (OSA.

Method 1 has the highest efficiency, but its openness is the worst, because it is actually the business implementation method of the traditional Programmable switch.

Method 2 focuses on protecting existing investment in mobile intelligent networks. The MSCServer implements the SSP function and communicates with each other through CAME and SCP, which is suitable for inheriting the smart speech services that have been implemented in the network.

Method 3 is the mainstream 3G implementation method. It is mainly applicable to the implementation of integrated services similar to the Internet working mode, which integrates voice, data, video, and other features. It is usually implemented by providing a fully open and programmable business environment.

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