Introduction

Traditional SS7 networks continue to grow and evolve to meet the demands of burgeoning wireless and next-generation networks. At the same time, lower cost IP-based networks are also emerging at the edges of these traditional networks.

Service providers are attempting to minimize the complexity of and investment in the still growing SS7 network while also striving to take full advantage of the cost and flexibility benefits the IP-based networks provide.

Challenges

• Reduce the cost of point to point SS7 links at the edge of an existing SS7 network - the costs associated with the growth and evolution of SS7 networks is substantial - from the edge of networks and where dedicated TDM circuits need to be provisioned in redundant pairs. Often, SS7 traffic originating from end nodes does not fill a complete circuit, resulting in underutilization of purchased bandwidth. SS7 transport costs can be significantly reduced by transporting SS7 traffic over shared-use IP networks instead
• Interconnect an existing SS7 Signaling network with a VoIP network - this interconnection is essential to providing end-to-end calling capabilities between legacy SCN customers and VoIP customers. As VoIP networks are deployed around the globe, they quickly change and evolve. Service providers and OEMs need VoIP media gateways that keep pace with the network evolution. VoIP gateway solutions have been cumbersome to deploy and upgrade
• Extend the SS7 network cost effectively while preserving SS7 network reliability - at the expanding edge of the SS7 network, there are few if any point codes available to the operator for deploying new services and capabilities. The addition of STPs and connectivity to STP nodes poses a significant expense. Network operators looking to transition to a packet-based IP network are often faced with challenges; the solution must work with existing billing and monitoring equipment to preserve the investments, and it must provide the same level of reliability as the circuit-switched SS7 network
• Cost-effectively deploy SS7 capabilities to remote, under developed regions of the world - providing traditional PSTN or wireless telephony service by installing fiber optic or twisted pair cables for SS7 connectivity to and in these regions is cost-prohibitive. Rather, it is simpler and more cost-effective to deploy localized VoIP networks. Interconnection and interworking of SS7 networks with these VoIP networks is critical

Solution

• Reduce the cost of point-to-point SS7 links in an existing SS7 network - offloading long haul SS7 traffic onto lower cost, shared-use networks will achieve this cost reduction. This will also preserve core SS7 network capacity by routing traffic between SSPs at the edge. In this way, edge signaling traffic stays local and does not consume core SS7 network bandwidth
• Interconnect an existing SS7 signaling network to a VoIP network - the VoIP Softswitch disaggregation into Media Gateway (MG), Media Gateway Controller (MGC), and the Signaling Gateway (SG) provides a flexible architectural solution for the interconnection and interworking of SS7 networks with VoIP networks. In this architecture the SG performs all the signaling tasks freeing the MGC to focus on the call and circuit-related tasks
• Extend the SS7 network in a cost-effective manner preserving SS7 network reliability - extending the SS7 network to an IP transport medium reduces carrier leasing and provisioning costs associated with dedicated, long haul SS7 links. The VoIP Softswitch disaggregation again provides a flexible architectural solution for the interconnection and interworking of SS7 networks with VoIP networks and it also enables cost-effective incremental growth
• Cost-effectively deploy SS7 capabilities to remote, under developed, regions of the world - extending the SS7 network with IP transport over satellites is designed to reduce the costs associated with installing fiber optic or twisted pair cables for terrestrial SS7 links or IP networks. The SG provides the flexible architectural solution for the interconnection and interworking of SS7 networks with VoIP

Ulticom nSignia eSTP

Ulticom's nSignia^® eSTP is designed to reduce SS7 transport costs by offloading long haul SS7 traffic onto lower cost, shared-use IP networks. These solutions offer superior software reliability, support for all major variants of SS7 (ANSI, ITU, NTT/TTC, and Chinese), powerful functionality with a very small footprint, network transparency and remote management capability. In addition, nSignia eSTP preserves core SS7 network capacity by routing traffic between SSPs connected to the same nSignia eSTP or between nSignia eSTPs. Edge signaling traffic stays local and does not consume core SS7 network bandwidth. nSignia eSTP is optimized to support the demanding requirements of the SG.

Key Business Benefits

• nSignia eSTP delivers a cost-effective solution, extendable to Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks
• Integrates into customer's existing network addressing plan
• SSPs are implemented using ISUP, SCCP, TCAP
• No network operations disruption
• Single network management solution
• Greater customer return on investment using SS7 application assets
• Inter-working at STP level of performance when backhauling with M2PA