Aicent contributes to GSMA’s Successful IMS Interoperability Trials with Leading Operators
Singapore 28th September 2005: The GSM Association (GSMA) and its partners have successfully completed a series of interoperability trials in both Europe and Asia - a major step towards ensuring that the next generation of multimedia services, based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and IMS, will work smoothly across networks right from launch.
Over the past six months, operators and equipment vendors in Europe and Asia have been testing whether their Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) are compatible. These tests are important because many operators around the world are planning to use IMS to handle multimedia services, such as instant messaging, push-to-talk-over-cellular, video-sharing and multiplayer-games and later introduce voice applications.
As well as making networks more efficient and more flexible for operators, IMS enriches the way that people communicate with each other by combining voice, imaging and video within a single experience. IMS, which uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to initiate and manage connections, also allows users to see immediately which of the people in their address book are available before initiating contact. The IMS platform is designed to allow seamless use of IP services across the mobile/fixed boundary while not compromising service quality.
The latest round of GSMA-led tests focused on ensuring the compatibility of systems that handle IPv6*, billing, performance management and inter-hub connectivity. They followed on from successful tests of IMS applications, such as voice instant messaging, video sharing and gaming, which were completed in February 2005.
As part of the initiative, initially started in Europe, the GSMA brought together key players from the mobile network operator, GRX carriers** and vendor communities. Those participating in the European trial, led by TeliaSonera, include mobile phone operators Vodafone, Orange, KPN and TeliaSonera itself.
TeliaSonera International Carrier and KPN are also involved as GRX carriers along with Cable & Wireless and France Telecom.
All the GRX carriers have now developed hubs to support IMS inter-working and, as part of the testing, have successfully achieved and demonstrated hub-to-hub connectivity including inter working between IPv6 IMS systems and between IMS IPv6 systems and IMS IPv4 systems. Vendors Ericsson, Nokia and Siemens have been actively involved with the trials. The Nokia 6680 handset was used for video sharing trial applications.
The past six months has also seen the expansion of the GSMA’s IMS testing program into the Asia Pacific Region. The GSMA initiative has attracted major Asian mobile operators such as China Mobile, who have been leading the Asia Pacific testing, CSL, Hutchinson HK, SingTel, Smart, SmarTone-Vodafone and Vodafone KK as well as GRX carriers Aicent, Belgacom and Cable & Wireless. Like the European trials, these GRX carriers were able to achieve and demonstrate successful IMS inter working and hub-to-hub connectivity.
Trials in the Asia region successfully achieved inter-working between all the operators and those vendors involved in the trials, which included Ericsson, NEC, Nokia and Siemens. For the tests Nokia’s 6680 handset was used alongside peer-to-peer applications from Nokia and Siemens.
Following the successful testing in Asia and Europe the GSMA SIP IMS trials will continue. Additional test campaigns are planned to look at other significant technologies such as standardised mobile services like OMA*** Push to Talk.
Going forward it is expected that some more commercially-focused trials will take place on services like Video streaming and PoC, Instant Messaging, etc.
Notes to editors:
*Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the latest version of the Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) that has much more capacity than the existing system, including an extended address range.
**GRX Carriers transmit data traffic between mobile phone networks.
***OMA is the Open Mobile Alliance, an industry forum for developing interoperable mobile services.
Supporting quotes
"IPI will play an important role in promoting standardization, interoperability and innovative business model of 3G world, and will ensure the success of 3G global business"
China Mobile Communications Corporation
We are happy to witness the steady progress of the SIP Trial to advance the deployment of new SIP-based services. The SIP Trial plays a major role in building the world of easy-to-use, reliable and relevant services. We are committed to contributing to the shared efforts in ensuring further development of this new environment.”
GSMA Board Member Håkan Dahlström, Group Vice President, TeliaSonera AB.
“Aicent strongly supports the GSMA IP Interworking initiative, and is fully committed to supporting GSMA’s Asian SIP Trial led by China Mobile (CMCC) and other leading mobile operators in Asia Pacific. Aicent, as a GRX and an MMS interworking hub provider, follows the clear IP Interworking technology roadmap as designed by GSMA to meet the future market needs of SIP-based applications of fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) for enterprises and consumers. Aicent will continue to support GSMA’s coming SIP Trials, including TEL URI, POC and FMC.”
Ms. Lynn Liu, Aicent President and CEO
"Ericsson is a firm believer in standards and interoperability testing. We are excited to take part in the GSMA trials with our IMS system to ensure that users will have the most seamless service experience possible"
Magnus Furustam, IMS Programme Director, Ericsson Sweden
“NEC is happy to have taken part and contributed in the GSMA trial which proves that our IMS solution is mature enough to launch commercial services on a global network basis. NEC also sees IMS deployment an important step toward FMC(Fixed Mobile Convergence) and AIPN(All IP Network) based services provision. With our IMS solution having a migration path to FMC and AIPN, NEC keeps contributing to GSMA trials which demonstrate the industry commitment of advanced and universal multimedia services.”
Noboru Wakita, Senior General Manager, Mobile Solutions Operations Unit, NEC Corporation
"Creating new services with IMS has great potential, it means richer communication for both mobile and fixed subscribers as well as new opportunities for software developers and service providers. We believe that GSMA SIP trials have helped operators, carriers and vendors to accumulate the needed experience for large-scale commercial launches of new rich communication services.”
Christian Fredrikson, Vice President, Networks, Nokia.
“Siemens welcomes the fact that IMS is embraced by the entire telecom industry and especially by mobile and fixed operators as the future multimedia services control platform. This reconfirms our early commitment to IMS by introducing the first commercial system into the market in 2003 and our involvement in more than 35 IMS projects worldwide. Siemens highly appreciates the GSMA initiative regarding SIP/IMS interoperability trials to demonstrate maturity of the IMS platform and peer-to-peer applications while giving us the opportunity to support mobile operators in Europe and Asia Pacific incl. China Mobile, KPN, SingTel and TeliaSonera to perform the tests."
Michael Clever, Sr. Vice President, Siemens Communications Mobile Networks
“Cable & Wireless share the GSMA's vision for enhanced mobile telecommunication services and are fully committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation for IMS services. The development of one of the first MMS hubs over our 3GRX means that we are positioned to lead the industry and deliver the next generation of value-added services to the global mobile operator community."
John Lewis, director, mobile carrier services, Cable & Wireless
"France Telecom is delighted to work with the GSMA towards the development of seamless, high performance multi-media services. Mobile operators are at the heart of our strategy and our aim is to continue working closely with them in this way to drive the industry forward."
Claire Paponneau Executive Vice President International Wholesale Solutions, France Telecom
"IMS will be the key to a new way of mobile communications – offering exciting applications we have never seen before. Seamless interoperability is crucial to make that happen. With IMS, the future will never be the same…"
Edwin A.D. Van Ierland, Senior Vice president, KPN Carrier Services International
“TeliaSonera International Carrier GRX is very pleased to participate in the SIP Trial. Working in this trial enables us to fully utilise our strengths in mobile and data. We will provide a solid foundation for mobile operators as they develop future global IMS services. This process gives us a good view for our own GRX evolution work."
Anders Ericsson, Executive Vice President, TeliaSonera International Carrier
About the GSM Association
For further information contact:
GSMA Contacts
Mark Smith
Tel. +44 (0)20 7759 2300
Fax. +44 (0)20 7759 2301
Email: press@gsm.org
Tel: +353 1 289 1800 (Ireland)
Fax: +353 1 289 1551 (Ireland)
David Pringle
GSM Association
Tel: +44 795 755 6069
Email: dpringle@gsm.org
Lucy Thomas
Email: lucy.thomas@promodus.co.uk
Tel: +44 7971238377
Jessica Cross
Email: Jessica.cross@promodus.co.uk
Tel: +44 7977 504130
About Aicent
Aicent, headquartered in San Jose, California with regional offices in Asia Pacific and Europe, is a leading provider of data network services and solutions for global mobile operators. Aicent operates one of world's largest GRX networks with direct connections to over 30 operators, collectively serving 270 million mobile users. Through extensive peering arrangements, Aicent network reaches nearly all GPRS/3G operators around the world. Aicent also operates one of world's first and largest MMS Interworking services, and provides mobile messaging delivery and other value added services across all types of 2.5G/3G mobile networks.
Aicent Contact:
Adil Pastakia (Europe)
Tel: +44 208 404 6402
E-mail: adil.pastakia@aicent.com
Shu Gan (U.S. Headquarters)
Tel: +1 408 324 1830
E-mail: shu.gan@aicent.com
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