Until recently, telecommunications equipment manufacturers (TEMs) kept major platform design "close to home" via in-house
development of proprietary system components. Later, TEMs
started to grapple with the proprietary "make versus buy" decision, weighing the pros and cons of producing such components
in-house as opposed to purchasing third-party offerings. Today,
TEMs aren't hesitating to "leave home" to enjoy the clear time-to-market and cost benefits provided by non-proprietary, standards-based commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components—wherever
and whenever possible.
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and AdvancedTCA (ATCA)—
two emerging telecom architectures gaining wide industry
acceptance—are key drivers in the move to open, standards-based COTS products. At the same time, ATCA-based COTS components are ideally suited for IMS deployment, especially when
TEMs can leverage the advantages of common building blocks
across multiple network elements.
In this article, we'll examine how the capabilities of IMS and
ATCA individually are impacting the telecom infrastructure market. Next, we'll consider how TEMS can share COTS components across multiple IMS network elements and best leverage the ATCA
ecosystem. Finally, we'll explore how flexible ATCA-based COTS components deliver
tangible benefits to communications service providers (CSPs) and TEMs alike.
IMS & ATCA IMPACTS
IMS is a
standardized next-generation network
(NGN) architecture for CSPs that want to
offer converged wireless and fixed multimedia services. Using a Voice-over-IP
(VoIP) implementation based on a 3GPP
standardized implementation of the session initiation protocol (SIP), IMS runs over
the standard Internet Protocol (IP).
Existing phone systems (both packet and circuit-switched) are supported, and
users can access all services from their
home networks or while roaming. Helping
to merge the cellular and Internet worlds,
IMS uses mobile technologies to provide
ubiquitous "anytime, anywhere" access
and IP technologies to deliver compelling
triple-play services.
A key driving force behind the move to
IMS is the need for service providers to
offer an array of services over diverse network and terminal types. Examples of
compelling IP-based services include VoIP,
push-to-talk over cellular (POC), videoconferencing, multiparty gaming, and content
sharing. Subscribers eventually will be able to use the terminal of their choice (wireline, mobile, or IP)
based on convenience and personal preference, as well as
instantly switch between voice, data, and video modes.
IMS networks offer a number of technical and business
advantages to CSPs. Promoting network resource sharing due
to its horizontal services architecture, IMS reduces capital
expenditures and streamlines resource usage and maintenance. Since the core network is independent of any particular
access technology, IMS enables easier migration of applications among fixed, mobile, and cable users. Designed for easy
scalability and redundancy, the standardized IMS architecture
enables faster deployment of new triple-play services.
The Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA or ATCA) initiative, in which more than 100 companies are
participating, is the largest-ever specification endeavor undertaken by the PCI Industrial Computing Manufacturers Group
(PICMG).
As defined by PICMG, the ATCA specifications, denoted as
PICMG 3.X, are a series of specifications targeted to meet
the requirements for the next generation of carrier-grade communications equipment. The ATCA series of specifications incorporates high-speed inter-connect technologies, next-generation processors, and improved reliability, manageability, and serviceability.
One of ATCA's key drivers is the proven success of
modular infrastructures in packet-based data networks. Yet
communications networks maintain different success criteria, including superior performance and high availability.
ATCA addresses the demanding technical requirements for IMS network elements, including scalable capacity up to 2.5 Tbits/s, full redundancy support for "five-nine" (99.999%)
availability, high computer density, rich media content and
transcoding, strict regulatory conformance, and support for multiple switching fabric types. Such capabilities make ATCA the
platform of choice for telecom infrastructure applications in general, and IMS network elements in particular.