Richard Davies wrote: The UK has a good crop of technology pioneers in cloud computing - for example ElasticHosts, FlexiScale, Flexiant, OnApp - and also some strong government initiatives such as G-Cloud.
We will have to see whether this kind of technical leadership converts into swift mass-market adoption or not.
Virtually every major telecom industry player must now be dealing with
IMS. News of planned IMS-compatible products and services are arriving
with regularity. Are you one of those players? If you are testing IMS,
then you must understand what strategies to adopt to implement and
profit from this technology now to safeguard medium to long term growth
in subscribers and usage.
Despite investment constraints forced upon them by the 2008-2009 global
economic slowdown, operators are still looking beyond 3G in the quest to
sustain their growth in the medium to long term and reduce competitive
threats. Although some projects have been postponed due to the adverse
financial climate, a great number of planned deployments are still being
pursued by operators, as IMS represents a key platform for future
service provisioning and a long term investment beyond 2012,
future-proofing operators from risk in increased service sophistication
and capacity requirements.
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an open and standardised architecture
for mobile and fixed services. But is this really true - is the standard
truly open to all? It is used by operators to offer network-controlled
multimedia services by combining voice and data in a single packet
switched network. The author believes that IMS is one of the key drivers
of convergence, but with network-client framework suppliers not reaching
agreement then issues will still linger. IMS is gaining increased
momentum and will have a fundamental impact on your operation. Virtually
all major vendors have IMS strategies in place - competition in this
area is ever strengthening.
This updated version of the IMS 2009 report provides a critical insight
into the different aspects of IMS strategy adopted by various operators
across the globe. The report also seeks to dispel the hype and confusion
surrounding IMS. We aim to describe the technology itself, its readiness
for deployment and its compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Operators in Western Europe are embracing IMS, despite ongoing economic
pressures in the global market, due to the considerable measure of cost
and revenue leakage control enabled by such platforms. The technology
also holds huge potential to increase operator ARPU and reduce churn -
will you and your organisation be successful proponents of IMS, as well
as the future technology roadmap of LTE and 4G.
The brand new report answers key questions, such as:
• Where do the greatest opportunities lie for operators and vendors?
• How can both fixed and mobile operators benefit and profit from IMS?
• What new types of services and applications will IMS enable?
• How will demand for IMS equipment vary by region?
By reading this report you will get a detailed perspective on IMS: the
technology itself, key players, issues, forecasts and critical success
factors that will make IMS a reality.
This report will tell you:
• When fully-fledged IMS handsets will be available? - lack of
IMS-capable handsets still an massive concern.
• What the total revenue potential from 3G and HSPA is with IMS? -
Standards must be set on how to integrate IMS and non-IMS handsets
• How would the above questions apply when LTE, WiMax and UMB are added
to the equation?
• What issues your company will need to start looking at in the
short-term future?
• How using this technology can increase revenues and reduce customer
churn? - an agreed standard must be developed to allow manufacture.
Key concerns such as these still exist. If IMS is to offer unique
benefits then questions must be answered today.
The report aims to provide:
• An IMS framework for operators that will aid them in formulating IMS
strategies, this framework will also allow operators to take an holistic
view across their value chain, across departments and units service
delivery and infrastructure plan to reduce long-term unit cost;
• Vendors in the IMS arena;
• Cost-benefit analysis for IMS;
• Forecasts covering how and when fixed and mobile operators will begin
rolling out IMS-standard services that will generate revenue while
making use of existing investments;
• Impact of IMS on the telecoms landscape;
• Key benefits of IMS to both operators and end-users; and
• Challenges and obstacles in implementing IMS.
IMS truly merges the internet with the cellular world to provide
ubiquitous access to internet technologies and to provide consumers with
appealing services. However if IMS features on your future technology
plans, you need to get a handle on this subject now.
The report provides forecasts for revenue generation from these services
and describes the key drivers to successful future of IMS services,
applications and handsets. By buying this report, you will be ideally
placed to profit from IMS development.
Companies Listed
3GPP2
3UK
Accenture
Acme Packet
Airvana
AIS(Thailand)
Alcatel Lucent
Apertio
Aricent
ArmenTel
AT&T
Audio Codes
BEA
Bejing Netcom
Belgacom
Bell Canada
Bell South
Blue Sclice
Bouygues Telecom
Brazil Telecom
Bridgeport Networks
Broadsoft
BT
Cable & Wireless
Camient
Celtius
China Telecom (China)
China Unicom
Chunghwa Telecom
Cisco
Clarent
CNC
Colibria
Com Hem Commander
Comneon
Connect2 Media
Convedia
crio
CYTA
Digital Nanning
ECI Telecom
Ecrio
Eircom
Elion
Elisa(Finland)
EMOBILE
Ericsson
ETSI
Exit games
FarEasTone
France Telecom
Fujian Telecoms
Fujitsu
Genband
Globe (Philippines)
Google
GSMA
Hello Soft
Hitachi
Hot Telecom
Hotsip
HP
Huawei
IBM
Intel
IP Unity Glenayre
Iperia
ITU
Jersey Telecom
jNetX
Juniper Networks
KDDI
Kineto Wireless
Korea Telecom
KPN
KT
KTF
LG
LG Electronics
Longboard
Lucent
Manx Telecom
Mavenir
MegaFon(Russia)
Metaswitch
Microsoft
Mitsubishi
Mobicom Austria
Motorola
Movial
MSF
MSV
NEC
NetCentrex
Neuf Telecom
Neustar
Nexos
NMS
Nokia
Nokia Siemens Networks
Nortel
NTl
NTT DoCoMo
NWT3GPP
O2
O2, Ireland
Oi
OMA
OpenCloud
Optimus
Oracle
Orange
Panasonic
PCCN
PCCW
Philips
Phone Systems and Networks
Qualphone
Quanta Computers
RadiSys
Radvision Convedia
Redknee
Samsung
Sanyo
Saunalahti
SBC
Seven
SFR
Sharp
Siemens
Singtel (Singapore)
SK Telecom
Softbank Mobile
Sonia Technologies
Sonus Networks
Sony-Ericsson
Spectel
Sprint Nextel
SPT
Starcom
Swisscom
Sylantro Systems
Symbian
T-2 (Slovenia)
Tatara Systems
TDC
Tekelec
Telcel
Telcordia
Tele Greenland
Telecom Italia
Telefonica
Telekomunikacja Polska
Telemar
Telenor
TeliaSonera (Sweden/Finland)
Telkom
Telkomsel(Indonesia)
Terraplay
TerreStar Networks
Thomson
Thou Telecom
Tilgin
TIM, Italy
Time Warner Cable
TISPAN
TMN (Portugal)
T-Mobile
Toshiba
Turkcell
Tusmobil (Slovenia)
Ubicode
Ubiquity Software
Ulticom
UT Starcom
Verisign
Verizon (USA)
Verizon Wireless
Virgin Media
Vivatel(Bulgaria)
Vivo
Vodafone Germany
Vodafone Ireland
Vodafone Portugal
Vonage
Wanadoo
Warid Telecoms
Wataniya(Kuwait)
Wateen Telecoms
Xten Networks
Zain(Saudi Arabia)
ZTE
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
E1 Steadily IMS is gaining ground
E2 IMS is offering a variety of benefits and opportunities for early
adopters
E3 Challenges and Issues with IMS
E4 Development of IMS Handsets
E5 IMS Business Model
E6 IMS' Impact on the Telecom Value Chain
E7 Conclusions and Key Findings
1 Introduction
1.1 IMS Defined
Figure 1: IMS a Layered Architecture
1.1.1 IMS: Envisaged by 3GPP
1.1.2 IMS is Access Agnostic
1.2 Business Case for IMS
1.2.1 Short and Long Term Business Objectives
1.2.1.1 Convergence
1.2.1.2 Need for Differentiation
1.2.1.3 Success of the Internet
1.2.1.4 IP Telephony
1.2.1.5 Telecom Market evolution
Figure 2: Telecom Market Evolution
1.2.1.6 Why IMS is Critical for the Operators' Growth Strategy?
Figure 3: IMS Business Case
1.3 Aim of the Report
1.3.1 Holistic Framework for formulating IMS strategies
Figure 4: IMS Framework
1.4 Report Structure
1.5 Report Scope
1.6 Methodology
2 Understanding IMS
2.1 Next Generation Networks (NGN)
2.2 Mobile IP
2.2.1 All IP Networks
2.2.2 Transition from Circuit to Packet Switched Networks
Figure 5: Transition from Circuit to Packet Data
2.2.2.1 Stage One: 2G (Circuit based)
2.2.2.2 Stage Two: 2.5G (CS augmented with PS enablers)
2.2.2.3 Stage three: 3G and beyond (mostly PS-based networks, some CS)
Figure 6: Stages in Transition from Circuit Switched to Packet Switched
Networks (2009)
Figure 7: Present and Future Networks
2.2.2.4 IMS: An All IP Networks/Next Generation Network
Figure 8: Traditional GSM Networks (Stovepipe Approach)
Figure 9: Horizontal Layered Architecture in IMS
2.3 IMS Architecture
2.3.1 Core Elements of IMS network
Figure 10: IMS Architecture
2.3.2 Enhanced Service Delivery with IMS
2.3.3 Flexibility in IMS
2.3.3.1 Gateway or the Transport & Endpoint Layer
2.3.3.2 The Session Control Layer
2.3.3.3 The Application Server Layer
2.4 Media Gateways
2.4.1 Home Subscriber Services
2.4.2 Summary of IMS Network Architecture
Table 1: IMS Complete Service Delivery Proposition
2.5 IMS Handset Architecture
Figure 11: High Level IMS Client Architecture
2.6 Key Features of IMS Technology
Table 2: Features Offered by IMS (R5)
2.7 Protocols Used in IMS
2.7.1 Session Initiated Protocol (SIP)
Figure 12: SIP Components
2.7.1.1 SIP's Routing Decisions
2.7.1.2 Problems posed by SIP
2.7.1.2.1 QoS
2.7.1.2.2 Fraud/Privacy
2.7.2 Session Description Protocol
2.7.3 RTP (Real Time Protocol)
2.7.4 Diameter
2.7.5 H.248 Megaco
2.8 Fixed to Mobile Convergence (FMC)
2.8.1 Convergence Trends in the Telecoms Market
Chart 1: Broadband Customer Growth (2009-2015)
2.8.1.1 Fixed Network Operators and their Interest in IMS
2.8.2 What is FMC?
2.8.2.1 What FMC will offer?
2.8.2.2 Market Demands for FMC
Table 3: Key FMC Deployments So Far (2009)
2.8.2.3 Fixed Line Operators Interested in Wireless Solutions
2.8.2.4 IMS and Fixed-Network VoIP Service Providers
2.8.2.5 IMS and Cable Service Providers
2.9 Making IMS Foolproof
2.9.1 Interoperability
2.9.2 Interoperability of SIP and SS7 Signalling
2.9.3 Compatibility
2.9.4 QoS Issues
2.9.5 Service Assurance and Risk Management
2.9.6 Security
2.9.7 IPv4 to IPv6 Conversion
2.10 Fundamental Technology Threats to IMS
2.10.1 Business Issues
2.10.2 Interoperability with Legacy Networks
2.10.3 IMS Client Issues
2.10.3.1 Are there any alternatives to IMS Handsets?
2.10.4 Web 2.0 and IMS
2.10.5 IMS and SDP
2.10.5.1 Interplay Between SDP, IMS and Web 2.0
2.10.6 IMS must support non-SIP Applications
2.11 Standards and Regulations
2.11.1 3GPP: Establishing IMS Requirements and Architecture
2.11.1.1 How 3GPP Works
2.11.1.2 Release 99
2.11.1.3 Release 4
2.11.2.3 Release 5
2.11.1.4 Release 6
2.11.1.5 Release 7
2.11.1.5 Release 8
2.11.1.6 Availability of IMS Equipment based on 3GPP Releases
2.11.2 3GPP2: Working Closely with 3GPP on IMS Architecture