7. Fixed and mobile convergence and transition
to IMS platform
7.1. Common remarks and definitions
7.2. FMC motivations
7.3. FMC service architecture
7.4. FMC and UMTS
7.5. FMC and IN solutions
7.6. FMC and IMS platform
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7.1. Common remarks and definitions
• In competitive markets - operators’ main challenges - new market
opportunities/comprehensive solutions and services
• Convergence of fixed and mobile networks – for what?
• Fixed network operators - mobility enhances the service portfolio leading to
an improved service differentiation strategy
• Mobile network operators - fixed network allows the carrier to become a full
service provider
Fixed-Mobile Convergence covers two main aspects: infrastructure and
services. Infrastructure aspect deals with the capability of different
network elements: switches, Intelligent Network (IN), or NGN, and
Telecommunication Management Network (TMN) or Customer Care and
Billing System (CC&BS) to support fixed or mobile applications.
Services aspect is related to the different fixed-mobile convergence
services that can be proposed to users (residential or professional
subscribers).
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Infrastructure convergence
Access
Fixed access
Core Network
N-ISDN
Wireless Local Loop
Same look and feel
of personalised
services
Cordless
Internet
Cellular
Satellite
GSM
Common
service provider
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Infrastructure convergence
OA&M, Customer Care and Billing
Copper
Fiber
Coax
GSM node
(MSC)
SSF
HLR
SCE
WLL
Combi-node
Cordless
PSTN/ISDN
node
SSF
SMP
SSF
ESP
Cellular
Satellite
User environment
Access
network
Broadband
node
Internet
Server
Core
network
Service
platform
= UMTS radio interface possible
SCE
SCP
Service Creation Environment
Service Control Point
SMP
SSF
Service Management Point
Service Switching Function
SCP
ESP – External Service Point
SCE – Service Creation Point
SCP – Service Control Point
SMP – Service Management Point
SSP – Service Switching Point
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SSF – Service Switching Function
Service convergence
5
Service convergence
CS
PS
Mobile
Communications
Fixed
Communications
Multimedia Communications
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The combination of fixed and mobile networks - Fixed Mobile
Convergence (FMC)
# Any combination of mobile and fixed access, voice, video and data services
decrease operational costs by using common resources - transport, OA&M
# FMC implementation leads to a new market with unique list of services and
high revenue potential
Fixed-Mobile Convergence allows network and service operators to make more
efficient use of existing access technologies (GSM, DSL, Wi-Fi), as well as
taking an advantage of the roll-out of new access technologies such as 2.5/3G,
WLAN, Bluetooth, Wi-Max UMA, etc, by launching new voice & multimedia
services and realizing cost reductions by implementing common service
machinery for different access networks.
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Fixed-Mobile Convergence allows users to connect to
complementary access networks, buy and use a wider
range of personalized services using fewer terminal
devices. The primary device will be portable and for
most applications it will be a multi-radio device,
supporting voice and multimedia services.
Users can be contacted with a single number
independent of the network connection. The target of
convergence is to enable easy implementation for the
operator and service provider, and easy usage of
services for end users. This will enable true mobility
for users in both the residential and business
environment.
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Statistics for mobile and fixed networks
# According ITU a number of global wireless phone subscribers exceeded the
number
of wireline subscribers in 2002
# In 2005 worldwide projections are for about 1.2 billion wireline subscribers and
almost 2 billion wireless subscribers
# Wireline subscribers’ annual growth estimated at 2% and wireless growth at 10%
# While mobile phone operators have seen phenomenal growth in their market,
competition has eroded their average revenue per user
• ARPU
Europe - Euro 14 – 35
USA
- Euro 34
Japan - Euro 60
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Definition of FMC
The following definition of FMC is based on the ETSI FMC ad hoc
workgroup docs:
Fixed and Mobile Convergence (FMC) is concerned with the provision of
network and service capabilities, which are independent of the access
technique. This does not necessarily imply the physical convergence of
networks. It is concerned with the development of converged network
capabilities and supporting standards. This set of standards may be used to
offer a set of consistent services via fixed or mobile access to fixed or
mobile, public or private networks.
An important feature of FMC is to allow users to access a consistent set of
services from any fixed or mobile terminal via any compatible access point.
An important extension of this principle is related to roaming: users should
be able to roam between different networks and be able to use the same
consistent set of services through those visited networks. This feature is
referred to as the Virtual Home Environment (VHE).
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7.2. FMC motivations
Customer motivations – more mobility with required list of services
# The FMC greatest benefits - for the end-user
# Mobility of people and the need to communicate on the move are increased and
therefore the demand for mobile communications
# Conventional fixed networks continue to serve the home or the office
# Wide range of services within a uniform network and mobile connection is most
important
# Low costs and quality standards regarding reliability, security, etc.
Three aspects of mobility - terminal/service/personal mobility:
• Terminal mobility allows the customer the use of his (personal) terminal, e.g. his
telephone at any place, at home, in the office or en route even abroad
• Service mobility provides for the customer an invariable set of services independent
of the access type and location. The services should have the “same look and feel” even
in different networks
• Personal mobility means reachability in the sense, that the customer is reachable
with one number, his personal number, everywhere. He can define several reachability
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profiles (private, office) and he can change his profiles, especially the terminal where
he
wants his calls to arrive, on line from any terminal
7.2. FMC motivations (Cntd)
• Operator motivations – better position on the market –increasing
revenue, gaining new users
# FMC can be understood as a marketing strategy to attract new customers by
launching new innovative products
# Offering customized set of attractive services: (VPN, VHE, …)
# IN Services developed in fixed networks - Call Forwarding, Personal Number
# Services developed in mobile networks - Prepaid Service, SMS
# Investment cost saving (HW/SW for billing, IN equipment,…)
# Operational cost savings (common OAM processes, common numbering plan,…)
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7.3. FMC service architecture
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7.4. FMC and UMTS
UMTS characteristics in relation to FMC
The following UMTS characteristics can be identified as potential
enablers for FMC:
A. UMTS service capabilities
B. UMTS radio interface applicability to a wide range of application
environments
C. FMC application scenarios in relation to UMTS
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A. UMTS service capabilities
The service capabilities associated with UMTS networks will provide the same
service portfolio as ISDN and packet data networks. To allow for the multimedia
services support the following requirements have been set in UMTS technical
specifications:
• High speed data bearers (urban/suburban at least with 384 kbit/s for users
moving at 120km/h; indoor at least with 2Mbps for users moving at 10km/h), both
for circuit and packet data
• Multiple QoS classes for packet data (still to be defined)
• Multiple media components during one and the same call
• Add/delete resources and parties in multi-party calls
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B. UMTS radio interface applicability to a wide range
of application environments
UMTS terrestrial radio interface (UTRA)
The UMTS terrestrial radio interface UTRA provides the W-CDMA mode and the
TD-CDMA mode
The W-CDMA mode - for public macro- and micro-cell environments and paired
spectrum allocations and for data rates up to 2 Mbit/s
The TD-CDMA mode - for public micro- and pico-cell environments, for
unlicensed cordless and public wireless local loops, unpaired spectrum allocations
and for data rates up to 2 Mbit/s (asymmetric traffic)
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C. FMC application scenarios in relation to UMTS
Main target of FMC - roaming in fixed and mobile networks and seamless handover
between different networks (fixed/cellular/wireless)
1. UMTS Cordless Access
- connection of cordless telephones with UMTS
radio interface
• UMTS users roaming between home cell and the public cellular network
• Single number and access to the converged services in both environments
• Personal and terminal mobility is offered between private and public networks.
2. Fixed access personal mobility with UMTS/USIM card
• A subset of UMTS services may be offered via wireline terminals
• The subscriber uses the USIM (User Service Identity Module) card to get access to
these services
• FMC building blocks extend the UMTS virtual home environment of the cellular
network to the fixed network
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3. FMC and Virtual Home Environment (VHE)
Motivation
• UMTS concept - customers get services anytime, independent of the access
technology and the core network
• UMTS aims to provide to the user a comprehensive set of services, features
and tools, which have the same “look and feel” whether they are used at home
or abroad
• Virtual Home Environment (VHE) - ETSI concept - a system concept for
service portability across network borders
• Relation of VHE concept and FMC concept:
- VHE allows a service provider (incl. fixed or mobile network operator) to
offer services independent of the core network and access; ”seamless services”
both in the fixed and the mobile network
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CAMEL services for FMC/VHE applications in UMTS
Customized Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL)
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The CAMEL-based VHE solution
• The GSM solution for transparent service availability at a visited
cellular network is based on the concept of the Customized
Applications for Mobile Enhanced Logic (CAMEL).
• The CAMEL concept allows for a VHE encompassing a
subscriber’s home mobile network and any visited mobile
network that has a CAMEL roaming agreement with the home
network. Thus the mobile subscriber when roaming in a visited
network can use the (non-standardized) IN services subscribed
in his home network.
• To achieve this, the Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) of the
visited networks can communicate directly with the home
network’s Switching Control Point (SCP) by means of a
completely standardized INAP protocol - the CAMEL
Application Part (CAP). The SCP is inquired for call control
guidance during incoming and outgoing calls.
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The CAMEL-based VHE solution
• The conditions for triggering the SCP are administered in the Home
Location register (HLR) and are downloaded to the Visited Location
Register (VLR) when the subscriber roams between location areas. In
addition, the Mobile Application Part (MAP) protocol applied between SCP
and HLR allows for the SCP to request subscriber status and location
information in order to assist the service logic programs in deciding how
the call should be further progressed (“Any Time Interrogation”
procedure).
• Because the visited network is transparent for the service execution, this
scenario is also referred ”service tunneling” or ”service remote execution”.
However, in some cases the visited network may not be able to support
the desired service or the storage and execution of the appropriate data.
• The GSM CAMEL VHE mechanism is adapted to UMTS. Hereby the
functional network model of GSM CAMEL will be kept, but the used
protocols MAP and CAP between the network entities are modified in
order to support new UMTS capabilities.
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7.6. FMC and IN solutions
Common IN platform for both networks provides following features:
• support of new access technologies for network operators, service
providers, companies and end-users;
• IN-supported number conversion between fixed and mobile networks;
• IN-controlled creation of individual billing records for flexible and simple
billing; expenses are reduced due to the use of a single infrastructure for
both networks.
• Only standardized interfaces are used for the broadest range of network
elements from various manufacturers:
MAP (Mobile Application Part) - to localize mobile subscribers,
INAP (Intelligent Network Application Part) to communicate between IN
systems and the base networks.
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Personal Number (PN)
The "Personal Number Service" means that the customer is available round the
clock at a single personal phone number, regardless of whether located in a fixed
or a mobile network. User-specific profiles managed by the user define whose calls
shall get through, when and where. Also, incoming calls can be diverted to a single
mailbox.
Fixed Mobile Convergence and Virtual Private Network (FMC-VPN)
The VPN under FMC conditions offers a series of improved performance
features for fixed and mobile networks in form of an extended version of classic
VPN service (= defined user group with access to the short numbers for the
individual members and special rates). For example, the same short number can
be used both on the mobile device and on the device connected at the fixed
connection. Separate billing of private and business calls makes the invoice easy
to read for the company and their staff. This service is suitable when combined with
individual rate systems — especially for companies with various locations, fixed
and mobile personnel and temporary staff.
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Friends & Family (F&F)
This service allows the end-user to define several telephone numbers that enjoy
lower rates. The F&F list may contain the numbers of business partners, family
members or friends who are called frequently, whereby special rates are valid for
both the fixed and the mobile network. The end-user can easily administer these
preferred numbers via a fixed network telephone, his mobile phone or the Internet.
Prepaid Service (PPS)
PPS was created for those customers who would rather not bind themselves by
long-term contracts to any one fixed or mobile network operator, but who also do
not want to lose the added value of integrated fixed and mobile networks. This
service allows customers to communicate via fixed terminals or mobile phones and
they will be charged to one single account paid in advance. The account balance is
constantly kept up-to-date. The customer has clear control of his communications
expenses through checking his account balance and through the various ways of
renewing the account by individually defined amounts of money.
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7.6. FMC and network evolution to the IMS platform
IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a new framework, basically specified for
mobile networks, for providing Internet Protocol (IP) telecommunications
services.
It has been introduced by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in
two phases (release 5 and release 6) for Universal Mobile Telecommunications
System (UMTS) networks. An IP multimedia framework was later introduced
by 3GPP2 as the MultiMedia Domain (MMD) for third generation Code Division
Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000) networks.
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Concept of the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
The IP Multimedia Subsystem is an open, standardized, NGN multi-media
architecture for mobile and fixed IP-based services. It's a VoIP
implementation based on a 3GPP variant of SIP, and runs over the
standard Internet protocol. It's used by Telcos in NGN networks (which
combine voice and data in a single packet switched network), to offer network
controlled multimedia services.
The aim of IMS is not only to provide new services but to provide all the
services, current and future, that the Internet provides. In addition, users
have to be able to execute all their services when roaming as well as
from their home networks. To achieve these goals the IMS uses open
standard IP protocols, defined by the IETF.
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IMS concept (Cntd.)
So, a multi-media session between 2 IMS users,
between an IMS user and a user on the Internet,
and between 2 users on the Internet is established
using exactly the same protocol. Moreover, the
interfaces for service developers are also based in
IP protocols. This is why the IMS truly merges the
Internet with the cellular world; it uses cellular
technologies to provide ubiquitous access and
Internet technologies to provide appealing services.
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IMS concept (Cntd.)
The IMS concept was introduced to address the following network and user
requirements:
• Deliver person-to-person real-time IP-based multimedia communications
(e.g. voice or video telephony) as well as person-to-machine communications
(e.g. gaming service).
• Fully integrate real-time with non-real-time multimedia communications
(e.g. live streaming and chat).
• Enable different services and applications to interact (e.g. combined use
of presence and instant messaging).
• Easy user setup of multiple services in a single session or multiple
simultaneous synchronized sessions.
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IMS solution overview
Source: Alcatel
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History of IMS
• IMS first appeared in release 5 of the evolution from 2G to 3G
networks for W-CDMA networks (UMTS), when SIP-based
multimedia domain was added to NGN networks. Support for
older GSM and GPRS networks is also provided.
• In 3GPP release 6, interworking with WLAN was added.
• 3GPP release 7 adds support for fixed networks, together with
TISPAN* R1.
• "Early IMS" is defined for IPv4 networks, and provides a
migration path to IPv6
TISPAN - Telecoms & Internet converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Networks
(ETSI)
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Evolution of UMTS Technical Specifications to Release 5
(Rel’5) of the 3GPP – Transition to IMS
Release 1999 (R’99) in April 1999 - the initial standards for UMTS were
completed by 3GPP. These standards are the basis for a majority of the
current commercially deployed UMTS systems
Release 4 (Rel’4) in April 2001 was standardized in 3GPP, which provided
some improvements of the UMTS transport, radio interface and architecture.
Rel’5 of UMTS was completed in March 2002 - next significant evolution phase
of UMTS. UMTS Rel’5 will provide higher speed wireless data services with
vastly improved spectral efficiencies through the High Speed Downlink Packet
Access (HSDPA) feature.
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Release 5 (Rel’5) of the 3GPP
High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) offers significantly higher
data capacity and data user speeds on the downlink (theoretically up to 14
Mbps peak) compared to R’99 UMTS through the use of very dynamic adaptive
modulation, coding and scheduling with Hybrid Automatic Retransmission
Request (H-ARQ) processing.
Through HSDPA, operators will benefit from a technology that will provide
improved end-user experience for Web access, file download and streaming
Services, Wireless Broadband access to the Internet, intranet and corporate
LAN will benefit greatly from HSDPA.
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Release 5 (Rel’5) of the 3GPP (Cntd.)
In addition to HSDPA, UMTS Rel’5 introduces the IP Multimedia System
(IMS) architecture that promises to greatly enhance the end-user experience
for Integrated multimedia applications and offer the mobile operator an
efficient means for offering such services.
The IMS enables new and more advanced multimedia applications for
operators (including VoIP), the ability for these services to interact and the
ability to fully integrate real-time, near real-time as well as non-real time
services.
UMTS Rel’5 also introduces the IP UTRAN concept to realize network
efficiencies and reduce network costs. IP UTRAN uses IP as a transport
protocol to realize network efficiencies that reduce the cost of delivering
traffic and can provide wireless traffic routing flexibility.
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FMC based on IMS configuration
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SIP based session management
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