BT has selected GENBAND’s QUANTiX Diameter Signaling Controller (DSC) to expand its existing Global IP Exchange (GIPX), which serves as an LTE signaling and data roaming exchange for its mobile network operator (MNO) customers.
The integrated QUANTiX DSC delivers a Diameter Routing Agent (DRA), a Diameter Edge Agent (DEA), a Diameter gateway interworking function (IWF), and a Diameter load balancer – all on a common platform with centralized management. The Diameter Edge Agent (DEA) function supports interworking between the wide variety of vendor equipment that is being deployed across its customers’ LTE networks. The software provides context-aware intelligent routing, scalable handling of SIP and Diameter traffic, and secure, seamless connectivity to any IMS/LTE network resulting in a simple, cost-effective deployment of rich LTE voice and data services.
“Our strong relationship with GENBAND has helped to accelerate the growth of our wholesale network, supporting rapid expansion of our global footprint and enhancements to our GIPX services that meet customer demand for international roaming and increasingly data hungry applications,” said Steve Sherry, Head of (G)IPX Signalling, Messaging and Numbering for BT Wholesale. “The DSC solves complex Diameter signaling interworking, enabling network roaming across otherwise incompatible mobile networks. It also provides the security and routing scalability required to handle the explosion of mobile data traffic exchange for enhanced services, such as RCS, photo sharing, video and Over-the-Top (OTT) applications. GENBAND’s professional services organization has supported our ambitious plans in the marketplace – building and operating these critical solutions that drive revenue generation and customer satisfaction.”
“Although there are over 260 LTE networks in service worldwide, there are few interconnect roaming agreements in place between different mobile networks and this deployment marks a significant milestone for international mobile network operators,” said David Hiscock, Senior Vice President of Sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for GENBAND. “In the past, mobile service providers had to negotiate bi-lateral roaming agreements with network operators, implement point-to-point Diameter interconnects, and handle interoperability challenges between LTE and legacy 2.5G/3G networks. The enhanced BT GIPX solution addresses these challenges for BT’s international wholesale network, providing a seamless experience for roaming subscribers across 170-plus countries and varying vender equipment and host network scenarios.”
- In 2012, BT deployed GENBAND’s enhanced Global IP Interconnect solution to deliver SIP-based interconnect capabilities to its UK and global wholesale customers. Last year, BT leveraged the GENBAND solution to expand its GIPX services to wholesale customers across Asia and the Americas.
