Description
Over the last 20 years or so, a range of signaling protocols and interfaces have been introduced to mobile networks to provide distinct connectivity, functions and features across many products of as many vendors. The industry has adopted Diameter based connectivity and integration with existing systems in operator networks typically requires interoperability with non-Diameter protocols such as RADIUS, HTTP, SOAP, LDAP and SS7. For most vendors, operators and integrators, adding these interfaces to their Diameter based products usually results in a costly, time-and-resource-consuming development project.
BroadForward Interworking provides a comprehensive solution to address these interworking challenges, including interworking with the 5G NG Core based on HTTP/2.
Disadvantages of the traditional upgrade approach
Establishing interoperability by upgrading systems or integrating new protocol stacks often requires significant product changes as well as expertise and resources which are not always available in most organizations. And, more importantly, these interface adaptations distract them from their core tasks. And this is not where it stops. Once the new interface is developed, the flexibility to support different applications, releases and (vendor-specific) variants is generally very limited, which leads to additional development and customization work.
Here Comes the BroadForward Signaling Orchestrator
The BroadForward Signaling Orchestrator provides centralized signaling management, decoupling the orchestration layer from the underlying protocol and access technologies. It allows users to create (converged) services by enabling on-the-fly signaling scenarios across technologies and vendor implementations.
Example use cases
The availability and flexibility of on-board protocols and functions prevents high customization costs or upgrades associated with (legacy) systems that are required to fit within targeted LTE/Diameter based architectures.
Some examples of interworking cases deployed by BroadForward:
- SS7 – Diameter: 3G – 4G interworking for authentication in roaming scenarios;
- RADIUS – Diameter: integration Wi-Fi / Fixed into Mobile core for Policy and Charging (connecting AAA/WAG/BRAS to OCS and PCRF);
- RADIUS – SS7: Wi-Fi to Cellular authentication (connecting AAA/WAG/BRAS to HLR/HSS);
- Network – IT integration, for database interaction, subscriber lookup, roaming steering, legacy billing integration, etc. (LDAP, SOAP, XML/HTTP, REST …).
Why choose the BroadForward Solution
BroadForward products are based on the BFX software framework, designed from the ground up to deliver signalling orchestration for the transition to 5G. By design it supports multi-vendor environments across 2G, 3G, 4G, IMS, 5G, Fixed/WiFi and IT networks as well as IoT/M2M, Number Portability and security domains.
Need some more reasons to choose BroadForward?
- Fully virtualised, cloud native, software product
- Delivers central signalling orchestration across Mobile (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G), IMS, Fixed/Wi-Fi and IT without the need for scripting or development
- Provides the HTTP Proxy Function and interworking
- Enables transition to 5G and to ensure the 5G follow-the-user concept across access (Mobile and fixed legacy) technologies can actually work
- Prevents vendor lock-in and leverage existing network investments to optimise ROI
- Empowers operators to be self-sufficient
- Significantly reduces time-to-market and costs
- 5G ready: DSC is extendable to HTTP Proxy and Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP)
- On board Firewall
