ZTE Integration Reveals How IMS and NGOSS Complement Each Other
IMS (IP-based Multimedia Subsystem) is a grand common service architecture for both wireless and wireline networks developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the wireless standards body. The idea was that Internet services can be easily and inexpensively developed and will work over both mobile and wireline environments. From its humble beginnings in the 3G wireless world, it has been expanded and updated by 3GPP, 3GPP2 and TISPAN (Telecoms and Internet converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Network) groups.
In November 2007, ZTE uccessfully demonstrated the integration of their IMS products with Telemanagement Forum’s (TMF) New Generation Operations System and Software (NGOSS) framework as part of the TMF’s Catalyst Project, championed by such carriers as China Unicom (News - Alert) and Chungwa Telecom. NGOSS is a standard global framework for back-end business operations platforms.
ZTE claims that this is the first seamless integration of an IMS platform with NGOSS framework. Without such seamless integration into a standardized OSS/BSS [operations and billing support] system, would find it difficult to fully “de-silo” applications and thus quickly offer profitable IMS services. Now, thanks to ZTE, carriers can offer commercial IMS-based services more easily and ensure rapid and seamless integration with a standardized OSS/BSS service, which reduces costs, improves the customer experience and enhances the profitability of services.
The ZTE demonstration scenarios included deployment, activation, charging and management of a full-duplex, video-telephony service for devices that include SIP video phones and laptops. ZTE’s complete IMS solution, called ZIMS, focuses on IMS technology while facilitating the Fixed Mobile convergence (FMC) using 3GPP Releases 6, 7 and TISPAN NGN Release 1. ZIMS is an end-to-end solution including terminal, access, core, and service platforms. It is interoperable with various access technologies including WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, CDMA2000, WLAN, WiMAX, Cable Broadband Access, and xDSL.
Weijun Lee, Vice President for ZTE USA, says, “The relationship between IMS and NGOSS is as follows. IMS is the leading convergence technology framework for service and control. NGOSS exists in parallel with IMS, but in the management domain. NGOSS is the framework for network and service management. For example, we have video telephony, music download, and presence – all kinds of services. And we also have all kinds of network technologies from different carriers. The NGOSS manages back-office operations support systems [OSSs] with newly emerging services. Our newest release is the first ever public demonstration of the integration of IMS and NGOSS. Thus, these are the two leading telecom technologies are now in a ‘first-time marriage’. Their functions complement each other.”
Tags: 3G, China-Unicom, SCDMA, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, ZTE