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Acme Packet Session Border Controllers Interface to Policy Servers From Alcatel, Camiant, and Operax

Posted on: Wednesday, 1 June 2005, 09:00 CDT

Acme Packet(R) today announced support for policy servers from Alcatel, Camiant, and Operax by its Net-Net(R) family of session border controllers. The solutions from Acme Packet and these partners address the need for QoS- and bandwidth-on-demand for real-time interactive IP-based voice, video and multimedia sessions. Each of these partners' products satisfies a unique set of requirements in next-generation DSL, cable, wireline and wireless networks.

In these solutions, the Acme Packet Net-Net session border controller performs session admission control in conjunction with policy servers - session acceptance or graceful rejection using SIP signaling messages - based upon its requests to the policy server for bandwidth and QoS on a per call basis. These requests use standards-based COPS and SOAP/XML messages. The policy server authorizes the sessions, reserves bandwidth and QoS, and provisions the transport equipment, such as IP edge routers, DSL BRAS, and cable CMTS systems for enforcement.

Acme Packet's policy server support complements its existing SLA assurance features including session admission control based upon bandwidth constraints, session agent constraints and observed QoS; signaling-controlled QoS packet marking and mapping; QoS reporting and routing by codec type.

"This new functionality provided by Acme Packet and our partners offers service providers a centralized bandwidth management approach with policy enforcement by the transport equipment," commented Seamus Hourihan, Vice President Marketing and Product Management at Acme Packet. "Combined with our session border controller's existing capabilities, we enable providers to deliver high-quality, primary line voice residential services and satisfy the stringent SLA requirements of business customers for not only voice, but business-critical, real-time interactive video and multimedia sessions."

Policy servers critical to SLA assurance in NGN

Unlimited bandwidth and QoS, even in broadband next-generation networks, is a myth. This is especially true in access networks where service providers squeeze higher returns from their CAPEX with oversubscription ratios ranging from 50 to 500 to 1. Another myth is that interactive voice and video is just another form of data. While data can tolerate significant delay and jitter, person-to-person communications just cannot. In converged IP networks mixing interactive voice and video communications with bandwidth-hogging applications like pay-per view video, IPTV and gaming, and packet loss-intolerant applications like e-commerce or e-business, the problem becomes very acute. Consequently, policy servers are recognized as critical elements in all next-generation network architectures including:

-- DSL Forum TR-059 Policy Server

-- ETSI TISPAN Resource and Admission Control Subsystem (RACS)

-- IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Policy Decision Function (PDF)

-- MultiService Forum (MSF) Bandwidth Manager

-- PacketCable Multimedia (PCMM) Policy Server

Each of Acme Packet's policy server partners satisfies a unique set of requirements in next-generation DSL, cable, wireline and wireless networks.

Alcatel 5430 Service Resource Broker (SRB) is a server-based application that enables service providers to differentiate their offerings through bandwidth on demand and quality of service (QoS). The bandwidth-on-demand feature allows service providers to address the needs of users who want the benefits of low-cost broadband services, but who temporarily need to increase bandwidth on a pay-per-use basis to support a service or a communication, or to quickly download a large file. These bandwidth increases can be initiated automatically by the application or by the end user through a boost button. The QoS feature of the SRB allows service providers to check on a per-flow whether adding a new premium flow would not create congestion with existing premium traffic in their DSL network. In this way the low latency and zero packet loss of premium traffic can be guaranteed at all times.

Camiant QBUS Multimedia Service Controller (MSC) allows the rapid deployment of any QoS enabled broadband application, assuring a high quality customer experience. The QBUS MSC allows operators to prioritize service delivery based on factors such as subscriber-tier, application and network status. It then dynamically directs the appropriate network elements to provide service according to the operator's policies, providing opportunities to increase the average revenue per subscriber.

Operax Triple Play is a service and bandwidth control system for broadband access and aggregation networks. It is based on Operax patented technology that enables deployment of attractive voice, video, and data services that meet customer expectations on quality and price. Its scaleable multi-vendor and multi-technology design allows operators to capitalize on already made network investments as well as meet future market requirements.

About Acme Packet

Acme Packet, the leader in session border control, enables service providers to deliver premium, interactive communications - voice, video and multimedia sessions - across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family has been selected by 9 of the top 10, and 16 of the top 25 service providers in the world to satisfy critical security, service assurance and law enforcement requirements in wireline, cable and wireless networks. These deployments support all applications - from trunking to hosted enterprise and residential services; all protocols - SIP, H.323, MGCP/NCS and H.248; and all border points - peering, access network and data center.

For more information, contact us at +1 781.328.4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.

About Alcatel

Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks; applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 12.3 billion in 2004, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, please visit www.alcatel.com.

About Camiant

Based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, Camiant is focused on providing solutions which enable the delivery of multimedia applications. With Camiant's MultiMedia Service Controller, service providers can now deploy premium applications with a high quality of service. Through real-time allocation of resources, Camiant enables service providers to maximize the utilization of bandwidth, enhance their customers' experience and increase revenue. For more information, please visit www.camiant.com.

About Operax

Operax is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) offering products and solutions for carrier class bandwidth management and guaranteed end-to-end QoS in IP-based networks. Operax customers are network operators, service providers and defense organizations. Operax is a privately held company with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden and offices in Lulea, Sweden and Seoul, South Korea. For more information, please visit: www.operax.com.

Source: Business Wire

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