Acme Packet Delivers DIAMETER Interface for IMS Policy Control

Acme Packet® (NASDAQ: APKT), the leader in session border control solutions, today announced that its Net-Net® session border controllers (SBCs) now support the DIAMETER protocol towards Resource and Admission Control Functions (i.e., policy servers) and Connectivity session Location repository Functions (CLFs), which form an integral part of next generation IMS networks. DIAMETER is an AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) protocol and is used for several IMS functions, including the interface between SBCs and policy servers for resource reservation for VoIP and other interactive IP communication sessions. Building upon its industry-leading policy server integration efforts launched in June 2005, Acme Packet has expanded its partner list to include CableMatrix and Juniper Networks and is testing DIAMETER interoperability between its Net-Net SBC and policy servers from CableMatrix, Camiant, Juniper and Operax.

“Bandwidth and resource control is an integral part of next generation network architectures,” commented Seamus Hourihan, vice president of marketing and product management at Acme Packet. “Our powerful session admission control capabilities, coupled with our partners’ policy and resource reservation solutions, deliver a key element in assuring high quality IP interactive communication services.”

Policy servers critical to SLA assurance in next generation networks

Policy servers are defined as functional elements in all next generation network architectures, and use the DIAMETER protocol to communicate to the P-CSCF at the access border. The policy functions and interfaces defined by each standards group are outlined in the below table.

Standards Group

Policy function

DIAMETER interface

ETSI TISPAN

Resource and Admission Control Subsystem (RACS)

Rq

Gq’

3GPP IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

Policy Decision Function (PDF)

Policy and Charging Control Function (PCRF)

Gq (3GPP-R6)

Rx (3GPP-R7)

3GPP2 All IP Core Network Multimedia Domain

Policy and Charging Control Function (PCRF)

Tx

ITU-T

Policy Decision Physical Entity (PD-PE)

Rs

MultiService Forum (MSF)

Bandwidth Manager

TC-0

The DIAMETER implementation on the Net-Net SBC allows the SBC to perform call admission control by making bandwidth requests to an external, centralized RACF/PDF policy server. When the Net-Net SBC receives a SIP INVITE it requests bandwidth from a policy server via DIAMETER or COPS. The policy server determines whether bandwidth is available and sends a message back to the Net-Net SBC either accepting or rejecting the bandwidth request. If resources are granted, the Net-Net SBC continues with call set-up or rejects the session gracefully if bandwidth or QoS is not available.

The external policy server queries complement the Net-Net SBC’s local policies that look at other element and network resource constraints, such as signaling loads on IMS core CSCF elements and observed QoS. The Net-Net SBC also has the ability to perform local admission control and police the media bandwidth granted locally as it traverses the SBC. It also enhances the other SLA assurance features, including signaling-controlled QoS packet marking and mapping; QoS reporting; and routing by codec type, observed QoS and answer-seizure ratios.

Acme Packet expands partnerships to accelerate deployment of policy control

Acme Packet has now expanded the policy server partnerships it established in June 2005 to include CableMatrix and Juniper Networks. In addition to the previously tested COPS interface, Acme Packet is testing interoperability for DIAMETER for the following policy servers:

CableMatrix ODSP™ (On Demand Service Platform): A standards-based policy management platform that allows operators to implement real-time QoS and bandwidth management on a per-subscriber, per-session, per-application basis. The ODSP helps deliver next-generation IP-based services, such as SIP voice, streaming video, multi-player online gaming and video conferencing, with guaranteed, end-to-end, high quality of service.

Camiant Multimedia Policy Engine (MPE): Camiant’s policy solution enables service providers to deploy non-IMS to fully compliant-IMS applications. Through real-time allocation of resources, Camiant MPE enables service providers to maximize the utilization of their networks, enhance their customers’ experience and increase revenue.

Juniper Networks Session and Resource Control Portfolio: Provides real-time policy and control for next generation networks. The Session and Resource Control portfolio is tightly coupled with the network infrastructure to provide end-to-end quality of service and admission control for IMS and non-IMS applications.

Operax Bandwidth Manager 5500: A dynamic, carrier-grade, network topology-aware and standards-based QoS control solution. It provides multi-service, real-time, per session quality guarantees through resource and policy-based admission control in shared access and aggregation networks.

About Acme Packet

Acme Packet, the leader in session border control solutions, enables service providers to deliver trusted, first class interactive communications–voice, video and multimedia sessions–across IP network borders. Our Net-Net family has been selected by over 360 service providers in 75 countries to satisfy critical security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in wireline, cable and wireless networks. Our customers include 23 of the top 25, and 72 of the top 100 service providers in the world. These deployments support multiple applications–from VoIP trunking to hosted enterprise and residential services to fixed mobile convergence; multiple protocols–SIP, H.323, MGCP/NCS and H.248; and multiple border points–interconnect, access network and data center. For more information, contact us at +1 781.328.4400, or visit www.acmepacket.com.

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Statements contained herein that are not historical fact may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may relate, among other things, to our position in the session border control market, our expected financial and operating results, our ability to establish and maintain intellectual property rights, our ability to build and grow Acme Packet, the benefits and advantages of our products, including any enhancements or new features, services and programs and our ability to achieve our goals, plans and objectives. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, but are not limited to: difficulties in growing our customer base, difficulties leveraging market opportunities, difficulties providing solutions that meet the needs of customers, poor product sales, long sales cycles, difficulty developing new products, difficulty in relationships with vendors and partners, higher risk in international operations, difficulty managing rapid growth, and increased competition. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially form those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in such filings.