Core Diameter routing

LTE and IMS networks require the exchange of authentication, charging, QoS and mobility information between network elements for each data, voice, video and multimedia session. In all-IP networks, Diameter signaling is used for this information exchange, taking over the role that SS7 performed in legacy networks. Diameter signaling is exchanged between many EPC and IMS elements, including MME to HSS, GGSN to PCRF, CSCF to OCS.

Due to the number of elements and the volume of messages, service providers face complex Diameter signaling environments. The route management and interoperability in the extensive mesh of Diameter connections can negatively impact network scalability. Even ahead of this all-IP evolution, the explosion of Diameter traffic dealing with 3G mobile data and charging is hampering network growth and manageability.

The importance of Diameter controls is paramount to effectively build and monetize networks to capitalize on the IP evolution. Service providers need a central control point for the flood of Diameter messages in their network. Acme Packet’s solution, Net-Net Diameter Director, is a Diameter signaling controller which streamlines operations, facilitates scalability, enables rapid interoperability and assures network resiliency for core Diameter routing. The Net-Net Diameter Director provides critical overload control, interoperability, routing, load balancing and reporting functions for Diameter signaling. It fulfills the 3GPP functions of the Diameter Routing Agent (DRA) and Subscriber Location Function (SLF) in IMS/LTE networks.

The Net-Net Diameter Director provides a comprehensive set of proxy, routing and control functions for all AAA, charging and QoS policy exchanges in the network, including:

• HSS databases from MMEs and SGSNs

• OCS/OFCS servers from application servers, CSCF elements, GGSNs, PDN-GWs and SBCs

• PCRF policy servers from GGSNs, PDN-GWs, P-CSCFs and SBCs

• AAA server from PDGs and security gateways

The Acme Packet edge

The Net-Net Diameter Director controls all Diameter transactions between elements in IMS, EPC and LTE networks. It addresses critical interoperability, routing and scaling challenges in all-IP, next-generation networks and provides mobile service providers with:

• High-performance Diameter processing and cost-effective scaling

• Rapid and dynamic interoperability with Diameter manipulation and IPv4-v6 interworking

• Comprehensive traffic and congestion controls to maximize service availability

• Flexible and scalable routing policies

• Centralized network management monitoring and KPI reporting