IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)

For 2013 one of the major IMS applications is a support of full-fledged technology of a voice communication in LTE networks (VoLTE). Other key driver of the market of IMS is the possibility of creation by operators of competitive services in response to threat from the third-party companies which are actively deploying own multimedia services over operator networks.

Determination of IMS

IMS represents a hardware and software system which is a key component practically of all IP networks of the next generation (Next Generation Network, NGN) supporting SIP telephony (SIP, Session Initiation Protocol)-applications, and intends for ensuring standardization of multimedia services in all interconnected networks. Thanks to universal architecture the same IMS platform can be used for applications and services in mobile networks of all generations (2G, 3G, 4G) and also in the fixed networks.

And in networks of fixed connection the concept of IMS appeared originally - as the instrument of reduction of number of networks of large operators (and, respectively, expenses) due to migration on IP (the large-scale BT Group project (before British Telecom) in the middle of the 2000th). Later, in process of rapid start of LTE, the main interest in IMS was displaced towards support of voice (VoLTE) and "expanded" multimedia services (RCS).

The IMS network allows to create several key mechanisms of interrelation between networks instead of creation of free standing agreements on each service separately. It allows to avoid duplication of functions and to lower costs of operators.

One of the most important drivers of implementation of IMS is need of support of voice services for LTE networks (VoLTE).

Advantages of IMS

Main advantages of IMS:

• Ensuring interaction of different type of networks
• Possibility of development and rapid implementation of new services, including VoLTE
• Ensuring quality of rendering services (QoS)
• Exact drawing of accounts
• Cutting of costs for operation
• Scalability of solutions

Premises of implementation of IMS

Consolidation of operators and possibility of providing convergent services

The competition between the existing mobile operators remains very high, in the market there are active processes of merges and absorption (M&A). The companies - providers of different type of services (the fixed and mobile telephony, mobile telephony and cable television, etc.) are quite often consolidated. The IMS technology helps them to integrate all types of networks in one, to implement the range of services and services combining possibilities of mobile and fixed connection based on one platform (convergent services) and to provide to operators growth of ARPU and increase in income.

Threat from OTT-services

Third-party suppliers text, voice and video-applications (OTT providers) kannibalizirut traditional services of mobile operators (a voice and the SMS) which bring the last the main part of income. With development of technologies (transition on 4G) OTT providers increase attractiveness of the services, for example, provide support of a voice and video of high resolution (HD) that aggravates a problem.

Need of cost reduction of operators

Obvious trend of the world market of telecommunications is growth of capital costs of operators.

It is considered that IMS in the medium and long term will allow operators to reduce capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) of costs due to use of uniform IP network and open IMS architecture. Besides, operators will be able quickly and with small costs to bring new services to the market. However at the initial stage of implementation of IMS operators, obviously, should increase the costs.

Emergence and development of LTE networks

Sharp consumption growth of mobile traffic of data, keen competition and high demand on services of mobile broadband access requires implementation of expensive LTE technologies and LTE Advanced. Development of 4G networks, in turn, stimulates operators to implementation of IMS technology as it gives the chance to implement voice services on LTE networks (VoLTE) and other services.

Architecture of IMS

The architecture of IMS usually is divided into three horizontal levels:

• The transport layer will organize a communication session by means of signaling of the protocol of initiation of a session and provides transport services with a voice konvergirovaniye from an analog or digital signal in IP packets use of the RTP protocol.

• Level of call management and sessions exercises communication session managements.

• The service layer contains a set of application servers which can already not be the IMS elements, and includes in the structure as the multimedia IP-applications which are based on the protocol SIP telephony (SIP, Session Initiation Protocol), and the applications implemented in mobile networks based on virtual house environment.

Distribution of IMS in Russia

In 2004-2005 in Russia there took place the first demonstrations of opportunities of IMS (the companies Siemens and Ericsson).

In 2006 Siemens opened a demo center of IMS in St. Petersburg in which demonstration of different services was performed:

• Call&Share,
• Push And Talk Over Cellular,
• Mobile Presence Manager,
• Group Management,
• Instant Messages Center и др.

In 2009 the MGTS company was going to implement IMS and to complete the project on an analog segment in 2011, however because of crisis the project was implemented only partially. In particular, in 2010 only a part of analog automatic telephone exchanges is transferred to a digital format and also the core of network is set. At the beginning of 2012 MGTS brought into test operation the first corporate service based on IMS, in commerce was going to start service in March, 2012. The masshabiruyemy service IP Centrex became the first service.

Earlier, in 2011 macroregional branch "Yug" JSC Rostelecom used the solution of Alcatel-Lucent of IMS for transfer of the existing fixed network on IP architecture with support of VoIP technology and other modern services.

Besides, in August, 2012 macroregional fitliat Ural of JSC Rostelecom carried out a quotation request on right to contract on the "Development of the Platform of Development and Delivery of Services and IMS Elements of a Core" project.

World market of the equipment of IMS: main trends and forecasts

7 largest vendors operate on the market of the ready IMS systems for 2012:

• Acme Packet,
• Alcatel Lucent,
• Ericsson,
• Genband,
• Huawei,
• Nokia Siemens Network (NSN) и
• ZTE.

At the end of 2012 positions of the main equipment manufacturers for IMS networks slightly changed. In particular, Alcatel-Lucent was succeeded to push aside Genband from the second place. A market leader is still the Huawei company.

According to data of survey of service providers conducted by Infonetics Research in 2012, deployment of LTE networks and also a possibility of providing based on IMS of konvergenty services and creation of the uniform standard became key drivers of implementation of IMS.

Restraining factors of development:

• development of OTT services;
• high cost and duration of deployment of network;
• technology difficulties with deployment of network;
• the difficulties in development of FMC connected with legislative regulation of activity of the mobile and fixed operators;
• fragmentirovannost of a frequency range for LTE networks.

2011

According to Infonetics Research, sales of the equipment for IMS networks in 2011 grew by 50%. A half of this growth occurred at the expense of North America: start of LTE networks by the American operator Verizon Wireless who used the IMS platform from NSN acted as the driver.