Diametriq Copyrighted Material

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Diameter and LTE Roaming

Anjan Ghosal

Founder/CEO

2

Background

Diametriq™ was formed in May 2012 to address

challenges around LTE signaling traffic

Derives its assets from IntelliNet Technologies –

focused on “Accelerating Convergence” since 1992

Team was involved in early migration from non-SS7

to SS7 networks and challenges related to large

scale network and protocol migration

3

1980’s

Signaling Network Evolution (1970 – 2000’s)

1970’s

800 VPN SCP

1990’s

Enhanced Services

HLR SMS PRE PAID

2000’s

Wireless/Mobility

E-UTRAN

MS

S1-MME S1-U

Signaling Network Evolution (2010+)

OCS

PCRF

HSS

EIR

Rx

Ro

Sh Cx

CSCF

P-GW

S-GW

AS

MME

Gx

Gy

SGi

S5

ISC

S11

S6a

S13

User Plane

Control Plane (SS7)

Control Plane (Diameter)

Control Plane (Other)

SS7

MAP/CAP/WIN

TCAP

PHY (T1/E1)

SCCP

MTP 3

MTP 2

SS7-over-IP

MAP/CAP/WIN

TCAP

Ethernet

SCCP

M3UA

SCTP/IP

Diameter

S6a/S6d,S13,Gy

Diameter

Ethernet

SCTP/IP

Protocol Evolution

Migration to IP Transport

Migration of Application

Rx, Gx, S9 …

Addition of Applications

6

LTE traffic a bigger challenge?

Flat architecture

Higher throughput, complicated mesh network

Nature of payload

Dynamic bandwidth

Smarter networks

More network elements/PCRF,

Changing consumer behavior

High usage device, multiple sessions

Diameter lacks features ..

No GTT, limited scalability and reliability

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Three KEY Operator challenges

Traffic management

Topology hiding and

security

Interoperability

Vendor , LTE/LTE, LTE/3G,

Bigger issue for roamers

Service Migration

Migrate applications from

3G to 4G

LTE Roaming Network Topology

8

Direct

Connect

LTE Roaming - Operator Hosted DSC

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S6a,S6d S9

S6d

SGSN SGSN …

S6a

MME MME …

H-PCRF H-PCRF … HSS HSS …

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

Home PLMN (LTE)

S9

V-PCRF V-PCRF …

Visitor PLMN (LTE)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

IPX

IPX

LTE Roaming - IPX Hosted DSC

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S6a,S6d S9

S6d

SGSN SGSN …

S6a

MME MME …

H-PCRF H-PCRF … HSS HSS …

Home PLMN (LTE)

S9

V-PCRF V-PCRF … Visitor PLMN (LTE)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

LTE/3G Roaming – Operator Hosted DSC

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PCEF PCEF

S6a,S13 S6d,S13 Gy

SGSN SGSN … … MME MME …

DSC DSC Home PLMN

(GPRS)

Visitor PLMN (LTE)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

DSC

DEA DRA

(Optional)

Gf

EIR EIR …

Ge

SCP

Prepaid

SCP

Prepaid …

Gr

HLR HLR …

IPX

SS7

IP

DEA DRA

(Optional) IWF DEA

DRA (Optional)

IWF

IPX

LTE/3G Roaming – IPX Hosted DSC

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PCEF PCEF

S6a,S13 S6d,S13 Gy

SGSN SGSN … … MME MME …

Home PLMN

(GPRS)

Visitor PLMN (LTE)

Gf

EIR EIR …

Ge

SCP

Prepaid

SCP

Prepaid …

Gr

HLR HLR …

SS7

IP

DSC DSC DEA

DRA (Optional)

IWF DEA DRA

(Optional) IWF

The DSC

Diameter Signaling Controller

Authentication &

Mobility

Management

(HSS, HLR, EIR)

EPC

(S-GW, P-GW,

MME)

2G/3G

(SGSN, GGSN)

IMS

(CSCF, AS)

Enhanced Routing

Session Binding

Inter-Diameter Interworking

Diameter-SS7 Interworking

Load Balancing

Congestion Control

Security

Reliability

Performance

Scalability

“Diameter

Clients”

"Diameter

Servers”

Diameter Routing Agent (DRA)

Diameter Edge Agent (DEA)

Subscription Locator Function (SLF)

Interworking Function (IWF)

Service Logic (APP)

Policy & Charging

Control

(PCRF, OCS, OFCS)

Non-3GPP Domains

e.g. CDMA, WLAN

“Diameter

Relay/Proxy

Agent”

“Diameter

Redirect

Agent”

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Conclusion

Much like SS7, the diameter signaling network is

likely to evolve significantly from where it is today

The new network architecture and protocol

deficiencies lead to greater complexity in signaling

management

Diameter Signaling Controller plays multiple roles in

this network .. And likely to expand as well

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