Operators must adopt a new approach to support the rapid proliferation of LTE roaming services after deployments grew 70 percent in 2014, according to IP exchange (IPX) provider BICS.
BICS, which provides roaming services to operators using its IPX platform, claimed current systems are hindering the growth of high-speed roaming services because operators are required to engage in separate agreements.
Instead, operators should look to new IP signalling infrastructure built on IPX to replace current SS7 networks, BICS said. This would allow them to engage in roaming sessions with worldwide providers through a single interconnection with end-to-end quality management.
The Belgacom-owned company said rapid growth in LTE roaming last year was the result of large-scale deployments in regions including Russia, South Africa, France and the UAE.
It revealed there are now over 330 commercially launched LTE networks across 112 countries, with LTE roaming now live in 75 of these.
Mikaël Schachne, VP Mobile Data Business, BICS, said: “The growth in the number of networks offering LTE roaming services last year was astounding.
“We can now expect carriers to begin utilising the whole spectrum of services enabled by IPX, including deploying next generation voice services and value added packages for subscribers, to further enhance services for their own customers and incoming roamers.”
In November last year, research house Ovum forecast global data roaming revenues to hit €40.2 billion in 2019 as a result of new IPX peering deals.
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