Alcatel today announced that it has achieved a world first by demonstrating the delivery of IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) based services over a WiMAX radio access network. The objective of the demonstration was to show that the multi-access capability of Alcatel’s IMS solution can, today, be extended into the broadband wireless domain using IP WiMAX technology. The live demonstration took place at Alcatel’s premises in Vélizy, near Paris, France. Peter Jarich, principal analyst of wireless infrastructure at Current Analysis attended this world first.
The demonstration utilized key components of Alcatel’s IMS solution connected over three different access technologies: DSL, 3G/UMTS and WiMAX. This demonstration clearly showed that the IMS promise of rich multimedia
services delivered over any kind of access is now a reality. As a consequence, early WiMAX adopters will instantly be able to communicate with all of their friends and associates connected via DSL or 3G/UMTS
worldwide.
Through a dynamic address book, the three end-users participating in the demonstration were able to access their buddy lists and presence, whilst communicating with each other via text, voice and video communication modes. The demonstration scenario included typical IMS services such as
community management functions combined with audio-video and data messaging, as well as video telephony, push-to-speak and push-to-show, which provided a rich IMS user experience.
The demonstration validated the robustness of the key building blocks of Alcatel’s complete IMS solution, in particular Alcatel’s softswitch (Alcatel 5020 Softswitch, including CSCF), subscription server (Alcatel 1430 MDS, including HSS), advanced SIP application server (Alcatel 5350 IAS) and service-aware edge access node (Alcatel 7720 ABC). It also showed how Alcatel’s IMS solution can optimize the IP Quality of Service as well as satisfy the most stringent policy enforcement requirements.
“WiMAX, as an IP-based network, holds a lot of promise in terms of cost efficiencies, scalability, etc.,” stated Jarich. “At the same time, IP opens up a growing ecosystem of novel applications and IMS is the way to tap into that. Alcatel’s demonstration signals that it understands operator demands whilst helping operators to understand that IMS will be best driven by the growth of the addressable market of IMS users beyond traditional 3G or fixed line services.”
“By bringing together IMS-based applications and WIMAX, Alcatel is making a vision of the future become reality while demonstrating its leadership in delivering converged, user-centric multimedia applications over any type of
broadband network,” declared Marc Rouanne, chief operating officer of Alcatel’s mobile communications activities. “Today’s world first IMS over WiMAX demonstration also highlights the potential brought about by full IP
technologies, as well as Alcatel’s ability to quickly integrate leading edge end-to-end solutions. Alcatel’s IMS solution is ready to enable operators to deliver user centric rich communications services whilst putting more value into their networks.”
This demonstration was part of Alcatel’s global IMS program, whose objective is to provide the market with a complete open, multi-access and application-rich IMS solution that supports Alcatel’s vision of a converged fixed and mobile user-centric world.