Orange is extending its wholesale arm with the launch of a new 4G LTE signalling service aimed at challenging BICS’ established hold on the European operator IPX market.
The France-based operator said its new Multiservice IP eXchange (IPX) network will provide a Diameter-based LTE signalling service that will enable operators to provide end users with improved QoE (quality of experience) on 4G LTE networks while roaming outside their home country.
LTE Signalling is based on the “Diameter” signalling protocol.
The 3GPP standards body has defined the Diameter protocol for use in 3G, IMS and LTE networks as a peer-to-peer protocol enabling numerous network elements, such as authentication, authorisation and accounting (AAA) functions, mobility management, policy and charging control in all-IP networks.
IPX is a cloud-based platform that enables bilateral IP traffic roaming of voice, video, messaging and other data services between mobile operators on 2G, 3G and 4G networks in different countries through one single interconnection that comes complete with an end-to-end management of quality.
“LTE Signalling is a must-have service that offers both differentiation and the ability to generate additional revenues in an increasingly [competitive] market,” commented Orange’s EVP International Carriers, Alexandre Pébereau.
“Orange has developed LTE Signalling for operators to allow them to build a high-quality 4G roaming service that is fully compliant with GSMA guidelines. The Group’s Open Connectivity policy and extensive peering agreements allow us to provide wholesale clients with the opportunity to benefit from a large coverage.”
The launch comes after rival BICS, Belgacom’s wholesale arm, announced the first intercontinental 4G LTE roaming connection earlier this month between operators in Europe, Asia and North America.
In addition, BICS unveiled a new solution for monitoring, tracking, tracing and reporting of 2G, 3G and 4G LTE roaming traffic on legacy SS7 Signalling in August.
Software vendor Oracle predicts that worldwide 4G LTE Diameter signalling traffic will increase at a 140 per cent annual growth rate, from 1.2 million messages per second (MPS) in 2012 to nearly 99 million MPS by 2017.