Nokia Siemens Networks

mobile softswitching
Taking voice to the next level
 Providing an answer
for today and tomorrow
Evolving technologies

Nokia Siemens Networks MSS provides a solid platform for

the future requirements of new radio technologies and VoIP.
The diagram depicts smooth evolution paths from the pure
circuit switched core network to IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
controlled LTE architecture.

First phase: An R’99 network is modernized to a Rel-4

Mobile softswitches are today’s most
efficient way to handle mobile voice.
They offer several advantages. They
lower the running costs of a network,
cutting operational expenditure
(OPEX) up to 70 percent by reducing
the number of sites, as well as
transmission bandwidth requirements.
They also enable communications
service providers (CSP) to invest now
in systems that can be evolved easily
and cost-effectively to meet changing
network requirements in the future.
network with mobile softswitches. This reduces OPEX and
prepares for future evolution by introducing an IP capable
platform.
Second phase: System is expanded with Nokia Siemens
Networks Mobile VoIP Server (NVS) by activating new software
in MSS. This upgrade provides a Session Initiation Protocol
(SIP) VoIP service, together with traditional GSM and WCDMA
services.
Third phase, option – One Step VoLTE: Introduce IMS to
enrich voice and add multimedia services – e.g. Rich
Communication Suite (RCS). NVS acts as voice application
server for IMS. MSS provides interworking with legacy
networks.

Efficient new radio technologies such
as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)
are paving the way for Voice over IP
(VoIP) in mobile networks, and with
the arrival of Long Term Evolution
(LTE), which is a full Internet Protocol
(IP) technology, circuit switched voice
will gradually be replaced. However,
the co-existence of both technologies
will be a reality for some time to come.
Third phase, option – Fast Track VoLTE: Moves voice to LTE
by introducing LTE Access Controller (LAC) function and
reusing MSS/NVS in LTE environment.
Fourth phase: IMS based voice and multimedia network as
target architecture for VoLTE.
All steps re-use existing components and are standards
compliant according 3GPP.

With Nokia Siemens Networks mobile

softswitch, the MSC Server System
(MSS), CSPs can build a platform that
Value
will support the new opportunities IMS NVS IMS/LTE NVS

offered by VoIP and multimedia. Reuse IMS/MSS/NVS

for One Step VoLTE

They can also improve efficiency MSS IMS

SIP/ISC
MSS IMS
SIP/ISC

immediately, reaping the significant

OPEX savings that mobile
S /
IM VS
S VS

for /N
IM /N

C SS
for MSS

softswitching brings. And in the longer

LA e M
e

us
us

term, CSPs can eliminate the need

Re
Re

for huge additional investments as LTE SIP

services evolve in the future. NVS Reuse MSS/NVS

for Fast Track VoLTE
LAC NVS

es
venu
nd re MSS MSS
Expa ith VoIP
w

MSS

Evolution

2 Nokia Siemens Networks mobile softswitching – Taking voice to the next level
Proven solutions from
a proven partner
Nokia Siemens Networks is the most
experienced mobile softswitch vendor
and a clear market leader in GSM and
WCDMA networks, serving more than
a billion subscribers. We support our
customers every step of the way,
offering a full range of consulting and
integration services to complement
our network hardware and software.
In short, we offer end-to-end solutions,
not just boxes.
We have extensive experience in
providing interoperability in multi-vendor
networks and securing a smooth
migration from R’99 networks to Rel-4.
The Nokia Siemens Networks MSC
Server System is used in the networks
of more than two hundred CSPs,
most of which depend on multi-vendor
networks. Nokia Siemens Networks
has successfully integrated the MSS
System into these networks as part of
core modernization projects.
Built-in resilience
Our mobile softswitches offer robust
performance based on state-of-the-art Reliability proven under the
processing capacity that is continuously most extreme conditions
being improved, as well as scalable
system architecture and well-proven The Beijing summer games National
smooth overload handling capability. Stadium saw up to 250,000 people in
2008 conducting up to 110,000 calls
High capacity is not enough on its per minute. The Nokia Siemens
own. It must be counterbalanced with Networks mobile softswitching system
carrier grade resiliency at the element, ensured a 99.95 percent successful
system and network levels. We have call rate with no failures.
taken all these aspects into account,
playing our part in helping our
customers offer the highest reliability
services. With our MSS, system
performance does not degrade even
when all subscribers have a prepaid
Intelligent Network (IN) service. It also
offers high availability, as a result of
multiple layers of resilience that
extend from the element level right up
to disaster recovery capabilities
throughout the network.
Nokia Siemens Networks mobile softswitching – Taking voice to the next level 3
 Ready to go
with VoIP
Although mobile CSPs make most of
their revenues from circuit switched
voice, VoIP is beginning to become an
important element within mobile
networks. Nokia Siemens Networks is
the only vendor to integrate VoIP as
part of the existing mobile softswitch,
while simultaneously supporting circuit
switched traffic that shares the same
system resources. The solution, called
Nokia Siemens Networks Mobile VoIP
Server (NVS), is the key component
in providing a smooth evolution from
circuit switched voice to VoIP and
supports IMS and LTE architectures.
The CSP simply needs to activate
the NVS software in the MSC Server
System (MSS) to start offering VoIP
services from its existing core and
thus securing the lowest OPEX.
NVS also re-uses the entire existing
OSS and BSS infrastructure, bringing
further gains to existing Nokia
Siemens Networks MSS customers.
4 Nokia Siemens Networks mobile softswitching – Taking voice to the next level
Software
activation
MSS
2G
PSTN
3G
MGW
Offer VoIP services now through a simple NVS software activation in MSS.
Growth through simplicity
NVS provides a uniform environment
for the CSP by enabling the same
mobile features across different
access networks and devices.
PC-based VoIP clients, dual-mode
mobile phones and even traditional
fixed-line phones are simply registered
as SIP subscribers on the mobile
network. This allows all these devices
to access similar services to those
enjoyed by conventional GSM
subscribers, such as prepaid, mobility,
messaging and IN-based services.
MSS/NVS is a flexible system that
allows for full migration or step-by-step
evolution to a unified core network
with the same service experience
across VoIP and cellular voice
telephony – one number, one provider,
and one bill – bringing subscribers
the simplicity that helps to increase
service usage by subscribers.
SIP
NVS
MSS
2G
PSTN
3G
MGW
Common core for
mobile and fixed
Address the fixed broadband
market
With NVS, mobile CSPs can grow
their subscriber base and raise
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)
by addressing the fixed domain with
compelling broadband services such
as VoIP, bundled with presence and
instant messaging services. The most
efficient way of doing this is by
offering broadband services bundled
with VoIP.
With NVS a CSP can expand rapidly
into fixed markets and offer seamless
services across fixed and mobile
domains. Becoming the all-in-one
service provider also helps glue
customers to the CSP, reducing churn
and raising ARPU. NVS fits perfectly
into the IMS architecture, which is the
most efficient way to deal with fixed
and mobile cross-domain multimedia
services.
 Hybrid CSP uses VoIP to boost ARPU

A new European CSP wanted to introduce VoIP services for residential

users to drive up its mobile revenues. Leveraging existing infrastructure
elements, Nokia Siemens Networks helped create a fully-converged
network environment for the new IP-based services, enabling the CSP to
minimize its integration effort and maximize its return on investment.

By deploying IMS based NVS, the CSP is able to provide convenient and
consistent IP-based voice and messaging services for end users across
multiple devices and networks, significantly enhancing the value of its
offering to its key target audience. As a result, the company will be able to
increase monthly revenues by €10 for every subscriber that signs up to its
new VoIP service.

Communication Key and Cut subscribers’ costs

The Communication Key is pre-loaded with
NCS and can be plugged into any PC via a USB
interface.
Communication Suite
Subscribers simply plug the key into
Nokia Siemens Networks any Internet-connected PC to make
Communication Suite (NCS) is a voice calls independent of the local
PC-based user application that provides mobile network, avoiding roaming
powerful communications features, charges.
ranging from traditional telephone
services to advanced rich multimedia
communications such as VoIP, video
sharing, video calling, messaging and
presence functionalities.

CSPs enjoy a strong and trusted

relationship with subscribers, which
they can make best use of with the
Nokia Siemens Networks
Communication Key. This is a USB
device with built-in SIM authentication
that lets subscribers carry VoIP and
other rich communications with them.

The Communication Key is an integral

part of the MSS/NVS portfolio. The • While abroad I stay in
Communication Suite is hosted on the touch with friends and
Communication Key and tied via a SIP family without having to
interface to the MSS/NVS platform. pay roaming fees
This unique capability enables users • I’m calling and using
to connect via the Communication Key SMS from any PC
and become reachable via their mobile • I can be reached via PC
phone number. This allows CSPs to with my mobile phone
launch the most flexible parallel ringing number
service ever – across mobile and IP
domains.

Nokia Siemens Networks mobile softswitching – Taking voice to the next level 5
Enrich the customer experience
Adopting NVS and MSS is an
evolutionary step towards IMS. Once
CSPs have achieved OPEX savings
by establishing a Rel-4 environment,
they have set the scene for an IMS
environment.
VoIP is already enriching the customer
experience and our IMS-based Rich
Communication Suite (RCS) solution
will enhance this even further. Voice
service is enriched by presence,
content sharing and messaging
services.
RCS is a presence based service
engine that allows users to keep up to
date with friends’ presence, picture
and tag line. After an initial presence
check, further communication or media
sharing can be initiated via chat, voice,
picture share or video share. This
improves the customer experience
further, generates more revenue and
ties the customer more closely to the
CSP and the services it offers.
NVS as IMS application server.
6 Nokia Siemens Networks mobile softswitching – Taking voice to the next level
Mobile broadband with LTE
In an IMS environment, the
NVS acts as an application LTE promises true mobile broadband
server for VoIP and is and improved voice quality over all-IP
connected to the IMS via the networks, offering new levels of
open standard ISC interface. efficiency.
MSS is further used as a
media gateway controller, The LTE radio interface is more
ensuring interconnection efficient than any previous technology.
with the legacy world. Radio spectrum can be used in a
number of ways and current GSM and
NVS ensures VoIP service 3G frequencies can be re-farmed to
through any SIP access LTE. Once CSPs have built an LTE
and is already prepared for network for data, they can use the
future broadband access same network for voice and cut costs
technologies, such as HSPA by gradually decreasing the role of
and LTE. GSM and 3G networks.
Nokia Siemens Networks offers a
smooth evolution from circuit switched
NVS voice to VoIP in mobile networks, even
Presence
supporting the co-existence of both
Other AS
technologies. MSS/NVS can be used
for both technologies and the capacity
of this voice control system can be
SIP/ISC
MSS IMS allocated dynamically between circuit
switched and SIP calls. Furthermore,
circuit switched and SIP calls are
On t
Connectivity, charging,
quality of service managed without any changes in the
e
he
fi c
end user experience. Voice services
Of
m
e
ov
can be the same over circuit switched
Ho me and SIP accesses, as MSS/NVS
ensures service parity. Furthermore,
Single Radio – Voice Call Continuity
(SR-VCC) ensures voice service
continuation when LTE coverage
becomes fragmentary.
If a CSP wants to use its LTE network
for data only, the circuit switched
fallback feature ensures voice calls
are managed in the 2G/3G network.
This ensures smooth transition for
voice usage even before sufficient LTE
coverage is achieved.
 Broadband LTE
introduction
LTE
HSPA & I-HSPA
2G/3G
CS/PS
MGW MSS
MSS evolution / Fast Track VoLTE
Nokia Siemens Networks VoLTE evolution paths.
Multiple options for VoLTE
CSPs have different rollout strategies,
therefore Nokia Siemens Networks
provides flexible ways to deploy
services – Fast Track VoLTE and
One Step VoLTE.
Fast Track allows VoLTE introduction
without IMS deployment, while One
Step supports IMS based VoLTE.
Subsequently, Fast Track deployments
can also be turned into IMS based
VoLTE deployments. With either
option CSPs gain smooth evolution
paths that re-use their entire
investment. Fast Track and One Step
VoLTE are both standards compliant
according 3GPP and support QoS,
supplementary services according to
MMTel specification, SR-VCC, LI and
emergency call.
Fast Track VoLTE
The main benefits of Nokia Siemens
Networks Fast Track VoLTE solution
are VoLTE introduction without needing
to change the entire architecture and
a seamless experience for end users
where 2G/3G and LTE networks are
used in parallel and handovers are
common.
This solution is based on current
mobile voice core network elements;
MSS/NVS, MGW and Home Location
Register (HLR) with existing network
connections. Standard 3GPP SIP
terminals are supported and existing
interfaces to other network elements
are open and specified. This means
Increased Full IMS centric
radio efficiency for multimedia service
voice service architecture
LTE LTE
HSPA & I-HSPA HSPA & I-HSPA
2G/3G
CS/PS PS
MGW MSS NVS NVS IMS
that even the existing circuit switched
voice roaming ecosystem is fully
re-usable for LTE voice and can
ensure smooth service continuity in
any network environment.
The new functionality is LTE Access
Controller (LAC), which is part of
MSS/NVS system. LAC provides policy
control and Quality of Service (QoS)
to LTE access, which are needed for
carrier grade voice services.
Investments in Fast Track VoLTE are
fully re-usable when upgrading
network architecture to IMS, thus
reducing capital expenditure (CAPEX)
in the long term. The transition from
Fast Track to IMS based VoLTE
architecture is supported, meaning
the entire investment in the Fast Track
solution is re-used and transferred
into the IMS architecture.
One Step VoLTE
For CSPs with existing IMS
deployment, the Nokia Siemens
Networks One Step VoLTE solution
is the most beneficial network
architecture, allowing IMS and
MSS/NVS to complement each other
in the network. Moving to LTE from
an existing IMS deployment, CSPs
can smoothly introduce One Step
VoLTE by adding VoIP to existing
mobile user base.
Furthermore, CSPs with no IMS
environment can immediately
introduce One Step VoLTE by
introducing IMS and VoLTE at the
same time.
Nokia Siemens Networks mobile softswitching – Taking voice to the next level
Full IMS centric
multimedia service
architecture
LTE
HSPA & I-HSPA
All IP PS
NVS IMS
One Step VoLTE
Opening up
Hardware platform
The Nokia Siemens Networks mobile
softswitching system is based on an
open software architecture supporting
a common hardware platform. This
allows CSPs to achieve lower costs by
taking advantage of the latest
hardware developments, lower power
consumption and higher density. With
other related network elements based
on the same hardware, operational
and logistical costs can be kept as low
as possible.
IT environment
MSS/NVS software enables the gluing
together of the mobile softswitching
system with IT environments. This
allows CSPs to benefit from the wide
variety of applications available in the
web environment and the ability to use
assets across mobile and IP domains.
Open interface is based on SOAP/
XML and further allows the vertical
integration of the mobile softswitching
system into business processes
(for example a user can receive an
SMS notifying when the postman is
nearby and able to deliver mail).
To ensure security, the interface is
based on the Secure Telecom Asset
Exposure (STAE) layer which resides
between network elements and third
party applications.
Connecting the mobile softswitching
system with IT allows CSPs to open
new business fields towards third party
applications and to further differentiate
from their competition by offering new
services and integration capabilities.
7
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