Today’s communications networking environment is rapidly changing and very complex. IP has become the new transport methodology for delivering voice and video services, while converged applications are growing quickly and video is expanding at exponential rates. More and more IP networks are being installed and used today as core networks, which until recently were considered "adjunct" networks connected to "core" TDM networks through gateways.
While the world is progressing towards an all-IP infrastructure, the global communications scene still includes a large TDM component. So "all-IP" networks will still need to interconnect with existing TDM networks. This means there will be service delivery challenges when it comes to making these disparate networks work well together. Because of this, a premium will be placed on technology solution providers who are experienced in connecting IP with legacy TDM networks; who know, understand and appreciate both sides of this mixed communications world; and who can develop solutions that can serve the broadest range of networking options while at the same time supporting a wide range of multimedia IP-based services. That’s a lot to take on!
Well, in case you didn’t know, Session Border Controllers (SBCs) are a critical component when it comes to meeting these requirements. SBCs not only provide functionality at the borders between network environments to support baseline voice services, but they also enable and support a host of new IP-based services and applications, including high-definition (HD) voice and real-time video communications.
In next week’s blog, I will discuss the specific benefits that SBCs can have for service providers and enterprises. In the meantime, if you want to read a new Dialogic white paper on Session Border Controllers, you can access it here.
