From SS7 to 4G/LTE for Mobile Network Providers

SS7 is responsibe for the trusted hand-off of a mobile call or text from one carrier to another when such communications extend beyond the primary carriers' network to complete the call. 

For the last several decades, Mobile Network Providers (MNPs) and hundreds of carriers from around the world have relied on SS7 signaling networks to govern, route and transfer 2G and 3G calls between themselves.

As an administrative extension of the global telecom backbone, service providers and mobile operators from around the world are trusted with unfettered access. To this day and for the foresable future, most 2G/3G mobile calls are routed and exchanged between carriers via SS7 when roaming outside the preferred provider network

And although the majority of the world's largest carriers have started to migrate from 2G/3G to 4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution), MNPs must continue to support SS7-based switching and signaling for 2G/3G networks for the foreseable future.

Telecom providers have long known about the security gap that occurs when mobile data travels aross unknown networks to complete a call that extends beyond the reach of the primary provider. When a call or text is sent from New York to London, for example, call control data is transferred or handed-off between mobile providers via the SS7 protocol. It is at the point of transfer that a security gap exists for professional hackers to hijack communications in order to obtain personal data.

Advanced techologies are readily available to help mitigate the security risks of managing the exchange of 2G/3G calls on the SS7 network while simultaneously bridging the gap between legacy and advanced networks. 

MSPs are replacing their legacy technology with Diameter Signaling Controllers [DSCs] for advanced signaling. By doing so, MSPs are able to provide their mobile subscribers with a secure 4G/LTE call control experience across network boundaries.

Although the need for SS7 STPs (SS7 Signaling Transfer Point) to support 2G/3G networks will continue for decades, advanced DSCs provide the essential functions of centralized core and edge routing for the Diameter and SS7 protocol elements that are widely used in 2G/3G networks including all-IP, service-oriented IMS and LTE networks. 

By implementing a combination of DSCs enhanced with the integration of Session Border Controllers (SBCs) as deployed with carrier-grade Diameter and Session Border Controllers, such as those provided by Sonus Networks, MNPs can protect their legacy investments, minimize the security risks associated with SS7, and pave the way to provide their mobile subscribers with the most advanced, seamless and secure mobile commuications network - end to end, from anywhere to everywhere.

SBCs are purpose-built to deliver protection against Denial of Service (DOS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, In addition, SBCs provide interoperability, routing and other functions in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network. Finally, an SBC must be able to support  thousands of sessions and broad signaling interworking to support peer connections with international operators for a secure data exchange.

This strategic deployment of advanced technologies for an enhanced and advanced 4G/LTE is an investment today that can be used in future all-IP Service offerings.