ADVANTAGE IMS
Through the IMS, access to network services can be secured through a web-friendly interface, enabling third-party developers, service providers, and even subscribers to self manage their service experience while the service provider retains control over network resources. Subscribers can also control when and how they communicate and services will automatically be optimized depending on the customer's location. To support this seamless mobility environment, FMC majors offer a full range of services that will provide cost-effective planning, design, deployment complemented by rapid deployment and robust security features.

• Access independence: IMS will eventually work with any network fixed, mobile or wireless because open interfaces between control and service layers allow elements and calls/sessions from different access networks to be mixed.

• Different Network Architectures: Operators and service providers can use different underlying network architectures through IMS.

• Terminal and user mobility: IMS and SIP enable the mobility of the user while the mobile network provides roaming ability.

• Extensive IP-based services: Any and all IP-based service including VoIP, videoconferencing multi player gaming etc can be easily provided through IMS.

OPERATOR CONCERNS
Quality of service (QoS), security and terminal availability are the key operator concerns. Standards' bodies are aggressively working to address these issues and related RFCs constantly released.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Presently, Session-Initiation-Protocol (SIP) and IMS are two pistons of the convergence engine. VoIP of wireless (VoIP over WiMax) with the right QoS will be some of the exciting developments to look forward to in the near future.

Femtocell technologies, which are under trials in the US and Europe, may be a good option for India. However, the telecom regulator TRAI should offer low power spectrum to run this cost effective technology. Femtocell technology offers greater network efficiency, better in-building wireless coverage and a more suitable platform for fixed mobile convergence services. Femtocell APs are also known as 3G APs, and they are small cellular base stations designed for use in residential or corporate environments. Femtocells are small, low-cost base stations that can be used in residential or enterprises where high-speed coverage would otherwise be limited. By enabling cost-effective deployment they allow carriers to complete with voice-over-Wi-Fi.

CHALLENGES
Despite all the promise there are a number of challenges that mar the growth on IMS. Ambiguities over IMS standards, interoperability etc makes it difficult for the service providers to for the service provider to determine the long and short term benefits and define a strategy for IMS.

Moreover, there are a number of security threats that looms large on IMS networks. These are identity theft, DoS/DdoS attacks (Denial of Service), viruses and malware, SPIT etc. Although IMS does satisfy a number of security requirements such as subscriber authentication and authorization, signaling encrypting and admission control but a lo needs to be worked out to make it a completely secure solution.

Service providers that are able to adapt IMS will gain great rewards. In-Stat estimates that subscribers to IMS-based services will jump from 10 mn this year (2007) to more than 500 mn in 2011.

There are expected to be a lot of investment in NGN equipment, the research agency has pegged IMS control layer equipment purchases reaching $12 bn by 2011.

Researchers predict that despite the continued usage of NGN overlays by wire line operators during the next five years, the real promise for IMS lies in mobile networks. Thus we can be assured that it's not IMS that needs to be assessed any more but the services and the adaptations that the industry has to carry out to usher in the Gen-Y of communication.

MAKING FMC A REALITY
Mobile operators have been championing the concept of IMS for some time but now the fixed line operators are promoting it as the way to do FMC. Wire line carriers are experiencing increased revenue threats and massive competition from non-traditional broadband access operators and mobile operators. This has made them shift to IP-based network architecture for voice, multimedia services and content delivery. New revenue streams are being generated through aggressive roll out of high speed broadband access there by opening avenues to provide a plethora of services including IPTV, interactive content services etc.

IMS is the key to success of these services as it gives operators better quality of service, efficient multimedia service delivery system and a framework to integrate services across multiple access technologies.

Telecom operators can provide services to users irrespective of their location, access technology, and terminal. IMS guarantees inter-working with existing phone systems, while providing an upgrade path for modern multimedia sessions (like a videophone). Moreover it enables them to combine characteristics of the traditional PSTN with services typically associated with broadband making it an optima solution for wireline operators.

FMC and seamless mobility are the hottest topics in the telecom industry with good reason. Particularly for fixed/broadband service providers, FMC creates new opportunities to offer exciting and valuable mobility services to subscribers while capitalizing fully on the value of existing assets. Enterprise and residential customers are eager to extend their mobility beyond the front door, to be able to reach and be reached by communication, information, and entertainment anywhere they go. By providing them with enhanced IP services and seamless mobility capabilities, Motorola helps forward-thinking fixed service providers capture their imagination, revenue and their loyalty. IMS and UMA based solutions are already happening worldwide. In India these new technologies are currently in trial stages and deployments are expected to start from early 2008.

Baburajan K
baburajank@cybermedia.co.in
(with inputs from Sonia Sharma)