Making LTE roaming work

By iBasis

In terms of deployment, LTE is the fastest growing mobile technology ever. But it is also the most disruptive element to appear since the introduction of WCDMA, bringing with it fundamental changes to the network and telecom provider business model.

Lessons learned from GSM deployment still ring true–the 2G network technology only became a mass market success once interconnection and roaming were in place. By definition of an IP-based technology, global interoperability is critical for LTE’s success but is not yet guaranteed.

Due to the all-IP nature of LTE, the SS7 signalling protocols familiar to operators of circuit switched networks are largely being replaced by a new generation of specifications, including Diameter and other IP protocols. A lack of universal interoperability for roaming is a very real problem; after all the value of a network is directly proportional to its reach.

This whitepaper from iBasis will explore the challenges facing operators when facilitating LTE roaming, and the potential solutions that can be employed to deal with them.