Managing IP sessions in the era of Fixed Mobile Convergence will become much easier for operators with the new class of multi-functional universal gateway -- the "convergence gateway" -- now in development at several vendor labs, according to a Current Analysis market report. Principal analyst Joe McGarvey contends such gateways are critical for making good on delivering the much-hyped "anywhere, anytime, any device" communications and entertainment services.

According to Current Analysis, the convergence gateway would address a major roadblock in the path of operators delivering compelling and sophisticated fixed mobile convergence (FMC) services.

Today, carriers lack session management facilities capable of simultaneously overseeing the coordination of real-time traffic across the various access technologies, such as cellular2G/3G, WiFi, WiMAX, DSL, cable, fiber and, eventually, femto/picocells, that ring the core of their networks. This is because all of these access technologies differ in some manner (e.g., encryption and authentication technologies) and currently require dedicated access gear to manage the sessions that flow over these connections.

"Until this issue is resolved and operators are able to manage IP sessions flowing into the network across any and all access technologies, compelling FMC applications and services will remain out of reach," said Joe McGarvey, Principal Analyst for Carrier IP Telephony at Current Analysis. "Betting that such a device will be attractive to operators in the near future, several vendors are shifting product development in this direction and the concept of a universal, multi-function gateway -- more colloquially known as a convergence gateway -- has begun to materialize."

Adding dedicated session management and security gear for each access network creates a counterproductive relationship between network flexibility and complexity, the report adds. In other words, the closer service providers move toward accommodating the "anywhere, anytime" expectations of subscribers by supporting multiple types of access networks, the more complex their networks grow.

Accordingly, the major supporting argument for convergence gateways is network consolidation and simplification. Instead of operators dedicating equipment to match each flavor of access technology, a convergence gateway would be able to oversee all traffic flowing into the network from the different types of access devices and conduits.

While there is little disagreement over the number and types of features that will be required to deliver compelling FMC services, significant differences exist among equipment makers and operators regarding the packaging of those functions.

One thing that everyone does agree on is to satisfy user expectations of having access to the same applications regardless of where they may be or the type of device they may be using at any given time will require millions of additional dollars in investment and more than a year of infrastructure evolution.

About this study

Find more information in the Current Analysis report, "Introducing the Fixed Mobile Convergence Gateway."

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