Introduction to Inter-standard Roaming

Introduction to
Inter-standard Roaming
Bill Dahnke
Project Director, International Roaming
Andrew Hunter
Technical Director, International Roaming
Presented by Qualcomm
28 September 2004
Miami, Florida
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Content
1. Introduction: Handsets, chips, operator
examples
2. Building blocks
3. Handsets
4. Interconnectivity
5. Billing
6. Summary
1
Introduction
2
CDMA/GSM Inter-standard Roaming
Inter-standard roaming has been available for years…
• Required rental or purchase of GSM handset from CDMA
operator
• GSM & CDMA billing is typically integrated
• Call forwarding from CDMA handset to GSM handset is
typical
• Many operators offer this service
… But now it can be improved with a dual-mode
GSM/CDMA handset
• China Unicom, Verizon, others
3
Dual-Mode Phone Market Update
China Unicom
• Full launch: August 2004
Verizon Wireless
• Soft launch: June 2004
• Full launch: September 2004
Other Carriers
• Pelephone: 4Q 2004
• Many other carriers are
interested
4
MOTOROLA
Verizon: A840
China Unicom: A860
Hardware
• Display
– 2.2 inch 260K TFT color screen
– 4096 STN color display on the cover screen
• Camera phone
– 1.2M pixel with memory stick
• 64 poly
• Voice dial, speaker phone
• Thickness 24.5mm
Function
• Supports “U-max” Unicom service
• BREW
5
SAMSUNG
Verizon: A790
China Unicom: W109
Hardware
• Display
– 2.2 inch 260K TFT color screen
– 260K TFT color display on the cover
screen
• CMOS VGA Camera phone 300K pixel
• 64 poly
• Thickness
– 24.5mm
Function
• Supports Unicom “U-max” service
• BREW
6
LG
China Unicom: W800
Hardware
• Display
– 2.0 inch 260K TFT color screen
– 65K TFT color display on the cover
screen
• CCD VGA Camera phone 300K pixel
• 64 poly
• Thickness
– 22.9mm
Function
• Supports Unicom “U-max” service
• UNIJA
7
Multimode Handset Evolution
Current handsets have high prices – ~US$500
• Low volume
• High tier
• Mainly for international business travelers
Future cost reduction factors
• Amortization of NRE costs by existing vendors
• Availability of quad-band RF CMOS chipsets
• Migration to smaller die size
Key Requirements
• Demand from operators for a low-cost multimode
handset
• Volumes are important – combine orders?
8
Inter-standard Roaming
Building Blocks
9
Roaming Solution Building Blocks
J-STD-038-B
Handset/Subscription Transportability
• Multi-mode multi-band handset
– Multi-mode ASICs
• R-UIM Cards
Operational Plane Interconnectivity
• MAP Interconnectivity
– Authentication and Authorization
– Service Transparency
Business Interconnectivity
• Billing Plane Interactions
• Roaming agreements
10
The Key Standard: J-STD-038-B
Published standard for bi-directional GSMóCDMA
roaming
Implemented in products today and deployed in carriers’
networks
IIF
GSM
AuC
ANSI-41
HLR
ANSI-41
VLR
GSM
HLR
ANSI-41 Network Inter-working Functions
ANSI-41
VLR
ANSI41 HLR
GSM
VLR
ANSI41 AC
Based on an Inter-standard Inter-working Function - IIF
(aka Mobility Gateway)
• Network entity that performs MAP inter-working
GSM
VLR
• An SCP/HLR-like network platform
GSM Network
• Multiple vendors currently supply J-STD-038-B IIFs
• IIF only addresses MAP and network domain – not
GSM
HLR
billing
Describes a model with 1 home HLR subscription and 1
IIF linked auxiliary subscription
• Can be single or dual handset model
• One HLR subscription and one auxiliary IIF
subscription
• Single bill
• Single number
• Translated services
User experience is governed by the serving network
• GSM-MAP service experience in GSM network
• ANSI-41 service experience in CDMA network
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J-STD-038B Roaming
Service core network:
Standard GSM core network
Standard IS-41core network
Convergent network element:
IIF convergence behind IS-41switch
IIF as built today
IS41
IS41 Core
Core Network
Network
SCP
Prepaid OAM&P/CC AC
SMSC
Billing/
OHS
AAA
HLR
Perform MIN/IMSI mapping
Perform visited network authentication
Perform MAP, profile & SMS translation
SMSC
Prepaid OAM&P/CC AuC
Billing/
OHS
AAA
HLR
GSM
GSM
MSC
MSC
IS-41
MSC
CDMA2000
CDMA2000 RAN
RAN
1X/EVDO
1X/EVDO
BTS
Standard or Convergent handsets
Standard CDMA handsets
Convergent MMMB handsets
SCP
IIF
Core Network
Standard IS41 Core network
Radio infrastructure:
Standard CDMA2000 1X radio
infrastructure
GSM-MAP
GSM-MAP Core
Core Network
Network
BSC
CDMA2000
CDMA2000 1X
1X
GSM/GPRS
GSM/GPRS RAN
RAN
BTS
BSC
GSM
GSM
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Business Impacts
Inter-standard roaming:
ALWAYS introduces a new network
element, e.g., IIF, AuC
ALWAYS some changes to front-end
administrative procedures
–
–
–
–
–
Subscriber management
Customer care
Provisioning system interfaces
Billing system for account management
OA&M for Network elements
ALWAYS modifies customer care systems
– Provisioning system
– Billing system
– Mediation device
• communicate with new IIF/AuC
Provisioning
Plane
Network
Issues
Billing Plane
Network (Operational)
Plane
Handset & SIM Issues
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Outbound Roaming: Into a GSM Network
Inter-Operator
Inter-Operator
GSM
GSM Operator
Operator
GSM
GSMMAP
MAPCore
CoreNetwork
Network
IS41
IS41MAP
MAPCore
CoreNetwork
Network
CIBER or TAP
Billing
IIF
IIF
GSM
GSMMSC
MSC
GSM
GSM
MAP
MAP
IS41 to GSM
Billing
HLR/AC
IS41
IS41
MAP
MAP
IS41
IS41MSC
MSC
CDMA
CDMA
Roamer
Roamer
GSM
GSM RAN
RAN
BSC
CDMA
CDMA Operator
Operator
BTS
GSM
handset
14
The Multi-Mode, Multi-Band Handset
(MMMB Handset)
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Issues in a Multiple Technology
Environment
System Selection & Preferences
• Technology and System preferences
• Search and reselection criteria
• Manual or Automatic mode
Combined User Interface appearances
• Recent Call Lists
• SMS presentation
• Plus Code Dialing
Provisioning
• Distribution models
• CDMA data for non CDMA operators
• GSM data for non GSM Operators
Operator to Manufacturer
MMMB Handset Specification
ü Operating Model
ü System Selection
ü Subscription
ü User Experience
ü GUI
ü Call History Lists
ü SMS/MMS Storage
ü Distribution Model
Network Operational & Billing Plane Deployment
• Subscription models
– Single Number Dual Subscriptions Linked
• Billing models and corresponding CDR flow
• Service Transparency
– Supplementary Services, SMS, MMS, Data, Prepaid
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Provisioning Scenarios
Single-slot Handset
• Use GSM SIM, CDMA parameters provisioned in NV memory
– Verizon Wireless method for implementing outbound roaming to
Europe
– Bundle multimode handset w/ a GSM SIM from Vodafone
• Use a dual-provisioned RUIM (USIM)
– The USIM has twin directory structures – one for GSM and one for
CDMA provisioning
– No provisioning in NV memory
– China Unicom method for its exiting GSM users, i.e. replace their
GSM SIMs w/ a USIM
Dual-slot Handset
• GSM SIM in one slot, CDMA R-UIM in the other slot
– No provisioning in the memory
– China Unicom solution to attract GSM users from other carriers,
i.e. the GSM users retain their existing SIMs and receive a new
CDMA R-UIM from China Unicom
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Operational Interconnectivity
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Service in a Visited Network
System Access
Registration
• Accessing the service
profile to enable service
authorization
– Obtaining and mapping
the profile, authorizing
access
Authentication
• Exchanging coded
verification messages
– Verifying the
authentication
messages using right
keys
System Use
Origination Services
• Call Origination
• SMS Origination
• Data Service Access
Delivery Services
• Call Termination
• SMS Termination
• Data Call Termination
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Mobility Gateway –
Interstandard Interworking Function (IIF)
Mobility Gateways – (IIF)
•
•
•
•
Dedicated Interworking entity between IS41 & GSM
Emulates both HLR and VLR and has feature inter-working
Separate handsets or a single multimode handset using R-UIM cards
The implementation available and in use today
IMSI/MIN mapping
•
•
What identity does a visiting handset have?
Where is the mapping performed?
MAP Interconnectivity
•
•
Signaling protocol conversion
MAP protocol conversion
Network Translation Tables
•
•
•
MIN to HLR translations
Global Title Translation
MSC Translation tables
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The IIF
GSM AuC
ANSI-41
HLR
ANSI-41
VLR
Inter-working
Functions
ANSI--41 Network
ANSI
ANSI-41
VLR
GSM
HLR
ANSI-41
HLR
GSM
VLR
GSM Network
GSM
VLR
GSM
HLR
ANSI-41
AC
IIF
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The IIF Requires Planning….
GSM
GSM Operator
Operator
Inter-Operator
Inter-Operator
IS-41
IS-41Core
CoreNetwork
Network
GSM
GSMMAP
MAPCore
CoreNetwork
Network
Billing
SMSC
CDMA
CDMA Operator
Operator
Billing
CIBER or TAP
IIF
IIF
HLR/AC
HLR/AC
SMSC
IS41 to GSM
GSM
GSMMSC
MSC
GSM
GSM
MAP
MAP
IS-41
IS-41
MAP
MAP
IIF
IIF
IS41
IS41MSC
MSC
GSM to IS41
GSM
GSMRAN
RAN
BSC
BTS
CDMA
CDMA
Roamer
Roamer
GSM
GSM
Roamer
Roamer
GSM
handset
CDMA
handset
CDMA
CDMARAN
RAN
BTS
BSC
Requires:
Requires:
• GSM VLR Number (E.164)
• IS41 MSCID
• GSM MSC Number (E.164)
• GSM point code
• IS41 addressable point code
Address the GSM HLR(s) using:
Addresses IS41 MSC using:
• HLR’s destination point code
• point code in initial message
• HLR’s E.164 global title address
from IS-41 system
• Subscriber’s IMSI as E.212 global title address
• Subscriber’s IMSI converted to E.214 global title address
22
Billing
23
Business Operations Procedures
Minimizing Business Impacts
• reduces cost
• speeds deployment
Introducing a new network element, e.g., An AuC
Front-end administrative procedures
• Subscriber management
• Customer care
• Provisioning system interfaces
• Billing system for account management
• OA&M for Network elements
Minimise modification of customer care systems
• Provisioning system – RUIM knowledge and tracking
• Billing system – CIBER or TAP – one end needs to change
• Mediation device – communicate with new AuC
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Billing Considerations
Formats
• Exchanging information
IS-41 Billing
TAP-in GSM Billing
between Operator Billing
Systems
TAP-out
CIBER
• TAP or CIBER
Unrated Transactions
Exchange Mechanisms
(UTX)
• Clearing House
Mediation Devices
• Point-to-Point
Procedures
CDRs
• Roaming Agreements
• Pricing
• Time constraints
– Risk minimization
IS-41
IS-41MSC
MSC
GSM
GSMMSC
MSC
• In effect, many aspects
addressed in the GSM MoU
– IREG, TADIG
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Clearing & Settlement
GSM
Clearing Accounts
CIBERnet
Clearing Accounts
Roaming Charges Incurred
Funds Transfer
IS41 Network A
IS41 Network A
CIBER-in
Roaming Revenue Earned
Roaming
Revenue Earned
CIBER*Net
CIBER*Net
Clearing
Clearing
Roaming
Charges Incurred
Inter-Technology
Inter-TechnologyClearing
Clearing
Funds Transfer
GSM Network 1
GSM Network 1
TAP-out
Billing
Billing
IMSI
A
IS41 Network B
IS41 Network B
CIBER-in
Billing
GSM Network 2
GSM Network 2
CIBER-out
IMSI
B
TAP-in
TAP-out
Billing
IMSI
C
IS41 Network C
IS41 Network C
Billing
CIBER-in
GSM Network 3
GSM Network 3
TAP-out
Billing
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Managing Subscribers in the Roaming
Environment
Creating Initial Subscriber Data
• Mapping MINs to IMSIs
• “Permanent” subscriber records in GSM AuthC
– MIN, Akey, ESN
• “Roaming” subscriber records
– Created as valid roamers enter IS-41 systems
– Deleted when the roamers leave the IS-41 systems
Ensuring Subscriber Management
• Modifying profiles while roaming
• Withdrawing service access while roaming
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Building a Solution
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Ways to Implement Inter-Standard Roaming
J-STD-038-B level of service transparency, basic voice
services, SMS
Third Party Solutions Providers
• Verisign, Syniverse Uniroam services
• Interworking & Interconnection
– e.g. Offering both Operational and Billing Plane interworking
• Costs, recurring and non-recurring
Direct Carrier-to-carrier Relationship
• Signaling Interconnect & translation
– Translation as needed between SS7 variants (ANSI/ITU/China)
– Own IIF systems – MAP inter-working
• In-house billing – TAP or CIBER conversion/exchange
• Costs – purchase, maintenance, staffing
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Summary
Technology solutions are available to support roaming
• Various levels of service transparency
• Various levels of risk exposure
Recent Developments make it easier
• RUIM technology
• RUIM Handsets
• Multi-mode Multi Band Handsets
IIFs are the best cost/benefit solution right now
• Platform vendors: Accuris, Ericsson, Logica, Synacom, Covansys,
etc…
• IIF service providers: Syniverse, Verisign, IMC, etc…
Network technology advances are on the horizon
• Soft-switching, new HLRs
• Still have some time-to-market issues or don’t deliver a complete
solution
• May not be ready for prime-time commercial deployment
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Thank You
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