SIP in 3G wireless networks: Service models, architecture, and network design

As wireless operators look for new revenue opportunities to justify their investment in third-generation equipment, multimedia services appear to offer the best possibility of satisfying their needs. The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), driven by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project/3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP/3GPP2) and based on Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), provides a basis for delivering these next-generation services. In this paper, we present a detailed model of the IMS services that are being considered for implementation in 3GPP. We also analyze architecture options for both existing and new operators and use a network model to investigate the economic viability of IMS deployment. We compare the pros and cons of implementing multimedia services with and without IMS. Finally, we present a case study — based on the network of a third-generation (3G) wireless service provider — that describes the design of the network, considers the impact of IMS services on its capacity, and offers an economic analysis of the network that takes into account traffic forecasts, standards evolution, and product roadmaps.