March 23, 2010, Las Vegas – GENBAND Inc., a leading developer of next-generation media, session and security gateway solutions, today announced a series of access, interconnect and media adaptation solutions that support mobile and fixed network transitions to IMS.  With its portfolio of carrier grade, IMS-ready gateways and session border controllers (SBCs), GENBAND is reducing the required number of managed network elements by providing enhanced IP connectivity, adaptation and security at the edges of the IMS network.

“We are seeing significant increases in the use of IP to IP connections, but the array of platforms and interfaces in IMS can at times be daunting,” said Mehmet Balos, Chief Marketing Officer of GENBAND.  “By utilizing a fewer number of common platforms that perform multiple, similar functions – in what we call ‘IMS Solution Zones’ – GENBAND helps service providers and system integration partners reduce the number and complexity of IMS network elements and interfaces. Coupled with simplified platform administration through unified element management, our IMS Solution Zones enable significant OpEx and CapEx reductions while expanding deployment options as service providers transition to IMS.”

IMS Solution Zones are particularly valuable at critical locations in the IP-to-IP network edge, including IP Access, IP Interconnect and Media Services. In the IP Access and Interconnect Zones, GENBAND delivers access and interconnect SBC functions, namely the Proxy and Emergency Call and Session Control Function (P/E-CSCF) and Interconnect Border Control Function (I-BCF). GENBAND’s S Series™ SBC platforms – including the S9™ Session Border Controller, the highest capacity SBC on the market – provide border security, session management, adaptation and policy control, as well as “any-to-any” connectivity at IMS network edges. These platforms enable service providers to reduce costs, expand markets and provide IMS interworking with the growing volume of IP peering and managed interconnect services like the GSM Association’s IP eXchange (IPX).

The blade-based architecture of the S-Series also allows operators to seamlessly add scale to support new IP-based video and rich communication services. In both access and interconnect networks, the S-Series SBCs integrate with GENBAND’s G9™ Converged Gateway to provide a highly scalable IMS Border Gateway Function (BGF) with all interfaces fully IMS compliant and with optional transcoding and media adaptation. In addition, GENBAND can support P-CSCF/ I-BCF signaling and BGF media functions on the same S9 platform or as a decoupled solution with the G9 gateway, providing maximum flexibility for operators.

In the Media Services Zone, GENBAND offers transcoding and media adaptation options that enable IMS and other networks to communicate with each other, providing voice adaptation for any-to-any voice transcoding, whether IP to IP, IP to TDM, or fixed to mobile. For all implementations to date, GENBAND surpasses all IMS compliance guidelines. Both centralized and edge transcoding options are available using GENBAND’s high scale G9 Converged Gateway for media plane/Media Resource Function Processor (MRFP) features, the C3™ Gateway Controller for centralized control plane/Media Resource Function Controller (MRFC) features and the S-Series SBCs for edge-based control.

In addition to the IP Access, IP Interconnect and Media Services Zones, GENBAND supports a PSTN Interconnect Zone with a rich set of solutions that include PSTN Gateway and Media Gateway Control functions as well as interconnection and migration of legacy TDM switches with the IMS network.

Supporting Solution Zones for IP Access, IP Interworking, Media Services and PSTN Interconnection, GENBAND’s solutions have traction at tier 1 operators and tier 1 telecom equipment manufacturer partners worldwide.

About GENBAND
GENBAND is a global leader and innovator of next generation IP media, session border and fixed mobile convergence security solutions deployed in over two-thirds of the world’s 100 largest service providers. These high-performance gateway solutions are at the core of fixed and mobile networks around the world – evolving, securing and enhancing communications networks. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, GENBAND has Centers of Excellence around the world and serves customers and partners in more than 80 countries. Additional information is available at www.genband.com.Contacts:
Kim Lee
GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3766
kim.lee@genband.com

Frank Puglia
GENBAND Inc.
+1.972.265.3612
frank.puglia@genband.com