Currently, there is a proliferation of services on the internet.
This has caused the need to develop solutions to manage consistent growing
traffic. Diameter
Charging is a solution that was developed as a signaling protocol to
ensure the interconnection of servers in core networks is well managed. Before
diameter, there was a protocol known as RADIUS. It worked well before the
demand for increased use of networks worldwide. So why should you use diameter
and what are its advantages?
Benefits of Diameter
Initially, Diameter was used for terminal and dial-up PPP
service access. Just as the name suggests, Diameter is twice the radius.
Benefits of the system include, but are not limited to:
1. Extensibility – third parties like IETF working groups can
start new services using Diameter.
2. Reliability – it uses reliable protocols like SCTP or TCP on
port 3868. With hop-by-hop retransmission, Diameter can ensure you have
continuity of traffic flow and reliability of transport.
3. Advanced processes – AVPs and error notification are part of
diameter signaling. Application developers are allowed to include customizable
controls, such as charging, using AVPs. This means a diameter application will
allow you to customize how and when you charge your clients.
Future of Diameter charging
Subscribers are moving to IMS-based networks. These networks are
best supported by diameter charging. As a result, the exponential growth of Diameter
charging is expected. IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture is designed to
offer mobile users IP multimedia. It works as a core network providing
multimedia, text, and voice across large networks. With this in mind, diameter
charging is growing by the day and its demand is consistently increasing.
Today, IMS and diameter are employed to ensure there is
consistency in control on increasing IP services. For example, components like
HSS (Home Subscriber System), MME (Mobile Management Entity), PGW (Packet
Gateway) and AS (Application Server) all use Diameter
Charging. It works amazingly well in the integration of LTE and EPC
networks.
DevOps team efficiency and productivity are increased as a
result of Diameter
Charging. How does this happen?
When these teams have easy access to advanced messaging
collaboration, they thrive. One of the advantages of diameter charging routers
is they can use dedicated PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function). PCRF is
used to control bandwidth or roaming, charge based on usage or limit
usage.
Diameter is capable of interoperability with legacy networks
like UMTS. The good news is any future networks can be integrated into
diameter. For instance, any diameter architecture can function as translation
agents, redirect agents, proxy agents or relay agents.
Current and future Diameter
Charging Protocols are versatile and capable parts of future modern IP
networks. Its potential and scalability make the system an essential part of
the exponential growth in the IP universe. This means further adaptations of
the protocol are being developed for the future.
Conclusion
Diameter charging is here to stay for a long time. If you
haven’t incorporated it into your telecom business, it is time you did. Contact
us for more information on how we can help you incorporate diameter
charging.
