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Oracle White Paper, September 2013

LTE Diameter Signaling Index2nd Edition


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LTE Diameter Signaling Index

Contents

Executive Summary 3

Industry Trends and Indicators 4

Oracle Communications LTE Diameter Signaling Index Forecast 6

Trend #1: Signaling Traffic Growing More Than Twice as Fast as Mobile Data 9

Trend #2: Policy Use Cases Drive the Most Traffic

Trend #4: Europe, Middle East, and Africa is the

10

Trend #3: North America Leads in Total Diameter Traffic 11

Fastest Growing Diameter Market 13

Trend #5: Latin America is the Long-Term Growth Region 14

Trend #6: Japan/Asia Pacific Growth Driven by Five Countries 16

Trend #7: The Diameter Protocol Continues to Expand 17

The Future of Signaling 19

Annex A - Assumptions and Methodology 21

Annex B - Diameter Interfaces in the LTE Core 22

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Executive Summary

The Diameter signaling protocol has taken center stage in the mobility world in the past few

years. Used for activity coordination between Internet Protocol (IP) network elements such

as policy servers, online charging systems and mobility gateways, Diameter serves a crucial

function in mobility. And, as operators have migrated their networks to LTE, added new servicesand implemented more sophisticated policy use cases, signaling volumes are skyrocketing.

To predict and accommodate Diameter signaling growth, service providers need to factor in

subscriber profiles and behaviors and the types of services and devices they have and plan to

introduce on their networks. This is a shift for network engineers responsible for predicting

traffic and signaling patterns. Data sessions, video downloads, and the invocation of policy and

charging rules all introduce additional signaling into networks, all of which must be considered

to accurately predict network needs.

This LTE Diameter Signaling Index serves as a guide for network architects and engineers

building Diameter networks where policy intelligently orchestrates the subscriber experience

and Diameter signaling conducts communications among policy servers, charging systems,subscriber databases and mobility management functions. As a measure of network

intelligence, the Oracle Communications LTE Diameter Signaling Index™ is an important tool for

service providers to manage and monetize mobile data.

Last year, we released the first edition of this forecast and analysis report to help operators

understand the impact of the phenomenal growth in signaling on their networks and ultimately,

on their customers’ experiences. In the 2012 report, we forecasted a rate of nearly 47 million

messages per second (MPS) by 2016. Using an evolved methodology, this year’s numbers also

show significant growth. In fact, by 2017, worldwide LTE Diameter traffic will reach nearly 99

million MPS, a 140% five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

Other findings of note include:

s Policy signaling volumes are expected to more than triple in the next year. By 2017, policy

will account for 62% of signaling volumes, surpassing basic mobility;

s Policy-related signaling is growing at a 164% CAGR through 2017, due to both the number

and complexity of use cases;

s Online Charging (OCS) is the fastest growing Diameter use case, with a global CAGR of

180% through 2017;

s North American volumes remain the world’s largest, reaching almost 43 million MPS by

2017, growing at a 127% CAGR;

s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Central/Latin America (LATAM) regional growth

rates are both well over a 200% CAGR through 2017;

s Japan/Asia Pacific (JAPAC) continues to be a hybrid mature/emerging market. The ‘mature’

sector accounts for most of the LTE coverage and shows LTE Diameter signaling traffic

growth characteristics similar to North America;

s Subscriber behaviors and smartphone penetration continue to play key roles in the growth

of Diameter signaling; and,

s The definition of the protocol itself is expanding. The number of Diameter interfaces,

commands and associated parameters is growing rapidly, adding to the need for careful

architectural planning and constant interface upkeep.

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This report outlines global trends in LTE Diameter signaling growth through 20171. Serving as a

barometer of demand for overall network capacity, the forecast includes regional breakdowns of

traffic and associated growth rates. Likewise, we analyze the key applications of Diameter and

chart their impact on traffic and growth rates through the same forecast period.

The Oracle Communications LTE Diameter Signaling Index CalculatorTM, upon which the

forecast is based, is helping operator technology executives more accurately plan their

network’s architecture 2. At the same time, a use-case specific understanding of customer

behaviors and experiences is assisting operator business executives as they plan market-facing

offers, evaluate opportunities and incorporate third-party capabilities into their services.

Industry Trends and Indicators

Service providers evolving their mobility business models face two challenges: offering

compelling services and ensuring their networks can handle the associated performance and

scalability requirements. To serve these business models, operators are expanding their use

of IP throughout their 3G networks and ultimately to all-IP LTE networks. This necessitates amove from the older RADIUS, MAP and CAMEL interfaces to the newer, more sophisticated

Diameter signaling protocol.

Though much attention has been paid to the pace at which IP traffic and the number of LTE

connections are expected to grow, this Index demonstrates that Diameter signaling traffic

increases continue to outpace data traffic growth (see Trend #1 below). For this reason,

executives, engineers and network architects are moving Diameter signaling up on their

investment priority lists.

The growth in signaling traffic correlates directly to the sophistication of services and pricing

plans in LTE networks, as the need for more subscriber and service intelligence triggers more

communication among core network elements. Examples of such service plans include:

s Tiered services

s Shared data plans

s Casual usage and loyalty programs

s “Toll-free” or sponsored data usage

s Mobile advertising

s Quality enhanced over-the-top (OTT) applications and content

s Cloud and machine-to-machine (M2M) services.

Rather than risk under-engineering LTE networks, service providers need to consider how data

sessions, video downloads and sophisticated policy and charging rules will affect signaling, and

then ensure that a robust Diameter network is in place to manage the signaling traffic.

1 The scope of this repor t is limited to the LTE environment. It is impor tant to note that the Diameter protocol also ser ves the IP segments of 3G networks

as well as fixed networks.

2 Operators wishing a more detai led analysis are encouraged to contact us for a customized consultation emp loying the Oracle Communications LTE Diam

eter Signaling Index CalculatorTM

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Execution of these services requires frequent Diameter signaling among the following

elements:

s Policy Servers (PCRF)

s Online Charging Systems (OCS)

s

Offline Charging Systems (OFCS)s Home Subscriber Servers (HSS)

s Mobility Management Entities (MME)

s Policy Control Enforcement Points (PCEF), like Packet Gateways (PGW)

and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)

s Session Management, such as Call Session Control Functions (CSCF).

LTE penetration rates projected by industry analysts indicate North America is still moving

aggressively to replace legacy technology. At 56% penetration, it is currently the world’s largest

LTE market.3 JAPAC is second, but with only 11% penetration rate by the year 2017, this leaves

significant room for growth. In fact, the JAPAC traffic rates being observed today are paltrycompared to what is to come.

Likewise, industry forecasts about the sheer number of devices, applications, and services are a

harbinger of what is on the horizon. By 2017, more than 10 billion mobility devices will process

more than 300 billion app downloads worldwide.4 All of these will generate increased Diameter

signaling traffic in the core network. Many of them will be used in an “always-on” mode as

subscribers engage in multiple concurrent data sessions, generating more Diameter signaling

messages per subscriber.

Finally, the notion of “busy hour” will evolve, because the level of signaling traffic an operator

experiences is driven by more than just the number of subscribers. It is also a function of

subscriber behavior, the devices they use and the services and applications they invoke. As

such, a “busy hour” is also affected by these variables, meaning that signaling traffic peaks and

valleys will not necessarily occur at the same time of day.

3 Informa Telecoms & Media - World Cellul ar Information Ser vice

4 2013 Cisco Visual Networking Index

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When operators embrace policy, they typically begin with fair usage and traffic management

use cases. However, as they increase both the number and complexity of the use cases and

begin implementing more revenue-generating policy rules, the amount of Diameter traffic

between the PCRF and enforcement points expands rapidly. We have observed at least one

operator with more than 700 individual policy rules in its policy server, with ongoing growth

expected.

The fastest growing use case is online charging (OCS), with just slightly more than 24 million

MPS expected by 2017, a 180% CAGR. This is especially true in regions where prepaid

charging is dominant, as prepaid services require more Diameter dialog between the PCRF and

the OCS. Regions such as LATAM and JAPAC are dominated by prepaid service plans, driving

a speedier pace of Diameter growth. Not surprisingly, offline charging (OFCS) is smaller and

growing more slowly.

Mobility (roaming from 3G to LTE networks and vice versa) does not show the same impact on

Diameter traffic volumes as Policy and OCS. We project Mobility in 2017 to reach 8.3 million

MPS with a CAGR of 76%.

TREND #3: NORTH AMERICA LEADS IN TOTAL

DIAMETER TRAFFIC

North America is presently the largest LTE market in the world with a 56% penetration rate

predicted by 2017.7 As such, signaling volumes are already rather hefty and the MPS growth

rate is slower than in less penetrated markets. We predict this region will generate 42.7 million

MPS by 2017 at a CAGR of nearly 127%.

Policy is expected to surpass mobility this year as the leading source of signaling volume

increases in the region, with nearly a million MPS expected this year, as compared to just

slightly more than half that amount for mobility. By 2017, policy use cases in North America will

generate more than 25 million MPS at a 152% CAGR (Figure 6).

7 Informa Telecoms & Media - World Cellul ar Information Ser vice

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TREND #4: EMEA IS THE FASTEST GROWING

DIAMETER MARKET

Diameter signaling is growing at a rapid 224% CAGR in EMEA, and will deliver 17.9 million

MPS by 2017. Like North America, there is increasing policy use case maturity in European LTE

deployments including multi-media and more complex offers, driving signaling traffic upward.The region as a whole will experience an incredible 243% Policy CAGR through 2017, as seen

in Figure 7 below. OCS will also increase signaling with a 237% CAGR in the same period,

amounting to 3.8 million MPS by the end of 2017.

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Trends to consider in EMEA:

s Given the penetration rates, 3G will be in place in this region for several more years. Market

growth has slowed somewhat, due to economic factors. Consider, for example, that

London did not begin LTE deployments until the 2012 Olympics, and it has slowed post-

Olympics;

s

Roaming is much more common in Europe than other regions, due to the proximity of the

individual countries and ease of travel between EU member states. This ongoing roaming

will trigger higher traffic levels in Diameter networks. As the LTE penetration increases,

so too will roaming between 3G and LTE networks and between LTE networks, driving

signaling traffic upward;

s Policy use cases will drive Diameter traffic as subscribers are expected to adopt more

multimedia related services and operators deliver more complex policies in their LTE

environments to coax subscribers to the newer networks;

s While OFCS only represents 2% of the total MPS for this region, OCS represents 20%.

Charging traffic (both OFCS and OCS) will increase significantly year over year due to

increased subscription numbers.

TREND #5: LATAM IS THE LONG-TERM GROWTH REGION

The LATAM region is at present the smallest market in terms of LTE subscriptions and LTE

Diameter signaling. The LTE penetration rate for LATAM is projected to reach only 8% by 2017.9

As such, any increase generates outsized percentage growth rates during this time.

Brazil is the exception, where subscription growth is strong. LTE subscriptions begin in

2013 and are forecast to reach almost 15% market penetration by 2017.10 While this is still

comparatively low, it does foretell a rapid increase in Diameter traffic.

As with other regions, policy will account for much of the signaling growth, as shown in

Figure 8 below. Policy in LATAM will yield 1.4 million MPS by 2017, a 317% CAGR. OCS

will be second in both total traffic and growth rates with just over 1 million MPS expected,

representing a 233% CAGR for the same period.

9 Informa Telecoms & Media - World Cellular Information Service

10 Ibid

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TREND #6: JAPAC GROWTH DRIVEN BY FIVE COUNTRIES

JAPAC’s Diameter growth is attributable largely to its ‘mature’ markets: Australia, Japan, Korea,

Hong Kong and Singapore. These countries represent most of the LTE subscriptions in this

region, as each country will exceed 50% penetration by 2017.11

This is not the case for the rest of Asia. Developing countries such as India show only a 7%

penetration rate by 2017.12 As other Asian operators implement LTE in the coming years, the

region will likely experience a steady growth rate in both LTE device penetration and Diameter

signaling.

From a Diameter signaling perspective, JAPAC will reach an impressive 35.2 million MPS

by 2017, nearly double the amount in EMEA and 85% the size of North America. The Policy

growth curve through 2017 is comparable to North America, as seen in Figure 9. OCS will

generate 8.5 million MPS by 2017, again 85% of the North American traffic volume.

Figure 9: JAPAC Regional Diameter Signaling Index

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Key points for JAPAC include:

s JAPAC represents the second most highly penetrated LTE market by 2017, yet at 11%,

there is still tremendous growth to be had;

s China will start to have a significant impact on regional LTE penetration by 2017;

s

Mobility is projected to reach 3.5 million MPS by 2017, a CAGR of 84%. Mobility willcontinue to grow in this region as developing countries continue to maintain their 3G

networks while they roll out LTE in metropolitan areas. It is not likely that these countries

will adopt LTE quickly and aggressively as subscriber buying behaviors still heavily favor

feature phones;

s Policy shows aggressive growth again thanks to the five countries with the greatest

penetration and mature market characteristics. A chief factor is video, which is quite

popular in Asia, as policy use cases supporting QoS for video sessions become more

common;

s OFCS shows roughly a two-fold increase each year, at a CAGR of 119%, but OCS weighs in

most heavily here. Charging growth is directly related to subscriber growth in this case, and

as the market matures, so too will the Diameter traffic associated with charging;

s Asia will go through much of the same evolution as North America, with policy and OCS

galvanizing Diameter MPS growth.

TREND #7: THE DIAMETER PROTOCOL

CONTINUES TO EXPAND

Diameter is a nascent protocol, and networks are still limited in their LTE coverage. Today the

biggest impacts to Diameter traffic remain the number of subscriptions, subscriber behaviors

and the proliferation of smartphones. The result of these three characteristics drives policy usecases, charging transactions and mobility transactions.

But this won’t be the case for long. The 3GPP standards body is busily expanding the definition

of Diameter as it outlines new interfaces to replace legacy systems. These interfaces may

not individually have a substantial impact on signaling traffic, but collectively they will have a

marked effect. This is due to the nature of the Diameter protocol. The Internet Engineering Task

Force (IETF) defined a base set of commands and associated parameters called Attribute Value

Pairs (AVPs) for Diameter. The 3GPP has also defined specific commands and AVPs for each

interface, depending on the application the interface supports.

For example, the SLh interface has been defined for use in Location Based Services (LBS).

The SLh interface only introduces two new commands to the Diameter protocol, so theimpact to overall traffic flow is minimal. By comparison, the S6a interface used between the

Mobility Management Entity (MME) and the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) must support

some 38 commands and more than 1,000 AVPs. Each command represents part of a Diameter

transaction, which makes Diameter much different than the SS7 protocol in which only a

handful of common messages are used to support the entire network. See Appendix B for a list

of Diameter interfaces commonly invoked in LTE networks.

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The recently defined Sy interface allows the PCRF to bypass the GGSN/PGW when accessing

the OCS. This does not directly impact Diameter signaling volume since this same interface

already exists between the PCRF and the GGSN/PGW, and a service provider will choose one

path or the other for a given transaction. It may, however, present an opportunity for more

complex policy use cases in the future.

Finally, there is the Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), the standard

underlying the emerging HotSpot 2.0 service.13 This new standard burst on the scene recently

and the industry is busily defining how it will work. The concern is how to handle the constant

location updates as a subscriber moves from Wi-Fi hotspot to hotspot. No standards exist

yet for managing the flow of signaling messages generated by Wi-Fi roaming, but work is

underway. Regardless of the outcome, this will be another source of signaling traffic that

could equal or surpass the signaling traffic generated for wireless roaming in a 3G network.

13 HotSpot 2.0 is defined and certi fied by the WiFi A lliance (w w w.wi -fi.org )


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The Future of Signaling

This is Just the Beginning

Industry professionals can expect Diameter growth to continue steadily over the next several

years as both implementations and the role of Diameter expand.

Worldwide, LTE connections are growing at nearly 70% CAGR.14 This is certainly dramatic

growth, but it pales in comparison to the years beyond this forecast where more than 6

billion subscribers, many with multiple subscriptions, will migrate to LTE networks and more

sophisticated devices.

And signaling growth is attributable to more than just the move to smartphones and tablets.

Subscriber behavior is evolving as they become even more immersed in a mobility-enhanced

digital lifestyle. Formerly occasional use for voice or email has exploded into nearly constant use

of devices for social networking, video streaming, gaming, banking, enterprise productivity and

commercial transactions.

The Diameter world is more complicated than just sheer numbers of subscribers or the number

of minutes one spends on the network. The type of applications, the amount of interactivity

required with the application, and the number of network elements touched by these interfaces

contribute to the notion of ‘signaling intensity’ as an essential metric for network planning.

Cloud Services, Network Function Virtualization and Software Defined

Networks All Mean More Diameter Signaling

There is much discussion in the industry today regarding cloud services, Network Function

Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN). While not the same, these

technologies have overlapping functions and benefits, including better capital and operating

expense profiles, more flexible use of industry standard hardware and the ability to engage

resources and deliver services in a more ‘on-demand’ mode.

Operators are rapidly embracing cloud-based services. Hosted, managed and Software as a

Service (SaaS) business models are all gaining favor in operators’ business and service support

environments. As this business model matures, operators are beginning to take the next steps

to introduce the cloud into their network functions.

The industry’s largest operators are participating in a 3GPP study group dedicated to defining

the requirements for NFV. The intent is to allow participants to quickly take advantage of this

virtualization, which is available today on a number of platforms. Virtualization reduces the

cost of Diameter implementations and brings with it the ability to employ and retire computing

resources as needed.

SDN is different from NFV, even though it takes advantage of virtualization. SDN seeks to

enable full software-based control of all network functions as well as discrete control and

packet routing/forwarding planes. Once functions in the EPC have been virtualized, it is easier

to implement an SDN coupled with the PCRF. It is important that the PCRF be coupled with the

SDN Controller so decisions regarding additional transport resources are based on intelligent

rules defined in the PCRF.


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SDN does not directly drive additional Diameter traffic, but it does enable new services to be

offered more quickly. As these new services are implemented in the network, the services

themselves will drive additional Diameter traffic in the core.

One of the benefits of NFV and SDN is the use of industry standard hardware, whereas

proprietary implementations use hardware and operating systems optimized for the function.

As such, this migration toward standard hardware and operating systems will impose a

temporary performance tax, which in turn will drive some additional signaling. Estimates found

in multiple industry publications are as high as 80%, but hardware and software vendors are

actively seeking ways to tune their products for this new environment. During this evolutionary

period, it is reasonable to conclude operators will have to provision some additional hardware

to overcome the inefficiencies, yielding incremental Diameter traffic. Optimization tools will

mature and eventually mitigate many of these inefficiencies in the future, but for the present

there will be some performance hurdles.

Finally, virtualization opens up new opportunities to extend Diameter to other networks, along

with resource sharing across networks. This includes offering Diameter as a Service (DaaS),

which will undoubtedly drive additional Diameter growth.

The Role of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

The SIP protocol replaces the ISDN User Part (ISUP) protocol used in Signaling System #7

(SS7) networks for call control. Originally developed for enterprise Voice over IP (VoIP), SIP is

now widely deployed as the standard voice call control signaling protocol. As networks migrate

to all-IP architectures, signaling is divided between two technologies: Diameter assumes the

authentication, authorization and charging roles in the network, while SIP handles the call

control functions.

When enterprises implement IP PBXs, they connect directly to the Internet, but calls will not

connect into the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This requires a PSTN Gateway, and

traditional trunks from the local service provider. This may be costly for a smaller business, andit tends to reduce the cost advantages of an IP PBX. In response, service providers now provide

what is known as ‘SIP Trunking’, an IP connection to an Internet Telephony Service Provider

(ITSP), which delivers connections to the Internet as well as the PSTN.

The ITSP also provides long distance services to the enterprise at a fraction of the cost of

traditional long distance.

As SIP continues to mature, businesses become more comfortable with SIP technology,

spurring growth in this market. According to an AT&T report quoting Heavy Reading IP Services

Insider, SIP Trunking will grow from 8.5 million SIP Trunks in 2009, to 24.3 million SIP Trunks by

the end of 2013.15

Services such as WebRTC and Unified Communications will spur further growth in SIP signaling.Future editions of this report will contain additional insights and forecasts regarding SIP.

15 “SIP Trunking : Realizi ng the Value for SMBs”, http: / / att.v tp -media.com / smb 20

http:///reader/full/media.comhttp:///reader/full/media.com


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ANNEX A – Assumptions and Methodology

The methodology for crafting this forecast has evolved since the 2012 forecast report. The

number of LTE subscriptions has changed, as we used updated external sources for this

forecast. This version of the Index is also based on new traffic models that take advantage of our

experience in global service provider LTE networks. We have fine-tuned our models to accuratelyreflect evolving subscriber behaviors.

The forecast period shifted, as this Index considers growth beginning in 2012 rather than 2011,

and extending through 2017. Because 2012 saw higher penetration rates than 2011, the overall

CAGR for Diameter changed accordingly.

The Index is an LTE Diameter traffic demand model rather than an engineered network model.

It is a baseline model that serves as a starting point from which service providers can layer on

additional factors such as network architecture, topology, capacity requirements, geo-redundancy

and others needed to design a robust, reliable and scalable Diameter Network. Readers are

cautioned not to rely solely on this macro-level analysis to predict their unique needs.

The Index focuses solely on LTE networks and does not account for Diameter traffic on 3G

networks, other than 3G to 4G roaming. The Index also excludes IMS applications with the

exception of VoLTE.

Also, the Index does not include additional Diameter traffic that will be generated by hundreds of

millions of M2M devices that will come onto networks over the next few years. Future versions of

this report will account for the M2M market.

The Oracle Communications LTE Diameter Signaling Index™ relies on a number of industry

resources such as LTE subscriber data from the Informa Telecoms & Media World Cellular

Information Service, SIP information from Heavy Reading and the Cisco Visual Networking Index

for general market context. 3GPP and GSM Association specifications are used for determiningtraffic flows for each unique service. The flows are then used to determine the number of

Diameter messages that are created for individual session types.

Traffic flows are also validated in our Diameter Traffic Laboratory, which is a dedicated facility

that uses our Diameter Signaling Router, Policy Server, and Home Subscriber Server network

elements.

A key input to the forecast is our proprietary Oracle Communications LTE Diameter Signaling

Traffic CalculatorTM. We make this tool available to operators to help them forecast the level

of Diameter signaling associated with interdependent factors such as: network growth and

evolution; subscriber growth and evolution; and services growth and penetration. Default values

are based on our signaling experience with customer networks and serve as a baseline fordimensioning Diameter networks. These values may also be modified by an individual operator’s

assumptions, experiences and predictions. Once the calculator is run, the operator can see the

volume of Diameter signaling traffic generated at each interface as well as the total forecast.

In this report and forecast, we use the industry standard metric of Messages per Second (MPS)

for the volume of signaling traffic in a network. The 3GPP standards refer to transactions as two

messages (request/answer). In this Index total messages are counted. Transactions Per Second

(TPS) are equivalent to two Diameter messages (request/answer), so to derive TPS, divide MPS

in half.

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ANNEX B – Diameter Interfaces in the LTE Core

Interface Network Location and Function

Sh Allows subscriber data exchange between a SIP Application Server (AS) and the HSS.

Dh Connects the SIP AS to the Subscriber Location Function (SLF) to identify the subscriber’s HSS.

SdConnects the PCRF to the newly-defined Traffic Detection Function (TDF), where it is used to identify what

services subscribers are connecting to, and applying rules from the PCRF to those sessions.

Sy Connects the PCRF and OCS for real-time billing, for example, in quota management.

RfCharging data exchange between AS and OFCS for non-real-time billing when a chargeable event

concludes.

Ro Connects network elements to the OCS for real-time billing.

Cx Authenticates users and allows subscriber data and location exchange between CSCF and HSS.

DxSupplies location data between CSCF and SLF to identify the subscriber’s HSS.

Sp Provides a subscriber’s policy information from PCRF to the SPR.

RxRuns between an AF such as a P-CSCF and the PCRF for exchange of IP filtering information for service data

flow, and QoS criteria for bandwidth control.

GxRuns between the PCRF and the PCEF to exchange data from the PCRF to the enforcement points during

data session negotiation.

GyConnects various PCEF enforcement points (such as GGSNs, PDN gateways and MMEs) to send real-time

billing information to the OCS.

GzConnects various PCEF enforcement points (such as GGSNs, PDN gateways and MMEs) to send non-real

time billing information to the OFCS.

Gmb Connects the 3G GGSN and the Broadcast-Multicast Service Center (BM-SC), used for controlling bearerchannels used in mobile video services.

SGmbConnects the 4G PDN Gateway (PGW) and the Broadcast-Multicast Service Center (BM-SC), used for

controlling bearer channels used in mobile video services.

S6aExchanges subscriber data and location information between MME and HSS, and authenticates the

subscriber device when it connects to the network.

S6bConnects the Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) Server/Proxy and the Packet Data

Network Gateway (PDN GW) for authentication of devices during a mobile data session.

S6c Connects the PDN Gateway in the subscriber’s home network to a AAA server in a visited network.

S6d Connects the LTE HSS and a 3G SGSN for authentication similar to the S6a interface.

S9Connects a PCRF in the subscriber’s Host Mobile Network (HPLMN (H PCRF)) and a PCRF in the VisitedMobile Network (VPLMN (V PCRF)), allowing for a subscriber’s services to be consistent when roaming

in another network.

S13 Enables identity authentication between MME and the Equipment Identity Register (EIR).

S13’ Connects the SGSN in a 3G network to the EIR, similar to the S13 interface.

GiConnects the 3G GGSN to external IP networks when the subscriber’s SIM must be provisioned by an

Access Point Name (APN), typically when a device connects to a private IP network.

SGiConnects the 4G PGW to external IP networks when the subscriber’s SIM must be provisioned by an APN,

typically when a device connects to a private IP network.

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Oracle White Paper

September 2013

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This report contains both statements of fact and future estimates relating to Diameter signaling traffic and

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