Sonus announces IPX solution

Sonus announced a GSMA-compliant IPX interconnect solution, Mobile SecurEdge. The IP-peering solution engineered for mobile operators addresses security issues related to international roaming and national peering traffic.

Sonus is up against SBC incumbent Acme Packet that sell standalone SBCs, which take care of security issues. In mobile networks, however, Sonus might have the edge having worked on large networks including AT&T Cingular. In these wireless network accounts Sonus has integrated IPX capabilities with MSC elements.

IPX services will launch this year. IPX services are supposed to drive down the mobile interconnection charges, thus enabling mobile operators to maintain margins. Carrier charges for roaming international calls is expected to decline significantly.

There are several GSMA IPX trials going on worldwide. Sonus has been involved in a number these. One of its customer, Tata Communications, recently concluded the IPX trials. Although Sonus did not reveal the remaining customers trialing its IPX solution, our guess is Belgacom ICS and COLT might be other Sonus customers running IPX trials.