In a move to expand LTE roaming capabilities, Japanese telecom giant NTT DoCoMo announced that it has installed Oracle Communications’ diameter signaling router platform.
Oracle explained that the router will allow the carrier to rapidly launch services to leverage its LTE network infrastructure, with a focus on support for LTE roaming as its customers travel overseas. The implementation was done in conjunction with Oracle partner NS Solutions and took a reported six months from purchase order to supporting live customer traffic. Supporting the rapid deployment was the platform’s implementation as a virtualized solution, with benefits including scalability and a small physical footprint.
NTT DoCoMo was one of the world’s first mobile operators to launch LTE services, turning on its network back in late 2010. The carrier earlier this year took the next step by rolling out voice over LTE services, which transmits voice calls over the carrier’s LTE network as data traffic.
“The rapid growth of LTE in Japan and roaming markets demands that we support LTE roaming to provide our customers with a consistently high-quality mobile experience no matter where they are,” said Hiroshi Nakamura, SVP and managing director of NTT DoCoMo’s Core Network Development Department.
NTT DoCoMo rival Softbank late last year announced a reciprocal LTE data roaming agreement with South Korea’s SK Telecom.
Oracle late last month announced a number of new mobile-focused initiatives tapping into big data analytics for application development. The company said the moves were designed to allow customers to more easily transition Oracle databases and applications to the cloud.
LTE roaming is still in its infancy, with few operators currently supporting services. Software solutions, like diameter, are seen as being key to the rollout of roaming capabilities as they let operators more precisely monitor traffic across their networks.
Peter Nas, senior solutions architect for F5 Networks, recently spoke with RCR Wireless News on diameter signaling at the LTE World Summit 2014.
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