The anticipated expansion of LTE (News - Alert) networks will create a robust market for Diameter signaling controllers, an early-stage technology that is expected to grow at a 106 percent CAGR through 2016, according to a new report from Infonetics Research (News - Alert).

Diameter signaling controllers, which provide centralized routing, traffic management, and load-balancing within IMS and mobile broadband networks, were first utilized in 2011 as operators looked for ways to deal with the scaling challenges associated with heavy Diameter traffic.

Infonetics Research expects Diameter signaling controller adoption to increase in line with global growth in LTE networks and LTE subscribers, especially considering the number of recent network outages that have shined light on the debilitating nature of excessive signaling traffic.

Verizon Wireless' LTE network crash and Telenor's (News - Alert) LTE network outage in 2011 along with NTT DoCoMo's outage in January 2012 can each be attributed to weaknesses in Diameter signaling and the impact that signaling traffic has on networks, says Infonetics.

"Diameter traffic in the signaling and control plane of all-IP based networks is guaranteed to continue to increase, forcing operators to utilize Diameter signaling controllers to more efficiently manage and scale that traffic," says Diane Myers, directing analyst for VoIP and IMS at Infonetics Research.

"The key drivers behind the increase in signaling traffic is the fast-escalating use of mobile broadband networks, new devices and smartphones and mobile applications, particularly gaming and social networking apps like Facebook (News - Alert) that are in constant use or always on," she adds.

Although a number of vendors have begun developing a presence in the Diameter signaling controller market, Tekelec (News - Alert) currently maintains the top spot, followed by the likes of Alcatel-Lucent, F5 Networks and Acme Packet. Infonetics expects a minimum of 15 vendors to be manufacturing and marketing Diameter signaling controllers by the end of 2012 as LTE growth continues to percolate.

North American vendors currently account for the greatest share of the market, but competitors in the Asia Pacific and EMEA regions are expected to keep pace as soon as LTE deployments become more common in their area.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Rich Steeves