Mobile traffic is getting increasingly congested as more and more consumers start ditching their PCs and laptops for smartphones and tablets. This conversion means people will be online more often and longer than before. To meet this demand, 4G LTE (News - Alert) was created as a next-generation Internet protocol (IP) network to control and manage the increasing volume of traffic. The Diameter protocol is an important tool in the management of 4G LTE, 3G charging and policy deployments and IMS networks. However, problems with Diameter Signaling have been causing crashes for major networks. Operators are hoping to get the 4G network crashes under control by putting the right Diameter Routing protocol in place.
According to the recent ABI Research report, “Control Plane Signaling, Scalability, and Diameter Challenges” it is believed the Diameter signaling protocol for the control plane has been causing the crashes labeled as “signaling storm.”
The financial impact for top tier network operators is substantial resulting in risking investments totaling $300M, according to Joe Hoffman, principal analyst at ABI Research (News - Alert). As more 4G LTE system continue to get installed across the country the potential risks are also being ramped up.
Additionally, findings highlight companies that will be providing this technology with reliability, and amongst those surveyed include: Acme Packet (News 
- Alert), Alcatel-Lucent, Amdocs, Diametriq, Ericsson, F5 Traffix, Tekelec, and Ulticom (News - Alert).
Hoffman went on to say, “Diameter Signal Routers serve as the traffic cop of the 4G control plane and disorderly conduct is quickly squelched. But there are other network engineering practices to consider in addition to Diameter Routing. Since Diameter Signaling is critical for the entire network, operators will do well to make it bulletproof as each incrementally evolve its networks to 4G.”
Since Diameter signaling is becoming a mandatory component of the move forward with the 4G network, big players are entering the market at rapid speed. Using Diameter means it will become part of the pricing and policy of operators, guaranteeing income for manufacturers until the 4G network is installed across the country and around the globe.
Lastly, the report points out the different aspects of Diameter Signaling such as angst in the industry, the state of Diameter today and the past, growth in the market, why it is needed, market size, diameter routing and differentiation and vendors offering solutions.
Edited by
Jamie Epstein
