IMS

IMS Delivers Next-Generations Communications
to the U.S. Federal Government

As the U.S. Federal Government modernizes its telecommunications infrastructure, it is seeking solutions that will integrate next generation voice and multimedia services. Next generation services allow users to experience true voice and data convergence, collaboration and mobility, resulting in a more efficient workforce.

IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) is an open, flexible standards-based architectural framework for delivering Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia services. Widely accepted as an industry standard, IMS manages advanced voice, data and video services that are delivered seamlessly across fixed and mobile networks. A core component of next generation network (NGN) architectures, IMS supports delivery of SIP-based multimedia services to NGN terminals. Conversational services such as voice and video telephony, push-to-talk/show/share, short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) are examples of services well suited to IMS.

IMS solutions move the U.S. Federal Government to next generation voice and multimedia services, saving time and money when deploying new services. Being standards-based, IMS solutions assure the ability to integrate future services, applications and technologies. The IMS solution is a carrier grade telecom switch offering “five nines” (99.999 percent) reliability; many telecom service providers worldwide also rely on this solution. With the ability to easily scale for large numbers of users (10,000 to 100,000 or more), it is ideally suited for the U.S. Federal Government’s voice communications requirement for regionalization of voice services.

Designed to be access network independent, IMS ensures various IP-enabled services interoperate across various access networks (e.g., LAN, cellular (2G/3G/4G), WiFi, WiMAX, DSL, etc.) and across various devices (including cell phones, desk phones, notebook computers, PDAs, etc.) in real time. It relies upon standardized signaling protocols, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and traffic protocols, such as Real Time Protocol/Secure Real Time Protocol (RTP/SRTP), and provides a common framework for interworking, registration, session control, quality of service, and accounting/administration. The shared, re-usable network functionality of the IMS standard allows new scalable services to be introduced quickly, repeatedly, and economically. 

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a consortium of global standards organizations, developed the IMS architecture to deliver converged multimedia services in a mobile IP core network. It has been adopted by several international standards bodies, including the Telecommunications and Internet Converged Services and Protocols for Advanced Networking (TISPAN), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), of which LGS Innovations’ parent company, Alcatel-Lucent, is a member.

Network Convergence

The U.S. Federal Government has traditionally built network silos – separate voice, video and data TDM networks. However, as TDM networks have evolved to IP networks, government agencies are increasingly exploring ways to simplify network operations while lowering costs. One solution is network convergence: migrating from legacy service-specific, multi-network architecture to one, multi-service converged network capable of carrying voice, data and video. Convergence enables the U.S. Federal Government to provide seamless communications – anytime, anywhere, independent of access.

Convergence consolidates bandwidth, provides information in multiple formats, makes it easier to share information among multiple users, and ultimately reduces the overall cost of providing, maintaining and supporting information and communication services.

The convergence of voice and data networks is a long-term objective for achieving e-Government. The benefits of convergence include having a single network to support:

• Interactive multimedia services and applications
• Ability of end users to access information/databases and Web services
• Integrated and centralized network management assisted by MPLS and other protocols
• Unified approach to security/information assurance
• Consolidated network operations, data/service centers, storage and servers
• Enhanced continuity of operations and disaster recovery
• Reduced life-cycle management costs (maintenance, power, etc.)
• Increased efficiency when services concurrently share IP transport
• QoS management to assure critical communications and real time services
• Engineering and maintenance staff specialized to one network technology

Convergence to all-IP networks in the U.S. Federal Government will continue for many years into the future. As IP-based switches are introduced and networks are modernized, traditional users will be migrated from Class 5 switches and TDM-based PBXs to NGN/IMS-based switches, and new customers will be added directly to the NGN/IMS switches. 

LGS Innovations:
Trusted Partner for Next-Generation Network Transformations

With the shift from Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) to IP services, government agencies need a networking and communications partner that can help them navigate this sea change in technology. While the movement of voice services to IP protocols (IPv4 and IPv6) enables the long term goal of voice and data network convergence, it also raises many challenges in information assurance, data network enhancement, Quality of Service (QoS) management, and network migration. In addition, guiding this evolution is the need to reduce overall capital expenditure (CAPEX) and ongoing maintenance expenses, while at the same time providing the ability to easily scale to implement evolving next generation technologies and services as government missions and service requirements change.

The U.S. Federal Government trusts LGS Innovations as it moves towards next generation networks because the company understands that an IMS solution involves an entire data network. Prior to any implementation, LGS Innovations studies and examines a customer’s network to make sure it meets the requirements to provide satisfactory IMS services to its users. In addition, our network experts work closely with our customers to ensure they understand their current networks and the requirements for implementing a next generation solution, and are prepared to operate and maintain the service once the solution is in service.

LGS Innovations designs and engineers the network architecture and requirements for a complete IMS, totally converged telephony solution that provides real- and near real-time services for wireline and wireless networks. We design, engineer and install the solution so that it will meet the customer’s requirements not only today but also into the future, and we provide services for information assurance (IA) hardening and interoperability testing so our customers will meet U.S. Federal Government security requirements and interoperability certifications.

Our parent company, Alcatel-Lucent, is part of standards bodies such as The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) that participate in the development of IMS standards requirements.  While LGS Innovations is solely focused on the U.S. Federal Government, we have the ability to leverage the commercial expertise of our parent company and our relationship with Bell Labs, one of LGS Innovations’ heritage companies. As a worldwide leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP and optics technologies, and applications and services, this insight and global commercial telecom experience ensures that LGS Innovations brings best practices and secure solutions to our U.S. Federal Government customers.

Successful Transformations Powered by LGS Innovations

LGS Innovations has served the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as a prime contractor and network integrator for the modernization of base facilities, including installation and upgrades telecommunications systems. In addition, we prime the Army’s Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP) and Infrastructure Modernization (IMOD) Program, and have modernized more than 40 Army (and Air Force) bases.

LGS Innovations is a primary supplier of complete video teleconferencing end-to-end secure solutions, having designed and implemented more than 300 facilities for the U.S. Federal Government (Civilian, Department of Defense (DoD) and Advanced Program) customers.

LGS Innovations is also a Multifunction Switching Systems and Network Management Systems supplier to the U.S. Federal Government, including the DISA NETCOP Program. We have also supported the installation of and upgrades to Navy telecommunications solutions, primarily as a first-tier subcontractor, and we are a primary supplier for afloat networks, having supplied more than 4,000 edge and core switches to the Navy on more than 300 surface ships and submarines combined.