Emblasoft Evolver can help to test, validate, and assure vIMS functionality, including RCS, RBM, and VoLTE. Download our latest paper to find out how.

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is a standardised architecture for delivering IP-based multimedia services – such as VoLTE, VoIP, VoWiFi, video conferencing, Rich Communications Services (RCS), Rich Business Messaging (RBM), Push-to-talk, and many others – over multiple access networks. It enables scalable, flexible, secure multimedia services across diverse network infrastructures and devices.

While many operators have made significant investments in IMS solutions, many are also seeking to migrate their IMS solutions to a virtual infrastructure (namely, vIMS), replacing first- and second-generation IMS solutions and migrating them to virtual implementations. There are multiple drivers and benefits to this.

vIMS provides crucial service support for 5G networks

Today, IMS plays an increasingly important role in enabling next-generation services delivered over 5G networks, such as rich multimedia, VoLTE, massive IoT, ultra-reliable, low-latency connections, among other things. IMS is also crucial for the delivery of advanced 5G multimedia services and seamless connectivity between different IP networks, regardless of access type.

Here are just some of the benefits of IMS in the 5G era:

• Rich Communication Services – IMS provides the framework for applications, such as video calls, multimedia messaging, real-time communication, that leverage the high bandwidth and low latency capabilities of 5G.
• Interconnect and roaming – enables advanced multimedia services regardless of network, including VoLTE and Voice over New Radio (VoNR).
• Seamless connectivity between legacy and NG networks.
• Scalability and flexibility – Enabled by cloud-native IMS, which in turn is enabled by virtual IMS (vIMS).
• Enhanced QoE for consumers.
• Converged services.

Put simply, IMS is a key supporting technology for all current generations of mobile network.

Of course, this means that they must deliver optimised performance, at all times. In turn, this means that IMS solutions require rigorous testing and validation, as well as assurance during in-service operations.

In the past validations were often performed by the IMS vendor, which would provide a complete, integrated package with dedicated hardware – such was the static nature of the infrastructure. It meant they could provide clear KPIs in such a captive environment, with testing normally performed in their own labs.

However, in recent times the shift to a virtual environment and a diversified supply chain (this is now termed ‘virtual IMS’ or ‘vIMS’), with each operator having a unique network topology, architecture, and ecosystem of vendors, means that operators must take responsibility for these tasks.

Continual assurance of virtualised Network Functions

A virtual IMS network enables the virtualisation of Network Functions – an essential component of 5G technology. In turn, this allows operators to run IMS network functions on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) servers instead of dedicated hardware, which enables flexibility, scalability, and – most importantly – cost efficiency. 

Taken together, this makes the validation of vIMS services, such as RCS, RBM, and VoLTE, even more of a challenge.

It means that testing the IMS core in-service has never been more important, with continuous delivery cycles for updates (within a DevOps environment) and the emulation of different potential scenarios on a continuous basis.

In the 5G era, innovation, flexibility, agility, and scalability will be paramount to ensure competitiveness and differentiated services. vIMS is at the heart of that. But how does one assure the performance of vIMS functionality, not just prior to launch, but on an on-going basis?

To find out how Emblasoft Evolver can help, download our latest paper. It outlines how our test, validation, and active monitoring platform has helped one Tier 1 customer to migrate from an existing hardware-based IMS platform to a fully virtualised solution. Evolver was then used for active monitoring of RCS and VoLTE services in the new, vIMS environment, providing continuous assurance.

Download our new paper or get in touch now.