The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) was created to standardise session control for IP packet-switched multimedia services – such as VoIP, and, later to support newer services, such as VoLTE / VoWiFi, RCS, and others. It’s a standardised architecture that, by defining a common language, enables seamless, rich multimedia communication and connectivity over mobile networks.

While it is not new, it remains an essential component for delivering a broad range of services to customers on both legacy and 5G networks. That’s why the IMS market was valued at $3.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $7 billion by 2031 – a CAGR of 10.7%^[1].

Assuring the transition from IMS to vIMS

It’s embedded within mobile networks and is an integral part of integrated services, but the growing adoption of VoLTE and 5G is driving the need for more IMS infrastructure to enable advanced, differentiated services.

Traditionally, IMS functionality has been hardware-based, which means that the cost of implementing and maintaining IMS infrastructure could be prohibitive for many operators and service providers, especially smaller ones, with providers charging significant prices for the deployment and maintenance of IMS infrastructure.

But as the transition to virtualised network functions and software-defined networking (SDN) has accelerated, operators have realised that the traditional IMS architecture can also be virtualised – eliminating the need for new bare metal infrastructure.

A virtual IMS (vIMS) architecture can significantly reduce hardware costs, but this also creates a challenge as traditionally, the node and equipment vendors were responsible for deploying, optimising, and maintaining the solutions they provided to operators and assuring SLAs. But, in a virtualised environment, that responsibility now falls on the operator.

In a virtualised environment, the IMS system is expected to scale up and down with different Virtual Machine (VM) capabilities and/or with different combinations and numbers of VMs. So, how can operators test and actively monitor the performance of a vIMS system to ensure that the network meets its KPIs and that you meet the agreed SLAs for customers?

Emblasoft Evolver can actively monitor and assure vIMS performance – ensuring smooth migration and future assurance

Emblasoft Evolver is a comprehensive IMS / vIMS test and active monitoring solution that allows operators to validate the performance of multiple services, including VoLTE, VoIP, and VoWiFi – from a single platform, at scale.

It has been, and continues to be, used by Tier 1 operators that needed to manage their migration from a hardware-based IMS platform to a virtual solution, and then actively monitor the virtual solution.

Emblasoft Evolver can create a complete test framework for validating and testing the migration to vIMS across all fixed and mobile services (such as VoLTE and VoIP). It can also provide ongoing active monitoring test capabilities for a live network post-deployment.

It offers comprehensive, multi-protocol functionality and supports 5G, 4G, 3G and 2G. Using full-stack simulations for SIP, MSRP, HTTP, Diameter, and other protocols, it can verify the most important functions of the IMS, or the vIMS – and the powerful verification and performance testing capabilities mean that the migration can be carefully managed to ensure performance in the virtualised environment matches expectations.

Evolver ensures flexibility, simplicity, and scalability. To find out more, get in touch to discuss your requirements.

^[1] https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/ip-multimedia-subsystem-ims-market/