F5 Networks Announces Market's First Diameter Solution to Support New Diameter Specifications

As per the latest release of RFC 6733 by the Internet Engineering Task Force, F5 Networks, Inc. has announced that its Traffix Signaling Delivery Controller is the market's first Diameter solution to support the new Diameter specifications.

The previous RFC 3588 and 5719 is obsolete with the release of this new standard.

Enabling network access and IP mobility in both home and roaming mobile LTE networks, Diameter is the base protocol for Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA). For Diameter routing, load balancing and gateway connectivity, F5's SDC product is the market-leading, multifunctional platform.

 The product has been fully compliant with IETF, 3GPP and GSMA standards, since its inception. In addition, with the new standard, all current deployments of the SDC are forward compatible.

"Through our work with communications service providers and global network equipment providers, we are able to stay apprised of what's on the horizon for industry standards bodies," said Ben Volkow, vice president of Product Development at F5.

In the areas of security, management and flexibility, he added, they have been aware of RFC 6733 and since it provides for several enhancements for CSPs, they welcome its arrival. Operators looking to handle the challenges inherent with LTE see this leading to better routing and management capabilities.

Image via Shutterstock

Dimitris Mavrakis, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, a leading research firm, stated that to operators, the new IETF standard release RFC 6733 will be an asset. For many situations, it adds flexibility in configuring its networks.

Moreover, it uses cases that LTE will bring, some of which it is already aware, and some which it has yet to encounter.

F5 should be recognized for its far-ranging vision into the LTE ecosystem, particularly around how Diameter plays the enabling role for the success and profitability of operators rolling out LTE technology.

As it transitions from a 2G/3G to a 4G LTE all-IP infrastructure, F5 solutions are a core component in service provider networks.