SEPP

BroadForward SEPP trial program for 5G Roaming reaping rewards for participating service providers

Amersfoort, 2nd June 2023 - BroadForward, leader in intelligent signaling software, has announced that multiple service providers have joined its Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) trial program, designed to enable IPX providers and mobile operators to efficiently test the SEPP functionality for various 5G roaming scenarios within their lab environments. This program allows participating service providers to gain valuable experience with this essential network function for 5G roaming. The SEPP trial program includes prepared test sets, providing a comprehensive testing framework for evaluating the SEPP's capabilities in different 5G roaming scenarios. As participants in the program, IPX providers and mobile operators can assess the SEPP's features and capabilities, and compatibility with their existing infrastructure. The BroadForward SEPP has gained recognition as enabler of the world's first live 5G Standalone Roaming solution in November 2022. Since then, BroadForward has taken a leading position in the emerging SEPP market, with various trials and commercial contracts. "The SEPP trial program is an opportunity for service providers to experience first-hand the advanced capabilities of our SEPP product," said Taco Schoute, CEO of BroadForward. "We understand the importance of seamless and secure roaming in the 5G era, and our SEPP solution is designed to meet the evolving demands of the industry. Analysts have indicated that the tipping point for 5G Standalone will be this year – which is in line with the increasing demand for our SEPP. Although it is still unclear when exactly 5G roaming will take off on a large scale, we see that service providers want to be prepared and have the necessary network function for 5G interconnect in their network in time." The SEPP trial program has now been running for a few months and offers participants access to BroadForward’s SEPP software and technical support throughout the testing process. BroadForward remains committed to delivering innovative solutions that enable secure and efficient connectivity in the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape. The SEPP trial program signifies another milestone in BroadForward's dedication to empowering service providers with world-class signaling products. → Read more

Unitel adopts BroadForward’s Intelligent Diameter Router and Firewall

Angola’s largest mobile operator has gone live with BroadForward’s intelligent Diameter Signaling Controller and Diameter Firewall Luanda, July 27^th 2021

Leading Angola telecommunications provider Unitel announced it has gone live with the BroadForward Diameter Signaling Controller (BroadForward DSC) and the BroadForward Diameter Firewall (BroadForward DFW). Based in Luanda, Angola, Unitel provides a broad spectrum of mobile and fixed telecommunication services in Angola, which includes mobile calling, high speed data and other services over its 2G/3G/4G and fiber networks. Unitel is currently deploying 5G. Unitel has deployed the BroadForward Diameter Signaling Controller (BroadForward DSC) to ensure a robust and secure signaling architecture on its growing 4G network. The DSC provides intelligent routing to, and multi-protocol interworking with 3G, 4G/LTE and later 5G networks and systems. Compliant with the relevant GSMA FS.19 security recommendations, the BroadForward Diameter Firewall (BroadForward DFW) protects the Unitel 4G network against potential attacks, unauthorized senders, malformed messages, overload situations and much more. Both BroadForward network functions are widely adopted by leading Mobile Network Operators, MVNOs and IPX providers and run on BroadForward’s converged signaling solution, a multi-technology software platform ready for 5G, supporting intelligent routing and interworking across 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, Fixed/Wi-Fi and IT systems. Júlio Gonçalves, Core and Services Director of Unitel “With the BroadForward DSC and Firewall we have acquired future proof software technology which not only enables us to provide a higher quality of service and security for our customers, but also helps us reducing network complexity and costs, while ensuring we are ready to deal with the challenges of convergence and transition to 5G.” Taco Schoute, CEO of BroadForward, added “BroadForward’s intelligent signaling software is the perfect fit for Unitel’s multi-technology network. The BroadForward DSC and Firewall empower Unitel engineers creating and managing secure signaling scenarios for 4G as well as other network technologies, including 5G”. About Unitel Unitel is the largest mobile operator in Angola. It operates a network based on GSM and UMTS standards, and provides voice communications, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages, fixed and mobile internet access. As a quintessential Angolan company it is an example of success and enjoys high levels of national pride. Unitel has revolutionized telecommunications in Angola with the quality and innovation of the services it has introduced to the market. https://www.unitel.ao/ → Read more

GSMA nominates BroadForward for enabling 4G-5G Hybrid Core with the world’s first converged signaling solution

Dutch signaling experts BroadForward land their sixth GLOMO nomination for product innovation and achievement Amersfoort, The Netherlands, May 24, 2021

The GSMA announced today that the BroadForward converged signaling solution, enabling 4G-5G Hybrid Core, is nominated for the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) in the category Best Mobile & Network Software Breakthrough. This is the 6^th time BroadForward has been shortlisted by the GSMA. Over its 26 years existence, the GLOMOs have been established as the telecom industry’s most influential awards. The winner in this category will be announced on Wednesday June 30^th, in a virtual award ceremony during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the world’s largest annual exhibition for the mobile industry. The nomination is for BroadForward’s converged signaling solution, a single engine software platform designed to run core network functionality and provide support for all key signaling technologies such as SS7 (2G/3G), Diameter (4G), HTTP/2 (5G) and various other protocols. Operators use the BroadForward solution to deploy any combination of its on-board routing, interworking, security or storage functions, for integration and co-existence of 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, Fixed and Wi-Fi systems, and beyond. The platform is in use at over 70 service providers (MNOs, MVNEs, MVNOs, IPX, IoT) around the world, running combinations of core signaling functions for all mobile access technologies including 5G. With the current 5G non-standalone (NSA) and 5G standalone (SA) options, separate silos are created for the 4G and 5G Core. BroadForward however enables building a “4G-5G Hybrid Core” which facilitates a gradual transition from 4G to 5G Core, rather than having to take this big step all at once. BroadForward’s converged signaling solution supports operators to have multiple generations of core network functions co-existing and working together. Existing 4G network components (and even legacy 2G/3G systems) can be retained and combined with new 5G core network functions. This offers an economically much more favorable solution. BroadForward CEO Taco Schoute commented: “This GSMA nomination is a tribute to our long held vision that signaling solutions should work across traditional technology divides. Whereas the life cycle of products designed for specific technologies and use cases are by nature limited, our converged signaling solution is unique, open-ended and continuous. It enables operators to combine and integrate multiple generations of core network functions. This way they can simultaneously invest in future proof technology while retaining and incorporating legacy network functions as part of network transition strategy”. → Read more

Converged signaling solution – BFX Unified Signaling Core (USC)

The award winning BroadForward BFX Unified Signaling Core (USC) is a converged signaling solution enabling operators to combine and integrate multiple generations of core network functions to support a 4G-5G Hybrid Core. The productized solution provides operators with the ability to simultaneously invest in future proof technology while retaining and incorporating legacy network functions as part of its network transition strategy. → Read more → Read more

IoT Enterprise Network Operator Pod Group goes live with multi-technology routing solution from BroadForward

Pod Group has deployed BroadForward’s multi-technology signaling platform, enabling converged, central routing for all 2G, 3G, 4G and future 5G IoT signaling traffic San Francisco, March 2^nd, 2021 Pod Group

, the world’s first IoT Enterprise Network Operator (ENO), today announced it has deployed the BroadForward Next Generation Signaling Transfer Point (STP) and Next Generation Diameter Signaling Controller (DSC) to enable advanced signaling control in its worldwide IoT services network. The converged signaling platform enables Pod Group to achieve fast deployment of customer specific IoT signaling scenarios across network technologies. The virtualized software solution enables operators to combine network functions on the same single engine platform with other BroadForward network products, such as the SS7 and Diameter Firewall, 5G SEPP and SCP. Both routing functions (STP and DSC) run on BroadForward’s single engine solution enabling converged 2G/3G, 4G and 5G routing and interworking functions across an extensive range of network protocols. The unique design of the software solution enables Pod Group to unify and simplify routing configuration, management and provisioning across all SS7, Diameter and later HTTP/2 IoT traffic. Pod Group specializes in IoT SIM cards and advanced connectivity solutions for IoT applications, with 20+ years of experience, research and innovation in mobile connectivity. Pod Group provides enterprises, manufacturers and systems integrators with a complete suite of IoT connectivity technologies to enable those enterprises that do not have the in-house capabilities to build, manage, and run their own network by offering a range of managed services (Network as a service - NaaS). As an Enterprise Network Operator (ENO), Pod Group is a new class of connectivity service provider in the IoT market which combines the network control and visibility of an MNO with the global reach, ﬂexibility, and rapid innovation of an MVNO. It is an enabler for the infrastructure and related services that enterprises need in order to own and control their IoT networks. Alistair Elliott - CTO Networks Pod Group, commented “When the underlying signaling technology provides intelligent cross-technology control there are clear benefits for enterprises to run their own network. The flexibility of the BroadForward multi-technology signaling solution does exactly that: it allows us to enable advanced SS7 and Diameter signaling scenarios that we can tailor on demand. The new signaling platform gives us comprehensive control, full access and a single view on 2G, 3G, 4G and later 5G IoT signaling traffic. This allows us to achieve a much faster time to market for network configuration and security policies in different IoT networks”. BroadForward CEO, Taco Schoute added: “IoT is one of the fastest growing market segments in telecommunications with over 125 billion connected IoT devices predicted by 2030. Being at the forefront of developments in the IoT market, Pod Group will benefit tremendously from the BroadForward Next generation STP and DRA. Our converged software design provides unrivalled flexibility to match specific enterprise requirements and demands for fast deployment across 2G, 3G and 4G while able to support 5G IoT services as well”. → Read more

Diameter routing (DSC-DRA-DEA-IWF)

The BroadForward Diameter Signaling Controller (BroadForward DSC) is the world’s leading product for Diameter Routing Agent (DRA), Diameter Edge Agent (DEA) and Interworking. It enables operators to create signaling scenarios across 2G/3G, 4G/LTE, 5G, IMS, Fixed, Wi-Fi, IT and M2M/IoT networks without the need for (proprietary) scripting or development. The BroadForward DSC can run as a standalone solution or combined on a single-engine platform with other BroadForward products, such as the BroadForward Signaling Transfer Point (STP). → Read more → Read more

Signaling Transfer Point (STP)

The BroadForward Next Generation Signaling Transfer Point (STP) is a award winning solution for intelligent routing of SS7 signaling traffic in 2G and 3G networks. It can be deployed on bare metal, virtual machines, containers, and cloud environments, either standalone or combined on a single-engine platform with other products, such as the BroadForward Diameter Signaling Controller (DSC) and BroadForward Firewall.

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5G Solutions overview

BroadForward provides 5G network functions as well as interworking with legacy 3G, 4G, Fixed/Wi-Fi functions. Our products enable 5G services for MNOs, MVNOs and Private LTE/5G networks while optimally leveraging investments of existing networks and systems. Our 5G signaling solutions include the Service Communication Proxy (SCP), Binding Support Function (BSF), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), 5G EIR and 4G-5G interworking. → Read more → Read more