[VOIPSEC] Session Border Controller use

[Medhavi Bhatia]

> > mg> 3. SBCs are mainly use to solve demark issues such as FW and NAT
> > traversal,
> > IETF has already provided a set of solutions allowing NAT traversal of
> > all kinds. Using an SBC would mean using the most complex
> > approach for NAT traversal always. This will not only increase the
> > complexity
> > and costs of the network but also might increase the delay and
> > interoperability problems.
> >
> >
> Right on the fact that IETF(STUN,TURN,ICE,...) and ITU (H.460.17,18,19)
> provide a lot of solutions not only for NAT traversal but for optimized
> RTP paths. WRONG on the fact that Hosted NAT Traversal thanks to a SBC
> is the most complicated solution. This solution works for all types of
> terminals and softswitch. This solution works also for all kinds of NAT
> boxes... With all the other solutions you need special compatibility
> with the solution like a STUN client in the terminal and a STUN server
> for instance. If you want to be compatible with all types of NAT (full
> cone, restricted cone, port restricted cone or symetric) you MUST use
> any kinds of media packets Relay in your architecture. Delays shouldn't
> be perceptible. INTEROPERABILITY PROBLEMS are usually SOLVED using a SBC
> (With our products it is possible ;-)). As SBC is tested with a lot of
> terminals from one side and a lot of VoIP servers on the other side.
>

You must be careful when you generalize the SBC approach today to
bigger VoIP networks of the future. The approach SBCs use today doesnt
really scale and introduces a lot of complexity and constrainst on
network behavior. I expect SBCs (and other system components) to
evolve and use more open and scalable approaches similar to STUN to
fix this problem. Also media handling requires the carrier who is
intercepting SIP signaling to also make significant CAPEX investments.
This makes it a big player play and big players are generally slow in
deploying innovative VoIP services... (just my thoughts). If the SBC
players want to sell to more innovative carriers, they need to
innovate as well...


-Medhavi.