Plugging 3G Mobile Networks into the Internet: A Prototype-Based Evaluation

The third generation mobile network aims at providing present and future Internet services everywhere and at anytime using cellular technologies. This is based on its all-IP core network known as the IP multimedia subsystem which provides end-users with better QoS, charging and integration of different services. However, certain interoperability and interconnectivity limitations still exist, indicating that the convergence of the Internet and 3G networks is still not complete. We provide a prototype-based evaluation on the signalling interworking of end-to-end services across the networks. Our results show crucial performance shortcomings of the standardised approach which requires immediate attention