Is the traditional IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) fitting into 5G Network?

Traditional IMS in 5G World

(Click to enlarge) IMS and 5G Network

All these years, IMS has been predominantly used for delivering Voice & Video-based multimedia services over IP networks like VoLTE, VoWiFi, RCS, etc. As IMS is access-independent, it can connect to the 5G core as well (via UPF node) for delivering services like Voice over 5G (Vo5G) and even allow roaming features over 5G/LTE networks. 

However, with the very specific requirements like support for Cloud-native applications, Virtualized nodes, RESTful APIs, Microservices, Network slicing & so on for the 5G network, traditional IMS nodes need to be virtualized & cloud-ready in order to be integrated into the 5G networks.

(Click to enlarge) IMS in a Telecom Network

In its current traditional on-premises form, IMS nodes require longer deployment cycles and are relatively non-flexible when it comes to deploying different multimedia services. Also, it uses protocols like SIP & Diameter to communicate within IMS nodes and EPC.

(Click to enlarge) IMS in a 4G Network

This would not be the case with the 5G network which is based on RESTful APIs and discourages dealing with multiple protocols. With SDN/NFV & Cloud-based deployments, 5G nodes can be developed, deployed, managed, integrated, and auto-scaled like Software and Containers; which is not the case with traditional IMS framework.

5G supports a plethora of services around Things, Consumers & Enterprises and relies on SBA, Edge Computing, and Network Slicing to manage the required resources, low latency & high throughput for treating different use cases & segments.

4G Operators who have already upgraded their Core network to Virtualized EPC & IMS nodes over the Cloud and adopted the CUPS feature for separating User & Control planes are in a much more comfortable & cost-efficient position to move towards 5G deployments. They can leverage their existing Cloud-based & fully virtualized networks to implement a 5G network integrated with IMS along with the specific features as mentioned in the article (SBA, Network slicing, Edge Computing, etc.) for enabling FWA, eMBB, URLLC & mMTC use-cases.

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Glossary: IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), LTE (Long Term Evolution), EPC (Evolved Packet Core), SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), VoLTE (Voice over LTE), VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi), RCS (Rich Communication Services), UPF (User Plane Function), SBA (Service Based Architecture) CUPS (Control & User Plane Separation), FWA (Fixed Wireless Access), eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband), URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications), mMTC (massive Machine Type Communications)

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