IHS: Service Providers Optimistic about Moving IMS Networks to NFV, Rate Vendors

CAMPBELL, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/09/15 -- IHS (NYSE: IHS) conducted in-depth interviews with global service providers that have IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) core equipment in their networks or will by the end of 2017 and discovered that only 8 percent are running IMS network elements in a network functions virtualization (NFV) environment today.

"Though only a small number of service providers who took part in our IMS strategies survey are currently running IMS in a virtualized environment, more are on the path by starting to utilize software running on commercial off-the-shelf hardware as a stepping stone to full NFV," said Diane Myers, research director for VoIP, UC and IMS at IHS.

"One of the biggest drivers for NFV is the ability to scale services up and down quickly and introduce new network services more efficiently and in a timely manner, which makes IMS a good early fit for NFV," Myers said.

ADDITIONAL IMS SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS

80 percent of service provider respondents indicated that parts of their IMS elements will be running in an NFV environment by 2017, which IHS believes is somewhat optimistic.

Today, 60 percent to 65 percent of respondents are running residential voice over broadband, SIP trunking or hosted business VoIP over IMS, growing to 88 percent by 2017.

Telephony application servers (TAS) are an important element to commercializing an IMS network: 72 percent of respondents have already installed voice application servers.

In an open-ended question asking respondents who they consider to be the top three IMS infrastructure vendors, operators most often named Huawei, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent.

IMS SURVEY SYNOPSIS
The 36-page annual IHS Infonetics IMS Service Strategies and Vendor Leadership: Global Service Provider Survey is based on interviews with purchase-decision makers at 25 incumbent, competitive, mobile and cable operators from EMEA, Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America. Service providers were asked about IMS migration drivers and barriers; plans for IMS services and equipment; IMS network elements and form factors; drivers of IMS in an NFV environment; single vs. multiple IMS cores; and CSCF, HSS and TAS installations, features, and manufacturers. The report includes operator ratings of IMS infrastructure vendors (Alcatel-Lucent, BroadSoft, Ericsson, Genband, Huawei, Mavenir, Nokia Networks, Oracle, ZTE) on 9 criteria. To purchase the report, please visit www.infonetics.com/contact.asp.

RELATED RESEARCH
35 Percent of Operators Surveyed Will Deploy NFV This Year:
http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2015/NFV-Strategies-Survey-Highlights.asp

Carrier Voice-over-IP Market Off to Strong Start in 2015:
http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2015/1Q15-Service-Provider-VoIP-and-IMS-Market-Highlights.asp

VoLTE Activity Sends Service Provider VoIP Equipment Market Up 12% in 2014:
http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2015/4Q14-Service-Provider-VoIP-and-IMS-Market-Highlights.asp

Diameter Signaling Controller Market Soared 81% in 2014 on the Wings of LTE:
http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2015/Diameter-Signaling-Control-Market-Highlights.asp

RECENT AND UPCOMING RESEARCH
Download the IHS Infonetics 2015 service brochure or log in: www.infonetics.com/login.
- Analyst Research Notes: VoIP, UC and IMS (Ongoing)
- VoLTE and OTT Mobile VoIP Services and Subscribers Forecast (June 25)
- IMS Vendor Scorecard (July 6)
- Service Provider VoIP and IMS Equipment and Subscribers Forecast (Aug.)

IHS INFONETICS WEBINARS (https://www.infonetics.com/infonetics-events)
- Delivering Security Everywhere with SDN & NFV (July 15: Register)
- SDN & NFV: Accelerating PoCs to Live Commercial Deployment (July 16: Register)
- Leveraging NFV for Carrier WiFi Services (July 21: Register)
- Moving Beyond Voice in VoLTE Networks (Sponsor)
- Service Provider Experiences with NFV: The Good, Bad & Ugly (Watch now)
- Diameter Signaling Control for Next-Gen Networks (Watch now)

TO PURCHASE RESEARCH, CONTACT:
- The Americas: +1 855 323-3363, +1 719 265-1535, [email protected]
- Europe, Middle East, Africa: +44 1344 328300, [email protected]
- Asia Pacific: +604 291-3600, [email protected]

About IHS (www.ihs.com)
IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of insight, analytics and expertise in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 150 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.

IHS is a registered trademark of IHS Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. © 2015 IHS Inc. All rights reserved.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2015/7/9/11G047180/Images/2015-IHS-Infonetics-IMS-Service-Provider-Survey-Ch-798403175008.jpg

   News Media Contact:Diane MyersResearch Director, VoIP, UC and IMSIHS +1 408-583-3391Email contact Twitter: @dianemyers

Source: Infonetics Research

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