FRAFOS announced recently that it had released version 3.2 of its ABC session border controller (ABC SBC). The new and improved device reduces the strain on VoIP and softswitch servers when networks experience high traffic, in addition to providing better monitoring.
Berlin-based FRAFOS GmbH develops solutions for trunking, application offloading, border control, PBX (News - Alert) and secure peering. It offers a software product, the ABC SBC VM, which has all the features of the ABC SBC hardware product as a virtual machine. The ABC WebRTC Gateway (News - Alert) allows users to use SIP telephony features. In addition to its products and solutions, FRAFOS also offers OEM partnerships for solution vendors and consulting for providers setting up commercial operations.
The ABC SBC offers many features that make it well-suited for service providers. It comes with a GUI that gives admins control over many aspects of operations. Through the software it is possible to manage configurations, define rules and security, limit traffic based on SIP message content and monitor system usage and performance.
Several different security features on the ABC SBC can be configured. It’s possible to limit the number of calls within the system. This protects against denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Deep packet inspection checks messages for content and can drop them if anything suspicious is detected. Topology hiding prevents outside hackers from obtaining information about the network’s design.
According to Infonetics (News - Alert) Research’s report from 2Q 2014, “Enterprise Session Border Controllers,” the global market for enterprise SBCs totaled $65 million was up eight percent from the previous quarter. This trend is supposed to continue for the next four years; the total market will increase to $1.6 billion in 2018.
There has been some debate over session border controllers between their supporters and privacy activists who believe that the only parties who should exercise any control over communication are the ones on the phone call. It would be nice if things could work that way, but with security issues and the need to manage traffic as well as comply with things like law enforcement taps, it would be next to impossible to give the privacy activists all that they wanted.
Phone (News - Alert) service may be moving from POTS to VoIP, but in terms of regulation and managing network resources, it looks like little will change. SBCs like those offered by FRAFOS will become ubiquitous.
Edited by Alisen Downey