SS7-over-IP Networks Overview

An SS7-over-IP network consists of a traditional SS7 network that can integrate IP-enabled or all-IP devices with protocols defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards organization.

SS7-over-IP signaling primarily addresses the transport aspect of SS7. Call-control services and other types of services, therefore, can continue to be offered and deployed without concern for the method of interconnection. The method of service implementation, however, remains dependent on the particular network element chosen to support the service rather than the transport chosen.

This section looks at the limitations of the traditional SS7 network and its network components, the role of SIGTRAN protocols, the purpose of SS7-over-IP networks, the advantages of transitioning to this network, and when it is time to consider transitioning.