Signalling control: how to simplify services and strengthen control across heterogeneous networks
How operators in Latin America can manage services across different network generations, centralise signalling rules and reduce operational complexity?
Operators in Latin America need to introduce new services while evolving their networks towards 5G. According to GSMA, by 2030 half of the region’s mobile connections will be 5G. [1]
During this evolution, operators will continue to manage services and network elements from different generations. Protocols such as Signalling System 7 (SS7), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Diameter need to coexist within architectures that also include IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and, increasingly, 5G Standalone (5G SA) interfaces.
The challenge arises when each service requires specific integrations with different network elements. As the number of connections increases, so do configuration, testing, maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.
Centralising part of the signalling logic and control can reduce these dependencies and provide a more consistent way to manage how applications interact with the network.
The challenge of managing services across heterogeneous networks
A single network can combine different protocols, domains and technology generations. This coexistence allows operators to maintain existing services while introducing new capabilities, but it also increases the number of interfaces that network teams need to manage.
Key challenges include:
- Multiple integrations: each connection between applications and network elements requires configuration, testing and maintenance.
- Distributed logic: the rules associated with a service may be spread across different systems.
- Coordinated changes: introducing a new function may require changes across several network elements.
- Fragmented visibility: diagnosing an issue becomes more difficult when signalling flows cross different protocols and platforms.
For network teams, this raises a practical question: does every new service need to be integrated directly with all the network elements involved?
A signalling control platform offers another option. By operating as an intermediary between applications and network elements, it can centralise certain rules, manage routing decisions and facilitate interoperability across different protocols.
This approach allows operators to retain their existing routing infrastructure while placing service logic in an independent layer rather than embedding it directly within each core network node.
Greater control over signalling traffic
Signalling also affects the stability and security of services.
In a network with multiple interconnections, operators need to control how traffic is processed and distributed, while also detecting abnormal behaviour or conditions that could affect service availability.
Signalling policies can use traffic information to determine how particular sessions should be handled, how load should be distributed or how the network should respond to patterns defined as unwanted.
This does not replace other dedicated security or fraud prevention tools. Its role is to provide an additional control point within the network architecture.
For operators, centralising these decisions can help apply policies more consistently and reduce the need to implement equivalent rules across multiple network elements.
New services without multiplying integrations
The same principle can be applied when introducing new services.
Instead of establishing independent connections between each application and each network element, a common signalling platform can manage part of that interaction and expose the required capabilities to applications.
Some examples include:
| Requirement | Application of a signalling platform |
| Interoperability | Interworking between protocols such as SS7, Diameter and SIP |
| Traffic control | Policy-based routing, traffic distribution and load management |
| Network stability | Congestion control and signalling overload prevention |
| Service integration | Connectivity between applications and different network domains |
| Evolution towards 5G SA | Interaction with charging and policy control interfaces |
| Operations | Visibility into sessions, alarms and signalling KPIs |
The value lies not only in supporting multiple protocols, but also in reducing the number of specific integrations that must be maintained when an application needs to interact with different network generations.
This becomes especially relevant during the transition to 5G. As new interfaces are introduced, operators still need to maintain services that depend on earlier technologies. A common signalling architecture can help manage this transition without moving all service logic into core network elements.
What to evaluate in a signalling platform
Before introducing this type of platform, operators should assess the specific problem they need to solve and how the platform fits within their existing architecture.
Compatibility and interoperability. The platform should support the protocols, interfaces and versions used by the services being managed, across both legacy and IP environments.
Traffic control. Operators should assess how routing policies, load distribution, congestion and signalling event handling are configured.
5G Standalone readiness. Where required by the network strategy, compatibility should be assessed with interfaces used by functions such as the Charging Function (CHF) and Policy Control Function (PCF).
Integration with existing applications and systems. The platform should be able to interact with services and Business Support Systems (BSS) that need access to network functions without requiring separate integrations for each network element.
Observability. KPIs, alarms and session-level visibility are important for understanding signalling behaviour and accelerating incident diagnosis.
Resilience and availability. Operators should assess the platform’s ability to maintain service continuity in the event of failures, considering latency, processing capacity and recovery requirements. This includes evaluating geographic redundancy mechanisms and how data is synchronised across sites.
Relationship with existing infrastructure. This type of platform does not necessarily replace specialised routing elements such as Signalling Transfer Points (STPs) or Diameter Routing Agents (DRAs). It can complement them by adding service execution and logic on top of the existing infrastructure.
The evaluation should start with a specific use case. Identifying the integrations that exist today, where the logic is distributed and which elements need to be modified whenever a service changes can help determine whether centralising certain functions would deliver a meaningful operational improvement.
How Enghouse Networks approaches signalling control
Enghouse Networks Signaling Broker Platform (SBP) provides a common platform for connecting applications with different network elements and domains.
Rather than embedding the logic for each service directly within core network nodes, SBP operates as middleware between applications and the signalling infrastructure. This allows routing decisions and service logic to be managed from a common platform.
SBP supports interoperability across SS7, Diameter and SIP, as well as interfaces used in IMS and 5G Standalone environments. These include interfaces for the Charging Function (CHF) and Policy Control Function (PCF).
The platform also provides policy-based traffic control, load distribution, congestion management and mechanisms to prevent overload conditions. For network operations, it provides KPIs, alarms and session visibility to support the analysis of signalling flows.
An important distinction is that SBP does not require operators to replace their existing routing infrastructure. It can work alongside elements such as STPs and DRAs, adding service execution, business logic and charging functions on top of that infrastructure.
This approach allows operators to use the same signalling foundation for different types of applications that need to interact with the network, including charging, routing, voice services and roaming.
For operators managing multiple network generations, the objective is to reduce specific integrations and maintain a common point from which to control how services interact with the infrastructure.
Towards signalling that is easier to manage
The move towards 5G does not immediately remove protocols, services and network elements from previous generations. Operators will need to manage both environments for years.
Before adding new integrations to the core, it is therefore worth identifying where complexity sits today: how many systems need to be modified to introduce a service, where the rules are defined and how much visibility exists across signalling flows.
Centralising selected functions can reduce that effort and allow new services to interact with different network domains through a common architecture.
For operators, the decision is not simply whether to add another platform, but which logic should be separated from the core to simplify operations and support the evolution of the network.
FAQ
What problems does SBP address in telecommunications networks?
Enghouse Networks Signaling Broker Platform (SBP) helps operators manage signalling complexity across legacy and modern environments, including SS7, Diameter, SIP/IMS and 5G Standalone interfaces. The platform centralises selected integration and service logic functions so that they do not need to be implemented directly within core network nodes.
How does SBP integrate into a 5G Standalone architecture?
SBP supports charging and policy control functions in 5G Standalone architectures through Charging Function (CHF) and Policy Control Function (PCF) capabilities. This enables 5G Core functions to connect with the operator’s billing and policy systems and logic.
Does SBP replace existing signalling infrastructure such as STPs or DRAs?
No. SBP operates as an additional layer on top of existing infrastructure. It can complement elements such as Signalling Transfer Points (STPs) and Diameter Routing Agents (DRAs), adding service execution, business logic and charging capabilities without replacing the primary routing nodes.
Which signalling protocols does SBP support?
SBP supports protocols and interfaces used across legacy, IP and 5G networks, including CAMEL, INAP, Diameter, SIP, MAP and SMPP. It also supports 5G Standalone interfaces such as Nchf and Npcf, facilitating interoperability across different network generations.
Want to Learn More?
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