A new architecture for wireline access to the 3G IP Multimedia Subsystem

In this paper we propose a novel architecture for converged multimedia SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) services in wireline and 3G networks. The work on the future evolution of 3G systems is taking momentum with ongoing research on access to the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) from any broadband access network. In particular WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) access to the 3G services located in the IMS is being standardised though major points still need to be addressed. Wireline access to 3G services is not yet standardised and no deployable solution exists today. We propose in this paper a new architecture that allows an xDSL (Digital Subscriber Line) access to 3G SIP based services, enabling a new generation of converged fixed/mobile services. This would also allow Network Operators to mutualise equipments and therefore reduce costs. In this paper, we analyse the high level requirements of this architecture, and we propose to introduce two new functional entities in the xDSL network: a SIP Proxy and a Border Gateway. We study the impact of this new architecture with several transversal requirements: connectivity, QoS and security.