Session border controllers (SBCs) are not new to carrier networks, but they are taking on much greater importance as the changeover from circuit to packet traffic accelerates. The continued growth of VoIP traffic, combined with the development of video and other advanced IP services, is putting more pressure than ever on SBC performance and reliability.

That is exactly why SBC vendors and testing manufacturers are touting the benefits of SBC testing, which verifies the quality of an SBC before it is placed into a service provider's network. SBC testing is done in a lab, instead of in the field, where it is much more expensive and time-consuming to fix problems in the network.

As detailed in the latest edition of Light Reading's VoIP Services Insider, "VoIP Growth Poses New Challenges for SBC Testing," one of the challenges that SBC testing faces is that it must be capable of testing all layers of the network, from Layer 1-7. Repurposed test equipment that was designed to load test lower-layer devices, such as Layers 1-3, cannot accurately measure session behavior when an SBC attempts to shape traffic.

There is also the issue of scale, which is the new driver for testing. The growth of secure sessions in customer networks is going to increase the need for testing more than ever. Secure sessions consume much more performance than all other sessions, which means that a small spike in secure sessions can greatly increase the load on the SBC.

This new report examines the SBC testing market, focusing on the network operator sector. It includes a comparative analysis of solutions that looks at specific tests provided, technologies utilized, competitive differentiators, and partners for each company. It examines current and future market drivers, as well as savings that can be achieved with the testing solutions. The report also explores the benefits of testing solutions and challenges the market faces. Additionally, the report provides a competitive analysis of eight leading vendors in the industry, including trends each vendor expects in the future.

— Denise Culver, Research Analyst, Light Reading's VoIP Services Insider

The report, VoIP Growth Poses New Challenges for SBC Testing, is available as part of an annual subscription (6 bimonthly issues) to Light Reading's VoIP Services Insider, priced at $1,295. Individual reports are available for $900. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit: www.lightreading.com/entvoip.