Intercept provider tackles IMS

SS8 Networks, a provider of lawful intercept products for service providers, this week said it developed products to help carriers address regulatory requirements for emerging IP Multimedia Subsystem-based networks. 

Lawful intercept refers to the ability of law enforcement agencies to monitor conversations and transactions on both traditional and IP-based networks. SS8 Networks says it can now provide Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)-compliant intercept capabilities in IMS-oriented service delivery architectures that employ Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

IMS is a reference architecture designed to enable service providers to offer a range of SIP-based services across packet networks to any customer – fixed or wireless. IMS promises viable fixed/mobile convergence, and is touted as a way for carriers to launch new services more quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

Several large wireline and wireless service providers – such as AT&T, BellSouth and Cingular – have announced plans to develop and launch personalized voice, video, data and multimedia services based on the IMS architecture.

SS8 Networks’ Xcipio product uses SIP to now provide equivalent intercept capabilities in both circuit-switched and IMS networks. In the IMS-based network, Xcipio receives SIP signaling traffic from the Call Session Control Function node and both SIP signaling and Real-time Transport Protocol media traffic from the Session Border Controller.

Xcipio interprets the messages, correlates them with a specific warrant and sends the SIP signaling and RTP voice streams to the collection function nodes at law enforcement agencies, per the ANSI T1.678 protocol.

Xcipio with IMS support is available now. It costs about $50,000.