Smart, sexy edges: session border controllers deliver interactive communications across IP network borders - Spotlight: At the Edge

Telecommunications Americas, Oct, 2002 by Jim Hourihan

Law enforcement

It is inevitable that IP networks supporting interactive communications must support lawful intercept capabilities, such as wiretapping. For example, the U.S. Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) demands that it must be possible to replicate and route target calls, including both signaling messages and media streams, to multiple law enforcement agencies (LEA) simultaneously and transparently. Transparently means that neither the caller nor callee should be aware of the wiretap, nor should any LEA be aware that other LEA are involved. Since SBCs actively filter both signaling messages and media streams with negligible latency, they are a logical device to implement this capability.

Session border controllers are an attractive and wise investment for delivering revenue-generating interactive communications across IF network borders securely with premium performance. They can create the financial sex appeal missing in IP networks.

Jim Hourihan is vice president marketing & product management for Acme Packet.