Do I need Session Border Controller for VoIP Network?

VoIP service providers and carriers work in extremely competitive environments so cost saving is a primary concern. One question they ask is if a session border controller is necessary or should they be satisfied with the class 4/class 5 softswitch currently in use? The short answer is No. It is not absolutely indispensable. The long answer appears below showing reasons why you, as a VoIP service provider, an enterprise with VoIP network in place or a carrier, absolutely need a session border controller.

Security

Firewalls are simply inadequate when it comes to handling VoIP packet traffic. VoIP packets can be tapped. Open sockets can be exploited. A DOS or DDOS can get through quite easily. Hackers can make use of your bandwidth for their purpose. Session border controller puts a full-stop to any such threat and, in addition, encrypts all signals while hiding IP address in the process. Network Address Traversal or NAT is another feature that reassigns IP address enabling better security as well as facilitating communication. Even monitoring and tracking calls is a function of the SBC solution so you know through analytics about any suspicious internal or external activity. You save money by investing in SBC solutions from a competent developer. That is not all. There is more to SBC than meets the ear!

Call quality

There exists a proliferation of media codecs and protocols. Internet bandwidth speeds vary. ITSPs and carrier implement codecs and protocols popular in their region. NAT traversal facilitates inbound and outbound traffic in a secure manner. SBCs further normalize SIPs, enable IPV4/IPV6 interworking and translate a wide range of signaling protocols and media codecs. The issue of call quality or not being able to receive calls just does not arise. SBC even improves it by managing traffic. Making calls to and receiving calls from various parts of the world where various protocols are in use does not pose any issue at all.

Other benefits

There are other advantages to including session border control in the VoIP network. SBC effortlessly handles tasks such as prioritization of calls, traffic policing, resource allocation and call admission control. Networks may experience periodic rush of traffic but with SBC in place all such issues simply do not arise. Besides, SBCs take care of DTMF interworking including SIP INFO, Inband and RFC2833. Hardware and software work coherently and cohesively. SBC, in a word, is a great equalizer.

Statistics, billing, analytics, reporting

It is possible to include these in class 4 softswitch solutions but when these form part of the SBC, the class 4 softswitch package becomes leaner and faster. SBC handles these tasks better.

To ignore SBC would result in reduced service quality and increased customer dissatisfaction. Implementing it is not an option.

Source: https://sessionsbordercontroller.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/do-i-need-session-border-controller-for-voip-network/