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Introduction The Global Signaling and Inter-working Forum (GSIF) is a forum which meets once a year where carriers either operating or planning to operate GSIF interconnection with other carriers meet to discuss and plan SS7 network issues. The meetings are not held under the auspices of a central body such as the ITU, but instead are arranged, hosted and supported by the carriers represented at the meeting. The meetings will continue as long as there is a need or desire by those participants to have such a meeting and whilst future hosts can be found. Currently some 80 plus carriers are represented at the meeting and lists of participants can be found on this website. Meeting Content The meetings comprise of two main areas, a plenary session and bilateral discussions. The meetings last about one week and include time specifically allocated to both areas. Plenary Session The plenary session is designed to raise awareness and discussions of topics where appropriate common solutions can be agreed and disseminated to those planning SS7 networks. The session includes the following:
Bilateral Discussions Time is made available to allow the participating carriers to meet on a bilateral or multilateral basis to discuss issues relating to planning for circuit related signaling (TUP/ ISUP) or non-circuit related signalling ( GSM ). These discussions are perceived to be a major benefit of the meeting as they allow plans for work across the year to be scheduled with many carriers, agreements for STP via third parties to be concluded swiftly and efficiently and a means of rapid broadcasting of information such a stand alone STP introduction. Carriers are not obliged to necessarily have discussions with all other participating carriers, only those where discussions are required or are beneficial. Meeting Information At bilateral meetings, all information presented at the meetings or received from the participants was prepared prior to the meetings and was put in writing, however recent meetings have shown that this information progressively moves towards electronic forms. This website, kindly provided by 013 Netvision Ltd of Israel, now allows each carrier to upload and download information from the website. Each participating carrier can:
Form 1 - Signalling Capabilities This Form is designed to show information about the signalling nodes within a carrier's network and includes the following information
This Form is designed to show on a single diagram, the architecture used within a carrier's network. It is representative of the network showing protocols and topology used and is not to be a diagram of the signalling. Form 2 - Contact Persons This Form is designed to list the contact details of persons within the carrier that are responsible for various planning areas. Conclusion The Global Signalling and Inter-working Forum (GSIF) has been operating now for a number of years which proves its importance among the participants. Moreover, the participants have been able to cooperate successfully. GSIF has provided both a learning place for new entrants in the world of SS7 as well as allowing participants to raise problems identified in well established networks to be shared and to achieve common solutions. The Participants have established a forum in which a one-time visit, a high number of bilateral discussions can be undertaken. This has allowed planning of future work to be mapped out, quick resolution and understanding of STP arrangements to be made and to build the connections between those planning the SS7 signalling networks world-wide which pave the way for rapid response and resolution of problems. |
