Best Session Border Controllers (SBC) for OpenStack

AudioCodes presents the Mediant Cloud Edition (CE), a cloud-native Session Border Controller (SBC) that is engineered to deliver scalable, secure, and cost-efficient voice and video communication services within virtualized settings. Its automatic elasticity feature enables dynamic resource scaling according to real-time traffic needs, guaranteeing peak performance without the necessity for manual adjustments. Sharing the same foundational code as AudioCodes' physical SBCs, the Mediant CE offers extensive SIP interoperability, sophisticated media processing capabilities like transcoding, and strong security measures. The architecture, based on microservices, along with a scalable media cluster, allows for rapid and economical deployment of new communication services. Furthermore, installation is simplified via native tools such as AWS CloudFormation, which allows for seamless integration with existing automation and DevOps processes, enhancing operational efficiency and responsiveness to market changes. This makes the Mediant CE an ideal solution for organizations looking to modernize their communication infrastructure.

The Ribbon SBC Software Edition (SBC SWe) is a versatile, cloud-native Session Border Controller that enhances and secures real-time communications in a variety of deployment scenarios. It provides the same comprehensive functionality found in Ribbon's hardware-based SBC 5400 and SBC 7000 models, featuring capabilities such as extensive audio codec transcoding, signaling interworking, call admission control, and robust security protocols, including encryption and defenses against Denial of Service attacks. The SBC SWe can be implemented as a Virtual Machine (VM) on standard industry servers in data centers, as a Virtual Network Function (VNF) within private clouds utilizing OpenStack, or on public cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This adaptable deployment model enables organizations to efficiently scale their communication infrastructure without compromising on performance or security. Additionally, the SBC SWe's cloud-native architecture ensures that enterprises can easily integrate it into their existing systems and workflows, fostering seamless communication across diverse environments.

Alianza's Perimeta Session Border Controller (SBC) is a cloud-native and entirely software-based solution tailored to deliver secure, scalable, and adaptable voice and multimedia communication services. This SBC accommodates a range of deployment options, including VoLTE, VoNR, SIP trunking, and direct routing for Microsoft Teams, making it ideal for fixed-line, wireless, and enterprise interconnect scenarios. Operating on a zero-trust security framework, Perimeta provides exceptional protection for cloud infrastructures. Its innovative separation of media and signaling planes facilitates precise scaling in response to fluctuating demands. Additionally, it incorporates a secure distribution engine (SDE) for efficient load balancing and distributed admission management (DAM), which simplifies large-scale deployments. Compatible with various cloud environments—public, private, and hybrid—the SBC can be implemented on platforms like AWS, Azure, OpenStack, VMware, and ATCA hardware. This versatility ensures organizations can choose the optimal environment for their specific needs, enhancing operational efficiency and security.

The PSX Software Edition (PSX SWe) from Ribbon is a centralized and virtualized policy and routing solution tailored for service providers to effectively manage and enhance VoIP services in a variety of network settings. It offers advanced session control for session border controllers (SBCs), media gateways, and call controllers, accommodating a wide range of protocols, including SIP, ENUM, H.323, TDM, SS7/C7, IN/AIN, and IMS. Thanks to its distributed architecture, service providers can set up local instances that improve performance and resilience while still upholding centralized control over policy, routing, and administration, thus removing the complexities of synchronization across multiple locations. Prominent applications feature Least Cost Routing (LCR), Quality of Service (QoS) routing, toll-free number routing, and number translation services, all of which enhance operational efficiency. Moreover, the PSX SWe serves as an IMS Breakout Gateway Control Function (BGCF) and incorporates call validation treatment for STIR/SHAKEN along with Reputation Scoring services, effectively reducing the risk of call spoofing. This multi-faceted approach ensures that VoIP services remain reliable and secure, ultimately benefiting both providers and end-users.

Ericsson's Session Border Controller (SBC) is a high-performance, virtualized solution aimed at ensuring both security and interoperability between IMS and various networks, managing both signaling and media effectively. It serves as a comprehensive solution for a range of services including Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi), Video over LTE (ViLTE), Rich Communication Services (RCS), fixed VoIP, interconnection, and web communication applications. This SBC can be implemented on virtually any x86 hardware across several cloud platforms, such as OpenStack, VMware, and Ericsson NFVI. It is also validated on Ericsson's software-defined infrastructure (SDI) and can be part of standardized industrial solutions. The architecture of the SBC leverages centralized control while managing the media plane in areas of high traffic, which helps to reduce media latency and optimize transmission costs. With its extensive features and convergent capabilities, the Ericsson SBC allows service providers to consolidate their needs into one product, leading to considerable operational expenditure (OPEX) reductions. This unification of services not only enhances efficiency but also simplifies the management of diverse communication solutions for operators.