Their primary purpose is to unify networks that use various transports and signaling protocols – such as SS7, SIP, SIGTRAN, TDM, IP, etc.
Unified environments are simpler for telecommunications companies to manage, and also enable them to cost-effectively transition to next-generation networks based on the Internet Protocol (IP).
Among their key functions are optimizing traffic flow; providing advanced load sharing between network segments; managing multi-node congestion; translating addresses; filtering and screening packets; and protecting important information.
Edge STPs perform a broad range of roles in evolving telecommunications networks.
In the latter scenario, telecommunications companies that are implementing IP subnetworks use Edge STPs to integrate them with their existing SS7 signaling infrastructure.