VPN solution for securing voice over third generation networks

The main idea of the third generation (3G) networks is to merge two of the most important communication systems: cellular networks and Internet. The IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) defined by 3GPP is a technology designed to provide robust multimedia services across roaming boundaries and over diverse access technologies. In this communication converged world, the challenging issues are security and quality of service. This article presents a solution for securing multimedia traffic over 3G networks using an IPSec-based end-to-end virtual private network (VPN). It provides end-to-end security for real-time traffic while guaranteeing the performance and quality of services without reducing the effective bandwidth. Furthermore, this solution provides seamless and fast handover with minimum QoS degradation.