VoIP: Architectural Differences of SIP and MGCP/NCS Protocols and What It Means in Real World VoIP Service
Marcin Godlewski Lead Engineer Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco Company
Charles Moreman Director of Engineering Scientific Atlanta, a Cisco Company

Abstract
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is growing in popularity around the world and provides a tremendous opportunity for extracting more value from existing cable networks. Pressure to effectively compete with new players in the voice, video and data delivery marketplace continues to mount.

For the cable operator, VoIP represents opportunities that include:

• Increased Revenue – Bundled services provide new opportunities to increase revenue, paired with greater scalability and flexibility for future growth
• Bandwidth Efficiency - VoIP extracts more revenue from the network by sharing bandwidth between voice and data
• Customer Appeal – Multiple services from one vendor simplifies bill paying and service calls for customers
• Competitive Advantage – Increase the value of cable service, build subscriber loyalty and attract new customers

Most VoIP deployments today use one of two protocols:

• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
• Media Gateway Control Protocol/Network Control Signaling (MGCP/NCS)

These call control protocols are used to setup, maintain and tear down VoIP calls. This paper will explore the advantages and disadvantages of each. It will also cover the underlying architectural differences and how this relates to real world VoIP services, as well as establishing a foundation for future services.

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