What is the Difference Between SIP and BICC?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and BICC (Bearer Independent Call Control) are both session control protocols used in IP-based networks for creating, modifying, and terminating communication sessions, such as voice and multimedia services. However, there are some differences between the two protocols:
- Domain: BICC is limited to operating in the GSM and UMTS domain, whereas SIP can interact with most of the prevailing networks.
- Media Packet Framing Protocol: BICC uses the 3GPP specific IuFP framing protocol, while SIP uses the IETF-based framing protocol. IuFP framing introduces a protocol layer above the RTP, which duplicates some of the functionalities, making it less efficient than SIP's framing.
- Signaling Messages: BICC signaling messages are very much identical to ISUP (ISDN User Part) messages, whereas SIP is contrastingly different from ISUP messages.
- Protocol Architecture: BICC protocol architecture contains many interconnected nodes to provide services, whereas SIP uses many types of SIP servers when communicating within the SIP devices.
- Interoperability: BICC was initially developed to cater to ISUP signaling-based services over broadband backbone networks in the GSM and UMTS domains. However, due to limited flexibility and the evolution of the standard, SIP-I was introduced to cater to ISUP and SIP interworking requirements.
- Trust Domains: SIP-I allows the creation of trust domains, which is essential for interworking with legacy ISUP networks.
In summary, SIP is more versatile and widely used than BICC, as it can interact with various networks and uses more efficient media packet framing protocols. BICC, on the other hand, is limited to the GSM and UMTS domains and uses less efficient framing protocols.
Comparative Table: SIP vs BICC
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and BICC (Bearer Independent Call Control) are both session control protocols used to create, modify, and terminate IP-based communications such as voice and multimedia services. They were developed to carry ISUP signaling messages over IP-based networks. Here are some key differences between SIP and BICC:
| Feature | SIP | BICC |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Can interact with most prevailing networks. | Limited to operate in the GSM and UMTS domain. |
| Media Packet Framing Protocol | Uses packet framing based on IETF specifications. | Uses IuFP media packet framing protocol specified by 3GPP. |
| ISUP Interworking | SIP-I was developed with the concept of trust domains, making it better suited for UMTS networks. | BICC was initially developed to cater to ISUP interworking in the GSM and UMTS domains. |
| Signaling Messages | SIP signaling messages are contrastingly different from ISUP messages. | BICC signaling messages are very much identical to ISUP messages. |
| Architecture | SIP uses many types of SIP servers when communicating within SIP devices. | BICC protocol architecture contains many interconnected nodes to provide services. |
| Establishing and Negotiating Media and Bearer | Both protocols have different models for establishing and negotiating media and bearer. |
Both SIP and BICC protocols use RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) for voice and media, achieving media compatibility between the two protocols. They were originally adopted by different releases of 3GPP to facilitate the evolving networks and support multimedia and other new services.