A method for transmitting signaling traffic in a mobile communications network, the method comprising:
- assigning a destination hub-specific point code for each of a plurality of destination hubs in a Virtual Global Title Translation (VGTT) Service of a Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) Gateway of a mobile communications network, wherein a plurality of destination network operators are behind each of the plurality of destination hubs and wherein the VGTT Service of the SCCP Gateway includes a predefined set of rules for each of the plurality of destination hubs based upon one or more requirements of the destination hub and wherein the predefined set of rules are selected from the group consisting of:
- prefixing Global Title (GT) Addresses with destination hub-specific GT digits, altering a GT Address specific to the destination hub, changing a Translation Type, changing a Numbering Plan (NP), changing an Encoding Scheme (ES), changing a Nature of Address (NOA), applying GT treatment per GSM Mobile Application Part Map (MAP) and CAMEL Application Part (CAP) Operation code and an Application Context, applying NP treatment per GSM Mobile Application Part Map (MAP) and CAMEL Application Part (CAP) Operation code and an Application Context, applying ES treatment per GSM Mobile Application Part Map (MAP) and CAMEL Application Part (CAP) Operation code and an Application Context, applying NOA treatment per GSM Mobile Application Part (MAP) and CAMEL Application Part (CAP) Operation Code and an Application Context, modifying SCCP parameters and modifying Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP) parameters;
- transmitting signaling traffic from one of a plurality of originating network operators, wherein the signaling traffic includes a called party (CDPA) Global Title identifying a destination network operator that the originating network operator wants to roam with, wherein the destination network operator is behind one of the plurality of destination hubs and wherein the signaling traffic further includes a destination point code, wherein the destination point code identifies the destination hub that the destination network operator is behind and the destination point code does not identify the SCCP Gateway, and wherein the originating network operator does not apply the predetermined set of rules for the destination hub based upon one or more requirements of the destination hub prior to transmitting the signaling traffic;
- receiving the signaling traffic at a destination hub-specific point code of the SCCP Gateway that is assigned to the destination hub for the destination network operator that the originating network operator wants to roam with is behind, wherein the signaling traffic includes the destination point code that identifies the destination hub that the destination network operator is behind and the destination point code does not identify the SCCP Gateway, and wherein the originating network operator utilizes a first Signaling System 7 (SS7) protocol and the destination hub utilizes a second SS7 protocol;
- applying, by the VGTT Service of the SCCP Gateway, the predefined set of rules to the received signaling traffic based upon one or more requirements of the destination hub;
- and
- routing, by the SCCP Gateway, the signaling traffic between the originating network operator and the destination hub using the second SS7 protocol and between the destination hub and the originating network operator using the first SS7 protocol.