Gray Traffic on the TDM Network (PSTN) comes in several forms and is rampant in many countries costing telephone companies millions in revenue every year. Generally speaking, Gray Traffic refers to telephone traffic on the IP network that has an international origination but is being converted to TDM and sent into the local PSTN as a local call thus avoiding toll charges that apply to international calls. A media gateway is used to convert the call from IP to TDM. Another method is through the use of GSM gateway deployed on wireless networks. Again, international calls are originated on the IP network and then converted in the GSM gateway to look like a local wireless call. In many cases the GSM gateways are populated with illegally cloned SIMS.

CDR is analyzed to determine specific calling patterns of Gray Traffic calls. Unfortunately, that is after the call has completed and sometimes long after the call has completed if the CDR data is not immediately available. The only technology available that can immediately identify the call before it is set up and then block it is SS7.

CMSI's NAMS Firefly SS7 probe can identify patterns and block the call before it sets up. The NAMS Firefly SS7 is a versatile tool that also provides the visibility necessary to identify existing calling patterns and new calling patterns as they arise.