Network, Networking Technology, Data Communication Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

MGC: Media Gateway Controller

A Media Gateway Controller (MGC), also known as call agent or softswitch, is a system used in the Voice over IP telephony architectures to control a number of dumb terminals and the Media Gateways. The MGC receives signalling information (like dialed digits) from the media gateway and can instruct it to alert the called party, to send and receive voice data etc. There are several protocols which can be used between MGC and media gateway: SGCP, IPDC, MGCP, H.323 and Megaco/H.248. MGC can interface with other signalling protocols, like SS7 and SIP.

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MGC: Media Gateway Controller