M3UA is used for the transport of Signaling System 7 (SS7) MTP 3 user signaling messages over IP using the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP). Its uses include Voice over IP (VoIP) gateways and Third Generation wireless infrastructure (for the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The M3UA protocol carries SS7 messages over IP, connecting call control and carrier services in the IP network to the existing SS7 network. Moreover, M3UA enables a single SS7/IP signaling gateway to converge multiple IP applications to appear as a single SS7 network element, thereby simplifying the network and ensuring the scalability, performance and reliability of the IP applications.