Radio Access Networks: Built on Core Intelligence

Mobile service operators are migrating toward all-IP networks in compliance with 3GPP and 3 GPP2 recommendations. Convergence of the network onto an IP-MPLS core simplifies operations, reduces costs, and helps enable rapid addition of new IP-based services, such as radio access networks. Cisco’s next-generation network (NGN) adds intelligence and control to the IP-MPLS core, and the benefits increase when this capability is extended to radio access networks (RANs).

The benefits of Cisco's next-generation radio access networks portfolio include:

• Collapse of backhaul technologies  onto a single IP-MPLS network
• Reduced operating costs
• Rapid provision of bandwidth to support new services and service growth
• Seamless support of second-, third-, and fourth-generation radio technology
• Ability to take advantage of alternative transport media (such as Ethernet and DSL) for additional cost savings
• Carrier-class IP security
• Extension of Cisco’s carrier-class network management system to radio access networks

Service operators frequently deploy a variety of radio access networks and need to serve broad geographic regions. Cisco’s next-generation radio access networks portfolio supports:

• Mobile transport over pseudo-wires (MToP) in the RAN
  • Backhaul aggregation and transport over pseudo-wire (PWE3)
  • Circuit emulation over IP (CEOP) SPA card for standards-based RAN transport
  • AToM in the RAN (pseudo-wire)
• EV-DO aggregation
• Optimization of radio access networks for GSM/UMTS with integrated HSDPA off-load