Building Future-Proof Fixed and Mobile WiMAX Core · PDF fileBuilding Future-Proof Fixed and...

Building Future-Proof Fixed and Mobile WiMAX Core Networks How Does the Access Service Network (ASN) Gateway Help Fixed Operators Launch Services and Transition to Mobility?

Monica Paolini

Senza Fili Consulting February 2008 CONSULTING

SENZAFILI

WiMAX is the first technology designed to support both fixed and mobile services using the same wireless interface. The version of WiMAX based on the IEEE 802.16e standard is often referred to as Mobile WiMAX, but it is an effective solution for fixed, nomadic and mobile broadband access. The ability to combine fixed and mobile services within the same network brings unprecedented opportunities to WiMAX operators.

An increasing number of fixed operators are looking to leverage 802.16e WiMAX for deploying feature-rich, standards-based end-to-end WiMAX solutions today, with an eye towards nomadic and mobile services as powerful new revenue opportunities in the near future. “The choice of 802.16e WiMAX equipment will enable us to take advantage of advanced features such as MIMO and AAS that will give us the network capacity we need, and eventually will facilitate the introduction of mobile services,” José Luiz Frauendorf, Executive Director of Neotec (Brazil), says.

By enabling fixed operators such as Clearwire in the USA to offer nomadic and mobile access to their subscribers, WiMAX increases the appeal of their services and allows them to compete with wireline competitors.

What does the ASN gateway do?

Basic functionality Subscriber authentication and key distribution

Service flow authorization

Basic accounting (start/stop)

Mobility management

Management of base station traffic

Support for inter-vendor interoperability across base stations

Advanced, optional functionality Content management

Service differentiation based on content

Load balancing and spectrum optimization

Traffic compression and backhaul optimization

Peer-to-peer traffic management

Security and encryption

Advanced accounting and charging models

Hot-lining and lawful intercept

Seamless handover support

Table 1. ASN gateway functionality

White Paper Building Future-Proof Fixed and Mobile WiMAX Core Networks

At the other end of the spectrum, mobile operators have the opportunity to enter the fixed market with a solution that bundles mobile voice and data with a residential broadband connection, and compete head-to-head with wireline broadband providers.

For all WiMAX operators the combination of fixed and mobile access means rich and innovative services, a strong competitive position and, if the execution is on target, a fast path to profitability.

Many challenges accompany this opportunity, especially for fixed and greenfield operators that lack experience in providing nomadic and mobile access and in managing complex, wide area networks.

Subscribers will increasingly use multiple devices, many of which will not be phones or laptops, but mobile consumer electronic devices such as cameras, digital media players or game consoles. Many of the applications, such as VoIP, gaming and video streaming, require low latency and the use of Quality of Service (QoS) to meet subscriber expectations. Operators want to be able to adopt new billing and provisioning models, and use information on traffic demand to optimize network performance and manage interference effectively.

While adoption of mobile devices will accelerate many of these trends, WiMAX operators have to

address them from the beginning if they want to successfully compete with their wireline and wireless competitors. To address these challenges, WiMAX operators are increasingly looking to actively manage their networks as they get ready for a commercial launch.

In this context the ASN gateway has rapidly risen to prominence as it allows WiMAX operators to manage their network efficiently, to select best-of-breed components for their networks, and to quickly develop advanced services (Table 1). “The ASN gateway is essential to take full advantage of end-to-end interoperability and to support our efforts to launch the advanced services that differentiate our services from those of other operators,” Graham Currier, Business Development Director at Freedom4 (UK, previously known as Pipex Wireless), says.

What are the requirements of WiMAX operators?

WiMAX is still in the very early stages of deployment. To date the first WiMAX operators have mostly focused on the selection of equipment for the radio access network, i.e. base stations and early subscriber devices such as desktop modems

Figure 1. ASN gateway functionality required for fixed, nomadic and mobile access

Nomadic access Mobile accessFixed accessAuthentication, addressing, QoS,

accounting and charging, load balancing, backhaul optimization

Mobility management, idle mode/paging, mobile IP

Seamless handovers,

roaming, location tracking

© 2008 Senza Fili Consulting • www.senzafiliconsulting.com | 2 |


and PCMCIA cards for laptops. At this stage, the dominant goal is to deploy a radio infrastructure

e that s using 802.16e

WiMAX radio links. The ASN gateway is a central ers

affic and network complexity, coupled with more sophisticated applications and a wider range

(Figure

across operators, depending on spectrum assets,

solution in adual

ile X

02.16m.

lity.

t or

in

r ll

ilable and the operator is ready to support mobile access. It is cru , that operato ce handov ing without a e

that ensures good wireless connectivity. But operating a reliable, profit-generating service requires more than radio connectivity.

To help operators achieve this goal, the WiMAX Forum has defined an end-to-end architectursupports carrier-grade service

element in the WiMAX core network and empowoperators to leverage both mandatory and advanced WiMAX capabilities.

Table 2 lists the operators’ key drivers and the functionality within a full-featured ASN gateway that addresses them. As operators move towards nomadic and eventually mobile access, their requirements become more stringent. The growth in tr

o

of devices, necessitates a more sophisticated approach to manage their WiMAX networks 1).

Specific requirements vary greatly

business models, target markets and services offered. When evaluating core network solutions, however, they all look for:

A cost-effective and future-proof the core that facilitates the operator’s grtransition from fixed to nomadic and mobaccess, and, eventually, to the next WiMAstandard version, IEEE 8

A way to keep network complexity at a minimum, while having access to all the required functiona

The ability to select best-of-breed equipmenfrom multiple vendors for base stations and fthe core network.

A flexible and scalable solution that enables the operator to increase the ASN capacity step with the growth in subscribers and coverage area, the increase in traffic levels (pesubscriber, per base station, and for the overa

network), and the expansion of services, applications, devices and billing models.

Service evolution will require new functionality to be added at different stages. For instance, handovers and roaming only need to be supported when mobile devices are commercially ava

cial, howeverers and roam

rs can introdu major upgrad

r fork-lift in their WiMAX core network.

Challenges ASN gateway functionality

Limited spectrum res ization lancing

ources Spectrum optimand load ba Interference

Indoor coverage Capacity-constrained networks

Backhaul optimization

streaming, gaming)

ent

g Support for real-time applications (VoIP, content

QoS Intelligent traffic management and

Content managem Backhaul load balancin

control Adoption of best-of-breed, cost-effective solutio

with ns base stations from

multiple vendors

Interoperability

Revenue increase Deployment of new sand applications

Multiple de

ervices differentiatio

vices per user

from

s

n ed subscriber

management New billing models

Differentiationwireless and cellular operator

Policy-based

Advanc

New charging models Accounting Billing

Traffic and service intelligence ment

ging models

management New services using web content

Content and managecapabilities

Advanced char

Mobility support Roaming w th other service

HandovRoaming i

ers

providers (WiMAX and cellular)

Interworking

Table 2. Challenges for WiMAX operators



At the same time, operators typically need to introduce functionality such as spectrum atraffic management, and QoS early in their commercial deployments to support fixed and nomadic services. The introduction of advanced

nd

policy function, subscriber management, accounting, billing and provisioning is tied to the

ons that will mobility.

introduction of services and applicatitypically precede the support for full

802.16e WiMAX for fixed broadband access?

The majority of 802.16e WiMAX operators todaare not mobile operators. Most of them are fixedor greenfield operators looking to dep

y

loy 802.16e WiMAX to meet pent-up demand for basic

access platforms or 802.16d WiMAX.

ts. As a result, more vendors are

e for

e

network is deployed correctly, 802.16e WiMAX provides a smoother upgrade

ey are deploying will be able to support nomadic and

opportunity or have developed plans to offer mobile services as a way to develop more attractive product offerings and to get additional

The role of the ASN gateway for

broadband connectivity. In many cases, theseoperators are already using proprietary wireless

Why are fixed operators deploying a mobile technology? There are three main reasons:

There is a growing consensus that 802.16eWiMAX will capture the mass market for WiMAX, with 802.16d WiMAX mostly used in niche markedeveloping 802.16e WiMAX products, and competition and volumes are expected to drivdown prices, increase innovation and choiceoperators.

802.16e WiMAX supports advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and AdaptivAntenna Systems (AAS) and is on a steep innovation curve, promising to provide enhanced performance over 802.16d WiMAX.

If the core

towards nomadicity, portability and mobility, even if the networks are initially used for fixed services.

Fixed operators realize that the infrastructure th

mobile access. They have started to actively explore the

revenues.

fixed WiMAX operators

Fixed WiMAX operators deploy ASN gateways fothe following main r

r easons:

To facilitate the transition to nomadicity and -

nhanced air interface that supports MIMO and/or AAS, and to adopt

c load. Load balancing helps shift the traffic among base stations, based on subscriber demand and on the availability of network resources.

To comply with WiMAX Forum end-to-end specifications.

To select best-of-breed infrastructure equipment such as base stations, or AAA or policy function servers.

To provide the essential standard-based functionality needed to manage the network, subscribers and services.

To adopt advanced functionality to optimize the network performance and to introduce advanced services and applications.

full mobility, without a major upgrade or forklift in their IP network.

Optimize spectrum use. Most WiMAX operators have limited spectrum assets that effectivelyrestrict the type of services that they are able to support in a cost-effective way. To maximize the performance and value extracted from the available resources, WiMAX operators are eager to move towards an e

advanced traffic management functionality withinthe ASN gateway.

In coordinating the activity of base stations, the ASN gateway can manage the traffi



The role of the ASN gateway. The ASN encompasses Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) and one or more ASN gateways. It interfaces with the subscribers’ Mobile Stations (MS) on one side and the Connectivity Service Network (CSN) where the WiMAX core network functionality resides, on the other (see figure below). The WiMAX ASN gateway acts as a relay to establish IP connectivity between the MS and the CSN. Beyond the ASN: the CSN. The CSN enables IP connectivity. It includes support for the Home Agent (HA) for mobility management and roaming; Authorization, Authentication and Accounting (AAA) for user, devices and services; Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for IP address allocation; billing and settlement; policy function for service flow management based on subscriber profiles. Standards and specifications. The IEEE 802.16 standard defines the WiMAX air interface (PHY and MAC layer). The current WiMAX Forum certification program ensures standard compliance and interoperability between MSs and BTSs. In addition, the WiMAX Forum defines the specifications for the end-to-end network architecture that extend interoperability to network elements in the ASN and CSN, through the definition of open interfaces (see table on the right). Among them, R3 and R6 are crucial to enable interoperability within ASN elements.

The ASN gateway Interfaces for end-to-end WiMAX

network architecture

R1 Interface between the MS and the ASN. Functionality: air interface.

R2 Interface between the MS and the CSN. Functionality: AAA, IP host configuration, mobility management.

R3 Interface between the ASN and CSN. Functionality: AAA, policy enforcement, mobility management.

R4 Interface between ASNs. Functionality: mobility management.

R5 Interface between CSNs. Functionality: internetworking, roaming.

R6 Interface between BTS and ASN gateway. Functionality: IP tunnel management to es-tablish/release MS connection, Radio Re-source Management (RRM), QoS, mobility management.

R8 Interface between BTSs. Functionality: mobility management

WiMAX network architecture

Network (CSN)

Access Service Network (ASN)

Connectivity Service

ASN Gateway

ASN Gateway

R2

R4

PSTN

Internet

Roaming Partners

DSL

BTS

BTS

BTS

Cable

BTS

WiMAX ForumCertification Networking Working Group Specifications

VisitedCSN

WiMAX Forum

IMS

Home CSN

Home CSN

HA

AAA

DHCP

Billing

PF

R8

R8

R8



Optimize backhaul traffic. WiMAX networks create an unprecedented demand for backhaul capacity. Many operators are finding it difficult or expensive to gain access to adequate backhaul resources and they worry that the backhaul may become the bottleneck in the network. Sharing traffic among base stations based on their backhaul resources can help address this issue. To do so, the ASN gateway has to be aware of the traffic demand on multiple base stations and their respective backhaul capacity. Compression at the ASN gateway can also alleviate the traffic load on the backhaul links.

e major strengths of WiMAX. Operators want interoperability to extend

ns,

eates a more competitive and flexible

market. Operators can get lower prices and have a

,

om

t

er

g, VoIP and gaming. Limited spectrum assets necessarily

e

vels

streaming and, to a lesser extent, by applications such as

w

re

rs need to prioritize traffic and control how network resources are allocated using

Deploy equipment from multiple vendors. Wide interoperability is one of th

beyond subscriber devices to include base statioASN gateways and core network elements. As anIP-based technology, WiMAX uses standard IP core network elements that are largely interoperable. ASN gateways and base stations that comply with

the WiMAX Forum end-to-end specifications allow operators to deploy base stations from multiple vendors and manage them as part of a single network.

The ability to source equipment from differentvendors cr

wider choice of base station configurations. Forinstance, an operator may elect to use equipment from one vendor for the macrocell infrastructure in urban areas and a second one for rural areas, where the requirements are different. Within urbanhigh-density areas, the operator may decide to deploy an underlay of microcells or picocells fra third vendor (Figure 2). In this case, the ASN gateway ensures that base stations from differenvendors form a homogenous network and that traffic is properly managed. For instance, this approach allows base stations with overlapping coverage (e.g. macrocells from one vendor and picocells from another) to be aware of each othand to minimize mutual interference.

Support real-time, high-throughput, low-latency applications, such as content streamin

translate into limited network capacity. At the samtime, traffic is bound to increase rapidly with time, as the number of subscribers and the traffic legenerated by each subscriber grows.

Even more importantly, the growth in traffic is expected to be largely driven by video

VoIP and gaming. These applications require lolatency. This is the traffic that is most difficult to manage in wireless networks where resources ashared among subscribers connected to the samebase station sector.

To optimize overall performance and subscriber satisfaction, operato

QoS. The ASN gateway can provide enhanced QoSfunctionality by supporting differentiated QoS levels on a per-user and per-flow basis, static and

Figure 2. Inter-vendor interoperability supported by the ASN gateway within the WiMAX Forum end-to-end network architecture

ASN gateway

Vendor 1 Macro base

stations

Vendor 4 Macro base

stations

Vendor 3 Macro base

stations

Vendor 5 Microcells

Vendor 2 Picocells



dynamic QoS1 , admission control and bandwidth management.

Furthermore, the Policy Function (PF) database cies

sed.

Peer-to-peer traffic management. Peer-to-peer

of

-

Flexible billing and accounting options. The ASN

ork

ing

sion of dit

of service

s eir

Advanced security functionality. The ASN gateway

stores subscriber-specific QoS profiles and polithat enable the operator to go beyond best-effort services and differentiate the type of service among subscriber segments or applications u

applications generate a substantial amount of traffic that is difficult to track because traffic streams originate from an extremely wide set nodes with their signatures hidden deep inside traffic flows. The ASN gateway can provide the intelligence needed to correctly identify peer-topeer traffic and allow the operator to manage it appropriately on the basis of subscriber profiles and network-level QoS policies.

gateway also provides an extensive range of options for how the operator charges for netwaccess. Both pre-paid and post-paid subscription models can be enabled, as well as time-based or volume-based models, in addition to the more common flat-fee contracts. Flow-based processenables operators to set service charges on the basis of type of traffic flow, application, or QoS level. Hot-lining can be used to prevent unauthorized access or to elicit an extenservice (e.g. for pre-paid subscribers with no creleft on their account). Flexibility in billing and accounting gives operators a powerful tool to extract revenues from new services and applications, and to offer different levels to different market segments based on price elasticity and service requirements. It also givethem a tool to differentiate their services from thcompeting wireline and, eventually, wireless operators.

gives the operator powerful tools to monitor the traffic that traverses its network that can be used to improve security or to comply with CALEA

1. Dynamic QoS enables the subscriber device to alter or create service flows at any time as needed.

requirements. For instance, the operator can filtertraffic generated by different users, applications ortraffic flows.

Adding nomadic and mobile access

Most WiMAX operators that plan to expand their

ess

Nomadic and mobile access fundamentally

m those

l

Operators can follow a lower impact, incremental

The ASN gateway can help operators to prepare for

out

Mobile IP. Simple IP will suffice during the early

g

g an HA

reduce complexity.

services to include nomadic and mobile access have limited experience with these services. Unlthey carefully plan the transition to nomadicity and mobility, they may face tough challenges that go well beyond supporting handovers.

requires a new approach because mobile broadband usage models differ sharply frofor fixed broadband. In a nomadic and mobile environment, the operator has much less controover where subscribers are and which devices theyuse. The device types are different (handhelds and eventually consumer electronic devices instead of desktop modems) and so, to some extent, are the applications (more real-time, location-specific applications for mobile users). Subscribers are likely to use more than one device on the same account and require more sophisticated billing models which may bundle a variety of services.

path to add the functionality they need to support mobility, if from the beginning they adopt ASN andCSN elements that enable them to add advanced functionality on an as-needed basis.

the challenges of mobility and allow them to migrate gradually to full mobility support, withhaving to replace any ASN or CSN element.

phases when service is limited to fixed access orlimited nomadic access (i.e. subscribers connectinfrom a new location, while stationary, within the same network). As mobility is introduced, operators need to migrate to Mobile IP usinwhich may initially be built in the ASN gateway to



Handovers. Handovers allow subscribers to keep their connection active as they move across sectors or base station coverage boundaries. WiMAX

n

le

-

ype

n sion

r

scribers ther operators’ WiMAX networks. It

represents an opportunity for additional revenues

ell.

rt

have other wireless networks (e.g. WCDMA/HSPA or EV-DO) and may want to enable

connectivity, subscribers will increasingly have

account ome, a

llows

ed lity enables operators to roll out more

sophisticated advertising services based on

n

represent a great opportunity for WiMAX operators as they are

and

heir home or office, and the operator knows where they are

om

l

supports different types of handover depending owhat type of mobility is supported. Initially, operators are likely to choose to support simpmobility. This involves handover support for up to 60 kmph speed and <1 sec delay which onlyrequires hard handovers (i.e. a break-before-youmake handover) in which the subscriber device is connected to one base station at a time. This tof handover is mandatory in 802.16e WiMAX. At a later stage, the operator may elect to support full mobility (up to 120 kmph speeds, <50 ms latency, <1% packet loss), which may involve Fast Base Station Switching (FBSS) or Macro Diversity Handovers (MDHO), where the subscriber device may be connected to more than one base statioand selects the one to use for data transmisdepending on signal strength. The latter handovemethods offer better support for applications suchas VoIP, but are more complex to implement andrequire fully integrated support from ASN gateways.

Roaming partnerships. Roaming allows subto access o

from visiting subscribers and from the operator’s own subscribers accessing other networks as wIt is also a tool to increase the attractiveness of theservice, by giving subscribers a larger, global coverage area where they can use the services. The ASN facilitates roaming by establishing IP connectivity for the visiting subscriber in concewith the CSN.

Interworking. In addition to their WiMAX network, operators may

handovers between networks supporting different air interfaces. Interworking allows them to do so and to offload traffic dynamically from one networkto another on the basis of network resources and traffic demand. The ASN gateway is a necessary element to coordinate traffic management across different networks as it has full visibility into the base station traffic load and resources.

Multiple devices per subscriber. With the availability of mobile devices with WiMAX

multiple devices associated with the same(e.g. they may have a desktop modem at hlaptop, a PDA and a multimedia player). The operator has to be able to manage all these deviceswithin the same user profile and, if desired, have different policies for each. The ASN gateway aoperators to manage and monitor subscriber-generated traffic on a device basis, for QoS or billing.

Monetization of mobile Internet access. Advancfunctiona

subscriber location, demographics and preferencesthat are more attractive to advertisers and less intrusive for subscribers. Access to specific applications may be governed by QoS and, thus, enable the operator to set charges depending othe level of service provided and to direct application-specific fees either to the subscriber or the content or application provider.

Advanced billing models for consumer electronic devices. Consumer electronic devices

present in the market in large volumes, but typically still lack data connectivity. Consumer electronics devices are likely to introduce new business models, where it is the application content provider that pays for network access rather than the subscriber.

Indoor and high-density area coverage. Fixed subscribers access the network from t

located. With the availability of mobile devices,subscribers will shift their usage pattern and generally access the network more frequently frindoor public locations and high-density (e.g. downtown) areas. This may require changes innetwork planning and in many cases the shift to a more complex network topology that includes microcells and picocells in addition to traditionamacrocells.



The ASN gateway provides the functionality needeto knit these different

d kinds of base stations into

one homogenous WiMAX network offering a

the

o make the best use of the microcell and picocell

from

ators may decide to adopt femtocells to provide enhanced indoor

n

at cell

ber of

One size does not fit all

consistent subscriber experience. The ability of the ASN gateway to manage hardware from different vendors is a big advantage in this context, asmicrocells and picocells that best meet the operator’s need are likely to be from a different vendor than the one that supplies macrocells.

Advanced traffic management, spectrum optimization and load balancing are all crucial t

underlay network to relieve traffic demandthe macrocell network and to increase the overall network capacity and coverage.

Femtocells. Further along the path to improve support for mobile devices, oper

coverage in homes or small offices. Femtocells calead to more efficient spectrum use by offloading traffic from the macro network in the same way that picocells and microcells do. They also give operators a much tighter control of the user experience at home and office locations than Wi-Fi, for instance, would allow. The functionality ththe ASN gateway offers for microcell and picomanagement can also be used to support femtocells. In addition, however, the ASN gateway needs to have the capability to manage effectivelywhat could potentially be a very large numfemtocells, as by default each femtocell is treated within the ASN as another base station.

WiMAX operators range from regionservice providers to nationwide cell

al last-mile ular carriers.

Different ASN gateway configurations are needed rs

es bscribers. For these

operators, a simple, affordable and easy-to-deploy

SN to

n be attractive to a fixed operator that plans to introduce mobile

A

grate their WiMAX network with their legacy networks typically want to select best-of-

reas in their networks. A lower capacity ASN gateway, for

ys

ased diversity in the network topology (e.g. the addition

or

rs

solution, operators need to carefully assess the requirements dictated by their network

hat

to address the requirements of different operatoand allow them to gradually enhance their ASN functionality and capacity.

Many operators will initially focus on fixed servicto a restricted number of su

solution capable of supporting only a limited number of base stations and subscribers is required. In many cases the operator may choose a solution that includes some elements of the Cfurther reduce complexity.

For instance, an ASN gateway that incorporates HA functionality as an option ca

services, but is not ready to invest in a stand-alone HA. In this case, the operator may activate the Hmodule only when it is ready to transition to Mobile IP.

On the other hand, larger operators that often need to inte

breed components separately. In the example above, they are likely to have the HA function separate from the ASN gateway.

Different ASN configurations can be used by operators for different coverage a

instance, may be deployed to serve rural deployments, with higher capacity ASN gatewareserved for high-density urban areas.

Performance enhancements (e.g. the transition to MIMO, AAS and IEEE 802.16m) and incre

of an underlay network of microcells, picocells or femtocells) will also change the requirements fcapacity and network traffic optimization both on the radio access and the backhaul sides. The solution selected should provide network operatoample room for capacity growth, even though the specific roadmap for evolution may not yet beknown.

To select the most cost-effective, suitable ASN gateway

topology and coverage, the services offered, and the traffic levels to be supported, and ensure ttheir growth requirements can be accommodated without equipment changes.



Conclusions

WiMAX gives fixed and mobile operators the dvanced services that will

activeness to subscribers and bring in additional revenues, and to use

imize

,

opportunity to roll out aincrease service attr

sophisticated traffic management tools to optthe use of spectrum and other network resources.

Fixed operators that deploy 802.16e WiMAX need to have ASN gateways in place when they launch service to take advantage of their functionality and to avoid later disruption when they are ready to roll out new services. “We quickly realized that we required a full-featured ASN gateway that goes beyond basic traffic management, security and QoS. From the beginning, we plan to actively manage traffic to guarantee a high level of subscriber experience, and to use advanced subscriber management to keep costs under control and make it simple for subscribers to sign on and manage their subscription,” Manuel BonillaCEO of Wind Telecom (Dominican Republic), says.

WiMAX operators also need to ensure that their ASN and CSN elements allow them to gradually deploy the functionality as they need it, and to increase coverage and capacity as subscribers sign up for service. They need a future-proof solutionthat can be expanded and enhanced without expensive hardware replacements to gradually enable them to roll out fixed, nomadic and fully mobile services.

Acronyms

3G Third Generation Authorization, Authentication and

ccounting AAA

AAAS Adaptive Antenna System ASN Access Service Network BTS Base Transceiver Station

CALEA

Act Communications Assistance for LawEnforcement

CSN Connectivity Service Network DHCP tion Protocol Dynamic Host ConfiguraEV-DO EVolution Data OptimizedFBSS Fast Base Station Switching HA Home Agent HSPA High Speed Packet Access

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

IP Internet Protocol IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem LTE Long Term Evolution MAC Medium Access Control [Layer] MDHO rsity Handovers Macro DiveMIMO tiple Output Multiple Input MulMS Mobile Station

PCMCIA mory Card Personal Computer Me

International Association PDA Personal Digital Assistant PF Policy Function PHY Physical [Layer] PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network QoS Quality of Service RRM Radio Resource Management VoIP et Protocol Voice over InternWCDMA ision Multiple Access Wideband Code Div

WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access




Operators adopting 802.16e WiMAX initially for fixed services can seamlessly migrate to full mobility using the same ASN gateway solution following these steps: At commercial launch, manage the

network with an ASN gateway that does not include HA functionality, with support for simple IP and end-to-end QoS. The ASN gateway can provide functions like policy enforcement, QoS, service differentiation, advanced subscriber management, authentication, key distribution, service flow management, post-paid and pre-paid charging, admission control, compression, backhaul management and load balancing. Share the same AAA server for WiMAX and

networks using other access technologies. Add support for nomadic services, with

progressively more advanced applications and service plans. During this phase, the operator may add HA functionality to the ASN Gateway hardware platform to introduce simple mobility and migrate to Mobile IP. This allows the operator to manage the transition to nomadicity without replacing equipment. Complete the transition to full mobility,

including support for high speed seamless handovers. Operators can achieve this either by adding HA functionality within the existing ASN gateway hardware platform or by adding a standalone HA. Advanced applications like mobile VoIP, mobile gaming can be added in this phase.

During the transition to mobility, operators that choose a scalable solution will be able to keep the same hardware and, where needed, increase the network capacity, either by adding new ASN gateways or by expanding the capacity of those installed.

WiMAX for fixed and nomadic networks

WiMAX for fully mobile networks

A smooth transition to mobility

About WiChorus

WiChorus has pioneered a new class of intelligent wireless core solution to enable service providers to deploy large scale, profitable WiMAX and 4G networks. Leveraging this platform, the company’s Intelligent Access Services Network (ASN) Gateway & Home Agent solutions provide advanced service & subscriber management, service aggregation, content management and network optimization. These solutions enable fixed and

mobile service providers to deploy scalable WiMAX networks, capitalize on service differentiation opportunities and streamline capital and operational costs. Founded in 2005, WiChorus is backed by leading Silicon Valley investors Accel Partners, Mayfield Fund, and Redpoint Ventures. For more information, please visit www.wichorus.com

About Senza Fili Consulting

Senza Fili Consulting provides advisory support on wireless data technologies and services. Our expertise extends to 3G, LTE, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, and other fixed and mobile Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies. We assist vendors in gaining a better understanding of the service provider and end-user markets. We work alongside service providers in developing a wireless data strategy and in assessing the demand for wireless services. Independent advice, a strong quantitative backing, and an international perspective are the hallmarks of our work. CONSULTING

SENZAFILI

At Senza Fili we have in-depth expertise in financial modeling, market forecasts and research, business plan support, due diligence, white paper preparation, training, and evaluation of end-user requirements. Our clients are international and span the entire value chain; they include fixed and mobile operators, ISPs, wireless ISPs, other service providers, vendors, solution providers, system integrators, investors, and industry associations.

For additional information you can visit us at www.senzafiliconsulting.com, or you can contact us at [email protected] or at +1 425 657 4991.

© 2008 Senza Fili Consulting LLC. All rights reserved. This white paper was prepared on behalf of WiChorus Inc. The views and statements expressed in this document are those of Senza Fili Consulting LLC and they should not be inferred to reflect the position of WiChorus Inc. The document can be distributed only in its integral form and acknowledging the source. No selection of this material can be copied, photocopied, duplicated in any form or by any means, or redistributed without express written permission from Senza Fili Consulting LLC. While the document is based upon information that we consider accurate and reliable, Senza Fili Consulting LLC makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information in this document. Senza Fili Consulting assumes no liability for any damage or loss arising from reliance on this information. Trademarks mentioned in this document are property of their respective owners.

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