New Platform To Extend Benefits of IP Networks to 3G Wireless

Inset above : T-Mobile will be the first operator to deploy the new QoS software platform.

US : IPWireless today announced the release of its latest UMTS TD-CDMA network software that will allow operators to implement full packet inspection and prioritization capabilities on their networks, extending the benefits of an IP core to its 3G air interface.

This new platform enables operators to offer a new set of differentiated mobile broadband services, full network Quality of Service (QOS) on a service-by-service basis, and an improved customer experience for real-time applications. The platform is available as a software upgrade for existing operators, and will first be deployed on the recently announced T-Mobile TD-CDMA network in the Czech Republic.

“By extending the benefits of an All-IP network to the air interface, we create a win-win for both consumers and operators,” said Dr. Bill Jones, COO of IPWireless. “Consumers will experience a whole new level of performance while operators can offer a new set of mobile services and maximize their revenue per bit.”

This new platform, combined with TD-CDMA’s very high downlink and uplink performance, low latency, and support for a high number of simultaneous users, allows operators to offer a range of differentiated mobile broadband services to both enterprise and consumer markets, and to maximize revenue on their networks. Premium corporate, VoIP, gaming or video applications can be assigned the ideal network resources and will not be impacted by network congestion during peak traffic times, while peer to peer or other bandwidth intensive but latency insensitive applications are held back. This allows operators to charge more for premium services while still exploiting mass-market demands. The new feature leverages the fact that UMTS TD-CDMA, unlike other 3G technologies, uses shared channels on both the downlink and uplink, making it ideal for packet based applications.

The packet prioritization platform inspects all the packets on both the uplink and downlink and works with the network scheduler to prioritize these packets based on operator defined preferences in the network management system. Operators can prioritize packets based on both the type of service, as well as the type of user. The platform can also map a packet to either a shared channel or to a dedicated channel on the network based on the service requirement and economics. The platform provides a mapping of IP core network QoS settings to service definitions in the TD-CDMA radio access network, including the extraction and setting of DiffServ or MPLS values. The network also identifies and prioritizes packets based on protocols such as FTP or HTTP or an IP port number. The end result is a far more efficient use of the network resources.

“The release of our packet prioritization platform continues to improve TD-CDMA’s position as the most advanced 3G platform for packet-based or mobile broadband applications,” said Dr. Bill Jones. “These capabilities combined with TD-CDMA’s exceptional performance are contributing to the technology’s continued momentum with operators as a complement to their circuit switched 3G networks.”