Ericsson and Telstra announced that they have together
created a world first by enabling Telstra to operate a combined core network
for its 2G, 3G and 4G traffic.
Ericsson’s Evolved Packet Core (EPC) enables the mobile
broadband traffic carried in Telstra GSM, WCDMA/HSPA and LTE access networks to
be seamlessly handled by the same core network nodes, resulting in an improved
mobile broadband experience for consumers.
Telstra is determined to entrench itself as the carrier
with the fastest and biggest network. It plans to roll out its LTE
network fast, and it will maintain this speed in 2012. Over time more and more
traffic will be carried on LTE, especially after 2013 when the digital dividend
700MHz spectrum is made available,” said David Kennedy, research director,
Ovum.
Telstra also wants a smooth transition. Instead of
marketing LTE as a separate service, it will issue everyone with the same 3G/4G
dongles so that the 3G and 4G networks work seamlessly. Most users won’t be
aware which network they are using. It has also made a $10 a month adjustment
to price, but only for its top plan, keeping the price impact small.
To date, Ericsson has signed 30 commercial EPC contracts.
The majority of the network operators that signed these contracts have deployed
an EPC network as an overlay upon their existing packet core networks. EPC’s
validated triple-access functionality through software upgrades allows for
smooth introduction of new IP-based services to existing networks, protecting
earlier investments.
Through implementing the Evolved Packet Core, we can
smoothly integrate and transition 2G, 3G and 4G traffic seamlessly for our
customers. This is the complete network solution that we envisioned over 5
years ago: a common and efficient core network supporting traffic from any
source across our evolving GSM, WCDMA and LTE access networks,” said Mike
Wright, executive director of Network and Access Technologies, Telstra.
Telstra has successfully implemented the latest
technology and we see many operators following their launch closely. The
triple-access Evolved Packet Core enables cost-efficient operations and
increased revenues as it greatly facilitates network planning
and maintenance and allows for smooth introduction of
new IP-based services,” said Sam Saba, head of Ericsson Australia.
The Telstra solution also includes the world’s first
triple-access SGSN-MME pool. Ericsson has an extensive pool track record of
world firsts, dating back to 2005 when the 2G pool was launched. Telstra played
a pioneering role by launching the world’s first 3G pool, as well as a
dual-access 2G/3G pool in 2007. Now, Telstra has made the next technology
breakthrough by evolving its pool solution to also include its LTE network.
By Telecomlead.com Team
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