AccessGate Application Note

RAN Backhaul Migration to IP

M

obile operators are banking on a variety of next-generation (3G) packetoriented data services such as music downloads, video streaming/
conferencing, and multimedia messaging to increase the average revenue
per user (ARPU) that they receive. For many operators, ARPUs have stagnated
in recent years, while the costs to update and maintain their networks have
continued to rise. Although these new mobile data services offer great promise
in terms of higher top line revenue growth, significant investments in upgraded
network infrastructure are needed to support enhanced network capacity
and performance, resulting in an even greater increase in recurring operating
expenses (OpEx).

To offer services that require high-speed packet data connectivity, one
of the areas where operators need to make a substantial investment is in the
access portions of their networks. Also known as the Radio Access Network
(RAN), this network layer connects 2G GSM and 3G UMTS cell sites to the core
network, where the base station controllers (BSCs), radio network controllers
(RNCs), and mobile switches are located. Most operators today either own
or lease the backhaul transmission facilities that connect their cell sites to
their core networks. Approximately two-thirds of the cell sites in the world are
connected via the equivalent of 1.5-2 Mbps bandwidth (narrowband E1/T1) to
their core networks. Next-generation data services typically require operators to
either lease or purchase additional narrowband links, or even replace them with
an optical fiber span (e.g., STS-3 or STM-1). Regardless of whether they lease
circuits or install high-capacity fiber, additional backhaul transmission capacity
between cell sites and the core network will comprise the bulk of the investment
required to offer these new packet data services.

RAN backhaul optimization solutions, such as NMS Communications
AccessGate, permit operators to defer or avoid many of the costly upgrades
to their RAN transmission facilities, and instead begin to utilize a portion of their
existing access network transmission capacity for new packet data services.
AccessGate is typically capable of reducing the backhaul bandwidth consumed
by 2.5G GSM traffic by 50 percent or more, thus freeing up capacity on
existing transmission links to aggregate additional subscribers and/or deliver
new revenue-generating services. By accomodating both 2G Abis and 3G Iub
interface protocols, AccessGates future proof approach to RAN backhaul
optimization is particularly advantageous as backhaul technology migrates from
2Gs time division multiplexing (TDM) to 3Gs asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
and eventually to IP.

RAN Backhaul Migration to IP

Challenges
Recurring RAN operating expenses typically
represent at least thirty percent of a mobile
operators entire operating budget. High
subscriber growth rates and interest in
launching next-generation bandwidth-intensive
services to combat a static or declining ARPU
are the two main reasons operators are forced
to upgrade their transmission facilities in the
RAN. High subscriber growth rates are more
predominant in the emerging markets of the
world, and less so in the developed markets
(where the subscriber penetration rates are
approaching saturation levels). However,
flat or declining ARPU is affecting operators
worldwide and is mainly due to the competitive
nature of the mobile market, which ultimately
benefits the end user.

The phenomenon of flat or declining
ARPU has prompted operators to seek ways
to add new services to the portfolio of mobile
applications they offer. In parts of the mature,
developed GSM market, operators are wooing
subscribers with applications that rely on
high-speed connectivity to the Internet. This
allows users to, for example, stream music
or video, communicate with their friends and
family with video, watch television on their
mobile handset, etc. Because these applications require high-speed data connectivity,
they have created a necessity for operators
to upgrade the existing data portions of their
networks (e.g., GPRS and EDGE) to thirdgeneration protocols such as High Speed
Uplink and Downlink Packet Access (HSUPA
and HSDPA) protocols that promise speeds
of up to 10 Mbps per handset. It turns out that
the bulk of the cost to support HSUPA/HSDPA
is the investment necessary to upgrade the
backhaul transmission capacity to the 3G
base station (Node B) so that the Node B can
accommodate multiple simultaneous data
transfers. While numerous forecasts have
been made to estimate the growth of data
traffic, no one can accurately predict when, for
example, the demand for these high-speed
data services will ramp up. It does not make
economical sense to upgrade the Node Bs
backhaul from narrowband (E1) to broadband
(optical STS-3/STM-1) unless and until
demand for these services increases to justify
the need for extra capacity.



In addition or as an alternative to
HSDPA, mobile operators are also looking
at offering their subscribers WiFi or WiMAX
services over their networks as a means for
delivering broadband Internet access and
enhancing their top line. Some GSM operators
(e.g., Maxis in Malaysia, Airtel and Reliance
Telecom in India, Orange in France, and
T-Mobile in the USA) already offer WiFibased
wireless Internet service in their domestic
markets. One of their challenges is to carry
the WiFi user traffic back to their core network
and have it separated from the traditional
mobile (GSM/UMTS) traffic. Many of these
operators prefer to use their cell sites as a
point of aggregation for WiFi, 2G GSM, and
3G UMTS/HSDPA traffic. In addition, operators
are also interested in WiMAX as an alternative
to WiFi for providing wireless Internet service,
or as a backhauling solution for WiFi access
points. Note that WiMAX and other proprietary
non-line-of-sight radio technologies are also
applicable for backhauling cell site traffic to
the core network.

AccessGate RAN Optimizer

It is in this context that NMS has developed
and deployed its AccessGate RAN optimizer
to the marketplace. AccessGate offers several
advantages to mobile operators seeking to
reduce their network operating expenses while
adding new 3G services. It allows for immediate savings on their existing narrowband
backhaul links by employing unique NMSpatented technology that optimizes GSM and
UMTS backhaul traffic with efficiencies of 50
percent or greater. The optimized bandwidth
on existing backhaul links can be utilized
immediately to offer additional services to the
existing subscriber base, which is particularly
attractive when the demand for these new
services is still low. AccessGate also allows
operators to gradually add additional capacity
by providing multiple interfaces both on the
service (input) side and on the backhaul
(output) side for carrying the traffic, thus allowing the operator to optimize and aggregate
a variety of GSM-, UMTS-, and IP-based
applications over a broad complement of
transmission technologies (e.g., E1/T1, xDSL,
WiFi, WiMAX, Metro Ethernet, etc.).

AccessGate positions mobile operators to

achieve the following:
n Reduce RAN transmission expenses by
optimizing and aggregating backhaul links
that simultaneously carry GSM Abis and
UMTS Iub traffic.
n Introduce IP capabilities at the cell site,

providing a vehicle for operators to support

other IP user traffic at the cell site such as
from a WiFi or WiMAX node.
n Introduce IP in the RAN, facilitating the rout-

ing of IP traffic between nodes connected at

the cell site and those on the core network,
and thereby paving the way for connecting
next-generation IP/Ethernet base stations to
the RAN.
n Use alternative IP-based transport such as

Metro Ethernet, xDSL, cable, and WiMAX

to offload other cell site trafficsuch as
3G/HSDPAthat requires high-speed
transmission facilities.
n Deliver differentiated quality of service (QoS)

capabilities, by prioritizing traffic among

multiple end points that are connected to
the AccessGate, and supporting different
classes of media traffic that are offered from
within the individual nodes.
n Retain the quality and integrity of all content

during optimization.
n Perform all of these items while introducing

imperceptible delay (only 10 milliseconds of

end-to-end one-way latency).

AccessGate Application Scenario: 2.5G

GSM and 3/3.5G UMTS RAN Optimization
and Aggregation
As described, AccessGate optimizes and
aggregates all media and signaling traffic
carried over the GSM Abis interface and
the UMTS 3/3.5G Iub interface. This solution
performs dynamic detection of the media
and signaling types present on the Abis
and Iub interfaces, and applies appropriate
optimization algorithms to remove idle cells,
idle frames, idle timeslots, silence, and other
redundant information on the TDM and ATM
links. On the Iub ATM interface, AccessGate
supports optimization of multiple Iub ATM links
bonded together by means of the Inverse
Multiplexing over ATM (IMA) standard.

RAN Backhaul Migration to IP

UMTS RNC

3G UMTS
Node B
Iub over
IMA/E1/T1 AccessGate

Abis over
E1/T1

Optimized
Abis and Iub
Backhaul over
TDM or IP

2G GSM
Cell Site
BTS

AccessGate

Iub
Interface

Abis
Interfaces

GSM BSC

Mobile Switching
Center

Figure 1: 2G GSM and 3G UMTS Aggregation and Optimization

AccessGate then performs lossless
compression of the retained information
using a patented NMS algorithm and delivers
the traffic over the backhaul using either
NMS-proprietary statistical multiplexing over
traditional narrowband circuits or industrystandard compressed IP over Ethernet. At the
mobile switching office, AccessGate converts
the optimized payload back into its original
Abis and Iub protocols. Figure 1 shows
an optimized GSM and UMTS RAN using
AccessGate. The optimized and aggregated
Abis and Iub interface links typically consume
50 percent less bandwidth than the original
(un-optimized) links.

Cell Site #1

12 TRX

AccessGate

BTS
27 Abis
Timeslots

AccessGate

BTS

By providing an IP/Ethernet backhaul interface, AccessGate enables mobile operators

to reduce the recurring cost of leased VSAT
(very small aperture terminal) bandwidth by
50 percent, with a rapid payback period of
typically 3 to 6 months. Figure 2 depicts a
GSM access network comprised of 8 cell sites
with capacities ranging from 3 to 12 TRXs
all connected to a single BSC location
over an SCPC-based (single channel per
carrier) VSAT downlink. AccessGate interoperates with many of the most popular SCPC

21 Abis
Timeslots

IP-Enabled
VSAT
10 Optimized
Abis Timeslots

Total of 8 Cell Sites

Ranging from 3 to 12 TRXs

3 TRX
BTS
7 Abis
Timeslots

Cell Site #8
AccessGate

modems, which have increasingly adopted

IP/Ethernet interfaces. In Figure 2, 8 low-end
BTS AccessGate units optimize GSM Abis
traffic, and pass the optimized traffic to the
remote IP-enabled VSAT modems. The remote
modems then transmit the optimized traffic
via satellite to the VSAT hub modem located
at the BSC. At the BSC, the optimized traffic
is passed over IP/Ethernet to a single 8-port
AccessGate system. In total, 9 AccessGate
units are used to optimize traffic from 8 remote
GSM cell sites.

IP-Enabled
VSAT
13 Optimized
Abis Timeslots

Cell Site #2

9 TRX

AccessGate Application Scenario: GSM

Optimization on an SCPC VSAT Network

IP-Enabled
VSAT
4 Optimized
Abis Timeslots

Figure 2: GSM Optimization on an SCPC VSAT Network

Optimized Abis
Backhauled over
Satellite-Based IP

Mobile Switching Center

AccessGate

VSAT Hub

BSC

RAN Backhaul Migration to IP

Recently, new approaches to VSAT
transmission technology have emerged in the
GSM access network, promising better bandwidth savings and faster payback periods on
the transmission network than conventional
SCPC technology. These approaches, known
by monikers such as Time Division Multiple
Access (TDMA), Bandwidth on Demand
(BoD), and Demand Assigned Multiple Access
(DAMA), have been deployed on terrestrial
networks for quite some time, but now theyre
gaining wide popularity in the context of
satellite backhaul of mobile traffic from remote
population areas. They all share a common
goal one that allows VSAT bandwidth
resources to be shared among a single
hub/BSC location and multiple remote base
transceiver station (BTS) locations.

With the new shared bandwidth model,
remote BTS sites are not permanently allocated a fixed amount of bandwidth. Instead,
they share a pool of bandwidth among
them and dynamically allocate/de-allocate
bandwidth resources as needed. The result is
an efficient use of bandwidth resources and at
a cost that is substantially less than that of a
traditional SCPC VSAT network.

With an IP/Ethernet backhaul interface
and support for features such as RTP and/or
UDP, dynamic jitter buffer, and QoS on GSM
traffic using DiffServ, AccessGate interfaces
seamlessly with IP-enabled VSAT equipment,
allowing for VSAT bandwidth to be dynamically
allocated and cost-effectively shared among
multiple remote locations and a single hub
location.

100 Crossing Blvd.

Framingham, MA 01702-5406
USA
Tel: +1 800 533 6120
Tel: +1 508 271 1000
Fax: +1 508 271 1300
E-mail: info@nmss.com

Conclusions
As deployments and demand for new data
services ramp up, mobile operators now
have choices for controlling both capital
expenditures as well as the runaway recurring
operating expense of upgrading their backhaul
networks. Using a future-proof RAN optimization solution such as NMSs AccessGate,
operators gain better control over how much
backhaul bandwidth is added and when.
Furthermore, operators are no longer forced to
procure backhaul capacity solely from incumbent leased line service providers. The advent
of shared bandwidth models based on IP
technology, coupled with AccessGates RAN
optimization capabilities, make VSAT-based
backhaul more affordable and practicable than
ever. By supporting optimization over multiple
backhaul interface technologies both TDM
and IP AccessGate offers mobile operators
the choice of carrying packet data traffic
over the most appropriate and cost-effective
transmission technology whether that be a
traditional point-to-point leased line or via an IP
network service.

200 Brook Drive

Green Park
Reading, Berkshire RG2 6UB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 118 949 7040
Fax: +44 (0) 118 949 7042

181516 Concordia Plaza

1 Science Museum Road
Tsim Sha Tsui East,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2926 1820
Fax: +852 2620 5600

NMS also has offices throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
Visit the NMS web site for a complete listing.
NMS, NMS Communications, and AccessGate are trademarks of NMS Communications Corporation. All other brand or product names
may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. 9/06