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20 January 2004 - At the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes,
France, RAD Data Communications will introduce a new
family of ATM aggregation units for cellular backhauling
applications.
RAD’s new ACE-3200 and ACE-3400 aggregation devices
are designed to accommodate the rapid expansion in cellular
backhaul traffic that will inevitably result from the
widespread deployment of 3G services. “Aggregation
of E1/T1 lines is the ideal solution to simultaneously
ensure the most economical allocation of backhauling
resources and the delivery of dependable multiple 3G
services to the customer,” explains Gabriel Junowicz,
Senior Business Development Manager for Cellular and
Wireless Networks at RAD Data Communications.
Co-location and Aggregation Lower CapEx and OpEx
Given the initial cost of UMTS services, not all mobile
subscribers will be able or willing to upgrade immediately
to 3G. “For that reason GSM will not be replaced
overnight in one fell swoop, but, instead, will continue
to co-exist side-by-side with 3G networks for many years
to come,” Junowicz predicts. “Due to the lengthy
transitional period between 2G and 3G, it will not be
uncommon for 3G/Node Bs to be co-located at the same
site along with 2G/BTS facilities,” he notes. “A
single aggregator for both generations of technologies
will not only yield significant savings on CapEx and
OpEx, but also will furnish cellular service providers
with the flexibility and dexterity to move between CES
and UNI/IMA.”
The ACE-3200 and ACE-3400 aggregation devices are optimized
to provide CES services over AAL1 in order to connect
GSM equipment, as well as IMA to connect UMTS, both
over ATM. This solution will allow operators to minimize
costs by establishing Node Bs alongside 2G base stations
and using the same transport network for all cellular
services. The ACE-3X00 products will be able to aggregate
traffic from several sites and transport them onto a
single ATM link.
Flexible Devices
The ports on the ACE-3200 and ACE-3400 will be software-configurable
as TDM or ATM (UNI or IMA), enabling operators to purchase
one type of unit and adjust it as required for the co-existent
environment. This feature frees both operator and carrier
from having to anticipate in advance the number of ports
required for each service and eliminates the need to
maintain an inventory of alternative ports in order
to respond to changes in demand for those services.
Future-Proof Investment
The ACE-3X00 products, moreover, can be ordered with
either an ATM or Ethernet uplink. This protects the
carrier’s investment and a smooth 3G and even 4G
migration path to next generation backhauling over IP/MPLS
networks.
The ACE-3200 aggregates E1s at BTS/Node B locations,
dramatically reducing the number of E1 lines that the
operator will need for backhaul. It can also be deployed
by carriers at their points of presence (POPs) to economize
the simultaneous provisioning of backhauling services
to different cellular operators. The product can be
ordered with either 8 or 16 ports.
The ACE-3400 will be available later this year. A modular
device, it can be ordered to accommodate either 32 or
63 E1 or 42 or 84 T1 ports and, is specifically designed
for deployment at the carrier POP or the mobile RNC
site. The product’s cards are hot swappable so
as to provide service continuity. “RAD’s ACE-3X00
solutions will offer the best performance at the best
price available anywhere in the market,” states
Ilan Tevet, ATM Product Line Manager at RAD Data Communications.
“They will make a major contribution in making
3G more affordable to operators and customers alike,”
he concludes.
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