|
27th January 2005 - At the upcoming 3GSM World Congress
in Cannes, France, RAD Data Communications will be exhibiting
its ACE-3X00 family of multiservice aggregation units
for cellular backhauling applications.
RAD’s ACE-3100, ACE-3200 and ACE-3400 aggregation
devices are designed to accommodate the rapid expansion
in cellular backhaul traffic that will accompany 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 Gaby 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 are able or willing to upgrade immediately
to 3G. “For that reason GSM is not being 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 notes. “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.”
Indeed, a recent survey conducted by Philip Marshall,
Director of Wireless Mobile Technologies at The Yankee
Group, clearly identifies why cellular operators are
searching for ways to boost the efficiency of their
technical operations. The Yankee
Group report indicated that 30 percent of cellular
operators' expenditures are consumed by technical operations,
and a whopping 62 percent of these costs are for backhaul
transmission and the related expenses of site rental,
field maintenance and product support.
“A single aggregator for both generations of cellular
technologies will not only yield significant savings
on Capex and Opex,” Junowicz states, “but
it also furnishes cellular
service providers with the flexibility and dexterity
to move between Circuit Emulation Services (CES) and
UNI/IMA, an asset that can also further reduce expenditures
on field maintenance and support.”
The ACE-3X00 aggregation devices are optimized to provide
CES over AAL1 in order to connect GSM equipment, as
well as IMA to connect UMTS, both over ATM. This solution
allows 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
aggregate traffic from several sites and transport them
onto a single ATM link.
Flexible Devices
The ports on the ACE-3100, ACE-3200 and ACE-3400 are
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-3100 aggregates 4 E1/T1s at BTS/Node B locations,
and is typically connected in daisy chain topology along
roads, in tunnels, or in case of pico-base-stations,
even within buildings. This offers a simple and cost
effective way to connect the radio base stations to
the network core.
The ACE-3200 aggregates up to 16 E1/T1s at BTS/Node
B locations or at base station hub-sites, 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 modular ACE-3400 can be ordered to accommodate
either 32 or 63 E1 or T1 ports and is specifically designed
for deployment at the carrier POP or the mobile RNC
site. The product’s cards are hot swappable to
provide service continuity. “RAD’s ACE-3X00
solutions 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.”
About RAD
Established in 1981, privately owned RAD Data Communications
has achieved international recognition as a major manufacturer
of high quality access equipment for data communications
and telecommunications applications. These solutions
serve the data and voice access requirements of service
providers, incumbent and new carriers, and enterprise
networks, by reducing infrastructure investment costs
while boosting competitiveness and profitability. The
company's installed base exceeds 8,000,000 units and
includes more than 150 carriers and operators around
the world.
Back
to News Reports
|
