Alcatel-Lucent is rolling out its Ultimate Wireless Packet Core, which not only helps service providers manage the explosion of mobile data on their 3G networks, but also gives them an easier migration path to 4G LTE networks and tools for moving to a tiered pricing model.
Alcatel-Lucent is looking to help service providers handle the growing surge
of mobile data and more easily migrate to next-generation network capabilities.
Alcatel-Lucent on March 18 unveiled its Ultimate Wireless
Packet Core, a host of new and enhanced products and services that address
service providers' need to not only better handle the mobile data flooding into
2G and 3G networks, but also make the move to 4G,
or LTE (Long Term Evolution).
"It's all about the explosion of mobile data in 3G and
LTE," Lindsay Newell, vice president of marketing for Alcatel-Lucent's IP
business, said in an interview.
Driving that growth is the rising popularity of mobile devices
such as smartphones and netbooks, along with the rapid increase in video
traffic, Newell said.
"If you look at smartphone penetration, it's pretty low
right now," he said. "But clearly the trend is all about the
smartphone."
Alcatel-Lucent's 7750 SR (Service Router)-based 4G mobile
packet core gateway platform now supports GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) for
2.5G and 3G, giving service providers greater flexibility in the platforms they
support.
The vendor also is easing the migration path with its WMM
(Wireless Mobility Manager), which enables service providers to support
current-generation networks while having the signaling and control plane performance
for an LTE network.
The new Alcatel-Lucent offerings also give service providers
more tools for the move to a tiered pricing model, and away from the current
all-you-can-eat method. Network providers have said they will change
their pricing models to charge the heaviest users more for the demand they
put on the networks.
Alcatel-Lucent's new 5780 DSC (Dynamic Services Controller)
offers a feature called PCRF (Policy Charging and Rules Function) for both 3G
and LTE, which officials say will enable service providers to optimize network
resources and personalize choices for users.
The 5780 DSC also works with the 7750 SR on billing for usage
of network resources. It is in trials now and will be available in the second
half of the year.
Alcatel-Lucent will be showing off the new offerings at the
CTIA show, held March 23 to 25 in Las Vegas.
Alcatel-Lucent already is participating in current trials for
Verizon's LTE deployment, and has been selected
by AT&T as a key LTE vendor.
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