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Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE services will improve the broadband wireless user experience, lower broadband data service costs relative to 3G/ LTE, and provide new revenue opportunities
Current Mobile Network Operator (MNO) macrocell networks cannot cost effectively scale to meet capacity demands in dense user population environments. Operators are making use of lower-cost Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE solutions as in-fill networks to augment existing services by bringing capacity closer to consumption while lowering cost per Gigabyte thus improving customers experience in dense urban areas. With data demands increasing at a rate of 25x to 35x in the next 3-5 years (according to both FCC and Ofcom) and the potential for a larger increase in the future, a fundamental change in architecture is required. BelAir Networks believes that the most effective option to solve the mobile operators broadband challenges of today, and in the future, is with a Wi-Fi and small cell solutions architecture that co-exists with and complements capacity and coverage of macrocell networks in dense wireless user environments. A Wi-Fi and small cell architecture can increase capacity by a multiple of up to 100 by replicating cells more frequently and can deliver a better user experience as base stations are closer to the end user resulting in more frequent and consistent use of higher order modulations. MNOs without significant wired broadband service capabilities have not been able to widely deploy small cell solutions due to a lack of locations with mounting rights, available power, and backhaul capacity. Strand-based Multiple System Operators (MSO), have access to all those critically important assets by using the Hybrid Fibre Co-axial (HFC) to deliver wireless services. The HFC offers the ability to rapidly deploy Wi-Fi and small cells at a scale, performance, and coverage not previously thought possible. Hosted and shared service capabilities, embedded in the Wi-Fi and small cell architecture, further enables new business models and revenue opportunities for MNOs, MVNOs and strand-based MSOs. The industry trend towards virtualization of network infrastructure capabilities into cloud based services enables mobile service providers the opportunity to easily commercialize infrastructure services for multiple broadband access services. This also enables new revenue opportunities with business customers wanting to outsource IT infrastructure plus service provider partners who do not want to own and operate their own wireless infrastructure. This white paper outlines an architecture and roadmap of key capabilities to offload data traffic from congested areas of 3G/LTE mobile networks on a targeted and wide scale. Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE services will improve the broadband wireless user experience, lower broadband data service costs relative to 3G/LTE, and provide new revenue opportunities. With industry leading 3G offload solutions from BelAir Networks, service providers can: Increase customer satisfaction of broadband services Utilize cloud services or re-use broadband service infrastructure for Wi-Fi services Maintain control of the customer relationship and user experience across multiple wireless access technologies Seamlessly offload data traffic from 3G/LTE macro-cell services to carrier Wi-Fi Offer 3G/LTE offload utilizing Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE small cell solutions from a single architecture
BDMC00140-A01
Offer multiple Wi-Fi services from a single platform Utilize 3G/LTE small cell capabilities for macro-cell data offload and coverage/capacity enhancements Offer shared and hosted services Offer location based services Offer advanced services for video applications Rapidly deploy new services and coverage
The immediate market need for Wi-Fi as a 3G offload solution leads to the need for an end to end solution architecture based on available technology.
Mobile service providers have a great opportunity to become the value added, mobile everywhere, service provider for their target markets. The challenge is to effectively provide: Mobile coverage to a wide array of wireless devices, customer types, and service areas A cost competitive, high capacity network that meets the fast growing market demands for subscriber functionality, performance, value, and personalization A seamless subscriber experience for devices with: Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi/3G, and Wi-Fi/4G Easy to use Wi-Fi service access models for customers, partner customers, and guests Differentiated Wi-Fi video services to enhance the user experience of demanding applications utilizing streaming video, video calling , and video broadcast Subscriber control of a trusted Wi-Fi location based information source to enable mobile capabilities for social networking, local advertising, and search applications Differentiated Wi-Fi service personalization to enhance user experience and value Trusted security of user data and network resources The BelAir Networks architecture is modular, distributed, and flexible. The modularity enables separation of the core network functions from the radio access functions to allow straight forward integration with existing broadband network architectures and infrastructure services. The distributed, intelligent edge, policy enforcement and security provides for smooth and independent network capacity growth including; number of APs in the network, number of simultaneous users, and network data traffic capacity. The architecture is driven by the BelAirOS networking software and managed by the BelView
Network Management System. All the network management and gateway control functions can be deployed as a virtual appliance or as integrated products. The shared and hosted service capabilities of the BelAir Networks solutions enable new business models and revenue opportunities. BelAir Networks solutions also enable subscribers to seamlessly move from access point to access point while maintaining their Wi-Fi and small cell connections as long as they remain in the service coverage area. This metro and national scale of seamless mobility is unique and especially important to allow wide scale Wi-Fi and small cell networks to deliver enhanced services like video, gaming, and VoIP to mobile users.
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The key advantage of this architecture for mobile operators is the Wi-Fi service utilization of the 3GPP AAA service and PDG/PDN-GW infrastructure from a 3G/LTE core network. This architecture provides for automatic user authentication onto Wi-Fi services based on cellular subscriber ID information contained within the device for 3G/LTE service authentication. The main dis-advantages of this architectural approach are: No session continuity to/from 3G/LTE and Wi-Fi is supported Local offload is out of scope in the I-WLAN standards Requires IPsec tunneling from wireless device to PDG Smartphones and Tablets do not presently support IPsec IPsec network termination is resource intensive and adds complexity
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4G Non Trusted Access Architecture (Wi-Fi/LTE) Figure 3 depicts an overview of the 4G Non Trusted access architecture based on the 3GPP release 8 set of standards. This architecture allows for various levels of integration between LTE and Wi-Fi networks, plus supports: seamless authentication, session continuity (Automated connection re-establishment), and fully integrated connection hand-off capabilities. This approach also requires IPsec tunnelling from the wireless device to the ePDG. This IPsec requirement is resource intensive for both the device and the ePDG.
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Figure 4. BelAir Networks Architecture for Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE Small Cell Services
See the BelAir Networks Architecture Solutions white paper (BDMC00120) for full details on the service provider Wi-Fi and small cell architecture for all supported applications including 3G Offload.
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The BelAir Networks Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) mobility architecture utilizes available functionality from smartphones and tablets, plus leverages available 3GPP core network capabilities for GGSN (GTPV1) and PDN-Gateway (GTPV2) connectivity. The Wi-Fi network connectivity to the cellular core network is achieved by having a direct GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP) interface to the 3GPP GGSN or PDN-GW, which has no architectural impact on the 3GPP core network. The GGSN/PDN-GW can provide for Wi-Fi user connectivity to cellular core services, 3GPP content, and Internet access. IMS services and mobile operator portals are examples of 3GPP services that can be made accessible by Wi-Fi users.
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The key 3GPP integration functionality is delivered by the Mobility Gateway (MG) function of the BelAir Networks architecture. The Mobility Gateway and Controller Gateway functions can be combined into a single integrated product for smaller deployments. The 3G offload functionality provided by the MG is: Aggregation of Controller Gateways (CG) Trusted interface to 3GPP core network AAA services (SWm) Local internet offload Trusted 3GPP core network data interface (GTPV1/V2)
Wireless access communications is secured by standard 802.11i mechanisms supported in smartphones and tablets today. BelAir Networks is an industry leader in the deployment of CAPWAP (IETF RFC 5415) with secure transport for communications links between APs and the CG/MGs. The communication link between the CG and MG is IP and can optionally be secured by an aggregated IPsec tunnel which carries the traffic from all CG subtended APs and clients. This aggregated IPsec approach enables larger scalability through minimizing the IPsec overhead required to secure communications, if required. Macrocell Site Co-location BelAir Networks 3G offload solutions include integrated macrocell site co-location capabilities. These co-location capabilities are based on the deployment proven architecture depicted in Figure 6. This architecture is capable of delivering Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE services from one infrastructure. The key elements of the cell site co-locations capabilities are: Macrocell backhaul, power, and mounting utilization Cell site co-location APs Mesh networking underlay architecture Mesh networking APs delivering Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE small cell services
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The BelAir Networks co-location solution utilizes BelAir100NE APs to provide the wireless mesh links from rooftop macrocell sites to street level mesh APs, plus provides the wired backhaul network connectivity at the macrocell site. The architecture supports multiple BelAir100NE APs for direct Wi-Fi service delivery or multiple mesh wireless access links to street level APs. BelAir100N APs are mesh nodes that provide Wi-Fi access and can be located on street level assets where mounting rights and an AP power source are available, such as building walls, street poles, and traffic lights. BelAir100P APS are mesh nodes that provide 3G small cell service and can be located on street level assets where mounting rights and an AP power source are available, such as building walls, street poles, and traffic lights.
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Open Access Open access utilizing web redirect and MAC authentication enables Wi-Fi service access to the widest variety of potential Wi-Fi users. This is the entry level for seamless authentication and security. This method is based on a web portal for initial known user credential entry or guest payment capture, including creation of a user profile that includes the device MAC information. Further service accesses with the authenticated device can be seamlessly authorized based on a MAC pre-authorization check procedure. Figure 7 depicts the call flow for initial Wi-Fi attachment. The BelAir Networks AP allows an unauthenticated device to start a DHCP session and allocates a local and temporary IP address. All http traffic from the user device will be redirected towards a landing Web page. The Web page provides a registration portal where the client credentials can be entered and stored. The client MAC is also captured and stored during this process for use in further access authorization requests to provide the seamless authentication.
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Secure Access-EAP Utilizing EAP mechanisms for network access provides an increased level of integrated Wi-Fi access security and authentication automation.
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Secure Access-EAP SIM/AKA EAP SIM/AKA authentication enables the network operator to re-use their 3G, or 4G authentication services for Wi-Fi access as well. Utilizing EAP SIM/AKA allows the network operator to maintain control of the user data sessions for offload to Wi-Fi from the 3GPP data session and vice versa. Figure 8 depicts the detailed EAP SIM call flow and Figure 9 provides the initial overall attachment call flow including into the 3G/EPC core network.
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Create Session Req PDN-GW Addr Update Create Session Rsp DHCP Offer DHCP Request DHCP Ack End-to-end IP traffic
Hotspot 2.0 BelAir Networks is an active member of the Wi-Fi Alliance task group developing the Hotspot 2.0 industry standard. Hotspot 2.0 is intended to simplify and unify the Wi-Fi user experience when utilizing service provider Wi-Fi networks. Hotspot 2.0 is a collection of standards that provide a cohesive approach to address: user authentication (EAP SIM/AKA and TLS/TTLS) and service query & advertisement (802.11u/ANQP) as well as operator policy download to devices over the air (new) and on-line service signup (new). This standardized set of capabilities will enhance the user experience when utilizing Wi-Fi and offer the service provider new revenue opportunities by enabling value added services, and on-line sign up to Wi-Fi users.
Session Mobility
Session mobility between 3G and Wi-Fi networks will enable users to roam between 3G data and Wi-Fi data connectivity without their application sessions being terminated. The always on broadband community sees this capability as very important for the Wi-Fi user experience. The application types that benefit the most from session mobility are: FaceTime, Music/Video content streaming, social networking,VoIP calling, gaming, and many VPNs. Seamless Wi-Fi to 3G/LTE Service Connectivity Data session connectivity between Wi-Fi networks and 3G/LTE networks is enabled by GTP encapsulation of traffic to the PDN-GW or GGSN in the 3GPP core network (See Figures 5 & 9). GTP encapsulation in the Mobility Gateway (MG) toward the GGSN/PDN-GW allows Wi-Fi access to the Internet through the 3G core
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Conclusion
As the mobile community continues to fuel data demand with increasing numbers of Wi-Fi and 3G/4G devices and video enabled applications, mobile service providers are compelled to consider Wi-Fi and small cell solutions as mission critical services required to remain competitive. BelAir Networks 3G offload solution is deployable today with investment protection for migration to LTE and a Heterogeneous Network supporting many wireless access technologies. BelAir Networks Wi-Fi and small cell managed services offer MNOs, MVNOs, and strand based MSOs new business models for partnering and new hosted and shared revenue opportunities. The shared services and cloud infrastructure services approach also provides new shared business and revenue model approaches for SMBs, Large Venues, Large Enterprises, and Metro based public and private services. 3G offload is the present driving force for service provider Wi- Fi, however, Wi-Fi will also continue to be integrated into mobile operator networks as a more ubiquitous, high performance and lower cost wireless data service into the future.
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Glossary of Terms
3G 3GPP 3GPP I-WLAN 802.11i AAA AC ANDSF ANQP AP BNMP CAPWAP Controller DHCP EAP SIM EAP AKA EPC ePDG FA GGSN GRE GTP GW HA HetNet HFC HLR Hotspot 2.0 HSS IMS L2TP L2VPN L2VPNoGRE LAN LTE MAC Mobility Mobility MNO MSO MVNO NGH Online Charging Offline Charging PCRF PDG PDN GW PEP 3rd Generation cellular 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP 3G and Wireless LAN Interworking IEEE specification amendment for Media Access Control security enhancements Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Access Controller for WLANs defined in CAPWAP specification Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (3GPP Specification) Access Network Query Protocol (part of IEEE 802.11u) Access Point BelAir Networks Network Management Protocol Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (IETF RFC 5415) Wireless network element providing AP management, AP aggregation, user mobility and Gateway local offload Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (IETF Specification) Extensible Authentication Protocol Method for GSM Subscriber Identity Module (IETF Specification) Extensible Authentication Protocol Method for UMTS Authentication and Key Agreement (IETF Specification) Evolved Packet Core Evolved Packet Data Gateway Foreign Agent Gateway GPRS Support Node Generic Routing Encapsulation GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (Version 1/Version 2) Network Gateway Home Agent Heterogeneous Network Hybrid Fiber Co-axial Home Location Registry Wi-Fi Alliance set of industry standards for Wi-Fi network discovery and authentication Home Subscriber Server IP Multimedia Subsystem Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol Layer 2 Virtual Private Networks Layer 2 Virtual Private Network over GRE Local Area Network Long Term Evolution Network (4G) Media Access Control The transparent wireless connectivity of mobile users while roaming Wireless network element providing Controller Gateway aggregation, user Gateway mobility, internet access, and 3G/LTE network integration Mobile Network Operator Multi Service Operators Mobile Virtual Network Operator Next Generation Hotspot Charging systems capable of processing real time client usage information for service modification based on client policies and entitlements (Pre-paid) Charging systems for processing client usage billing (Postpaid) Policy and Charging Rules Function (3GPP) Packet Data Gateway Pack Data Network Gateway Policy Enforcement Point
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BDMC00120-A01
Copyright 2011 BelAir Networks. BelAir Networks products and associated technology are protected by one or more of the following US patents: 7,171,223 / 7,164,667 / 7,154,356 / 7,030,712 / D501,195 / 7,545,782 / 7,433,343 / 7,162,234 / 7,433,361
To find out more, contact BelAir Networks: info@belairnetworks.com sales@belairnetworks.com 1-877-BelAir1 (1-877-235-2471) 1-613-254-7070
www.belairnetworks.com
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