Scaling HSPA Networks

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One scaling option is to continually “stack” additional 2G/2.5G platforms at the problem. While providing a temporary fix, this option makes the network more complex and expensive and provides inferior “just good enough” performance, without addressing long-term network needs. While stacking may work for traffic growth of two or three times, what happens when this is off by an order of magnitude?

Using non-HSPA optimized elements prevents operators from lowering the cost per byte/session as the network scales. The signaling and performance limitations of such platforms cause additional platforms to be “stacked” before any savings can be realized. Just when the point arrives to start realizing cost savings, a new platform is required.

The enormous projected growth of traffic for HSPA and LTE requires a platform optimized for high-bandwidth data services. There is an emerging traffic, cost, and revenue challenge in the industry. Traffic is increasing at a rate larger than revenue. To maximize profit, operators must look at HSPA and LTE products and technologies that lower the cost of the network as traffic grows.

For service providers, making the wrong choice in HSPA infrastructure equipment will limit LTE deployment options. The HSPA platform must be designed to scale from HSPA to HSPA+ to LTE or directly from HSPA to LTE.

Summary

A tidal wave is about to hit your packet core network, driven by three major disruptions occurring simultaneously to mobile operator business models: massive increases in bandwidth from mobile broadband technologies; consumer-friendly billing plans that result in unwieldy and potentially unprofitable network traffic demands; and improved device usability and application availability, or the “iPhone phenomenon.”

While your network may be ready for an increase of two times in your traffic by going to HSPA, are you ready for 20, 30, or even 50 times? A next-generation multimedia core platform is required to optimize the profitability as networks migrate to HSPA and eventually to LTE. It is very important to select a next-generation platform for HSPA to meet your subscriber’s expectations and network demand. The same platform must evolve to support LTE without changing out or introducing new hardware.

You cannot wait for the deployment of LTE radios to evolve the packet core. The decision for the LTE evolved packet core network needs to be made today. It is the HSPA decision.

Jonathan Morgan is senior director of product marketing for Starent Networks, a provider of infrastructure solutions that enable mobile operators to deliver multimedia services. He can be reached at jmorgan@starentnetworks.com.