Circuit Switched Fallback

Supporting Voice Services in LTE Migration

APPLICATION NOTE 5

The Challenge(s)

Circuit Switched Fallback

The moveSupporting
to LTE is complex andVoice
time consuming
and with thein
huge
demand
for high speed data
Services
LTE
Migration
applications many Network Service Providers are focusing on support for data services in their initial
How to build-out Mobile Broadband Services in the absence of IMS/VoIP.

LTE deployments. These initial LTE deployments are happening in urban areas and coverage is not
APPLICATION
NOTEbetween
5
yet ubiquitous, so how do the NSPs ensure
subscriber mobility
networks?

With
VoLTE
(VoiceHow
over
LTE) not
a realistic
due to the
slow
uptake
of(CSFB)
IMSaddresses
how can
The
Challenge(s):
to build-out
Mobileyet
Broadband
Servicessolution
in The Solution:
Circuit
Switched
Fallback
this NSPs
need
ensure
support
for voice in their initial LTE deployments?
Withbackward
voice compatibility
still a major
source of their
the absence
of IMS/VoIP.
by providing
with circuit-switched
services. As
specifi
edquality
in 3GPP TS
(Figure
1) CSFB
is the
preferred solution
for
revenue, this needs to be maintained and
offerSwitched
the same
of 23.272
service
that
their
subscribers
have
Circuit
Fallback
the
early
stages
of
LTE
deployment.
It
allows
network
operators
to
carry
With
VoLTE
(Voice
over
LTE)
not
yet
a
realistic
solution
due
to
the
slow
become accustomed to.

Supporting
LTE
Migration
traffi
c over
existing GERAN/UTRAN networks from multi-mode LTE
uptake of IMS how can Network Service Providers
ensure Voice
supportServices
for voice in
UE
devices.
This
very practical goal is realized by a very clever innovation;
voice in their initial LTE deployments? With voice still a major source of their
APPLICATION
NOTE 5 circuit switched networks the NSPs are
At the
same
time
following
heavy
investment
in
their
existing
network
awareness
in the MME. Where overlapping networks exist, the
revenue, this needs to be maintained and offer the same quality of service
looking
to
preserve
CAPEX
by
extending
the
life
of
this
equipment.
legacy
have
MME may carry maps ofThese
UTRAN TAs
(Trackingnetworks
Areas) to LTE LAs
(Location
that their subscribers have
accustomed to.
Thebecome
Challenge(s)
build-out Mobile
Broadband voice
Servicesand
in the so
absence
of not
IMS/VoIP.
Areas)
that
allowlet
the them
UE to utilize
CS services
managed fromrevenue?
the MME
sufficient capacityHow
to tocontinue
to support
why
continue
toallgenerate
in conjunction with the MSC. When IMS services are unavailable to the LTE
The move to LTE is complex
and time
and with
huge
demand and
The move
to consuming
LTE is complex
andthe
time
consuming
with the huge demand for high speed data
network
dual-mode
UEservices
is instructed
to access
for high speed data applications
many
NSPs
are focusing
supportare
for focusing
applications
many
Network
Service on
Providers
onthe
support
for data
in their
initial the available legacy CS
network
for
voice
calls.
LTE deployments.
These initial
LTE deployments
data services initially. These
initial LTE deployments
are happening
in urban are happening in urban areas and coverage is not

The
Solution: Circuit
Switched
(CSFB)
yet ubiquitous,
so how do theFallback
NSPs ensure subscriber
mobility between networks?
areas and coverage is not yet ubiquitous, so how do the NSPs ensure

CSFB
addresses
this networks?
need by providing backward compatibility
withVoIP
circuit-switched
services.
As not
CSFB
Enhanced
Services:
CSFB does
subscriber
mobility between
With VoLTE
(Voice over LTE) not yet a realistic solution
due to
the slow uptake
of IMS
how canImplementing
NSPs
specified in 3GPPensure
TS 23.272
is the
solution
forstill
early
stages
require
changes
tothe
the
GERAN
or
UTRAN
UserLTE
Plane deployment.
services. Existing It
support for CSFB
voice in their
initial preferred
LTE deployments?
With
voice
a major
source
of their of
revenue,
this
needs
to
be
maintained
and
offer
the
same
quality
of
service
that
their
subscribers
have
links
and
associated
transport
protocols
can
be
retained
if desired,
allows
carry voice
At thenetwork
same time operators
following heavytoinvestment
in theirtraffic
existing over
circuit existing GERAN/UTRAN networks from multibecome accustomed to.
however many
the field support
VoIP. NEPs
and NSPs realize
switched
networks
the NSPs areThis
lookingvery
to preserve
CAPEX by
extending
mode
LTE
UE devices.
practical
goal
is realized
by aMGWs
veryinclever
innovation;
network
that interworking
legacy networks
voice to the
IP at
the earliest
network entry point
At
the
same
time
following
heavy
investment
in
their
existing
circuit
switched
NSPs
are
the
life
of
this
equipment.
These
legacy
networks
have
suffi
cient
capacity
awareness in the looking
MME.to preserve
Where overlapping
networks
exist,
theThese
MME
may
carry
maps of UTRAN TAs
extending
the life of this
equipment.
networks
havenetwork. Voice interworking is
possible
facilitates
the legacy
transition
to the All-IP
to continue to support voice and
so why notCAPEX
let thembycontinue
to generate
(Tracking Areas) to
LTEcapacity
LAs (Location
Areas)
that
theletUE
utilize
CS
services
all managed
sufficient
to continue to support
voice
andallow
sobeing
why added
not
them
continue
to generate
revenue?
to
theto
CSFB
formula
by many
forward looking
TEMs with the
revenue?
from the MME in conjunction with the MSC. Without assistance
IMS VoIP
services
are
available
of suppliers
like Adax
andnot
its partners.
(Figure in
2). the LTE
network so the UEThe
is Solution:
instructed
to Switched
access Fallback
the alternate
Circuit
(CSFB) network for voice calls.
CSFB addresses this need by providing backward compatibility with circuit-switched services. As
specified in 3GPP TS 23.272 CSFB is the preferred solution for the early stages of LTE deployment. It
allows network operators to carry voice traffic over existing GERAN/UTRAN networks from multimode LTE UE devices. This very practical goal is realized by a very clever innovation; network
awareness in the MME. Where overlapping networks exist, the MME may carry maps of UTRAN TAs
(Tracking Areas) to LTE LAs (Location Areas) that allow the UE to utilize CS services all managed
from the MME in conjunction with the MSC. Without IMS VoIP services are not available in the LTE
network so the UE is instructed to access the alternate network for voice calls.

Figure 1: EPS
for
fallback
and
SMS
Figurearchitecture
1: EPS architecture
for CS
CS fallback
and SMS
over
SGs over SGs
from 3GPP
23.272 V10.2.1
(2011-04)
from 3GPP
TSTS23.272
V10.2.1
(2011-04)
CSFB Enhanced VoIP Services

Implementing CSFB does not require changes to the GERAN or UTRAN User Plane services.

The names of companies and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CSFB Enhanced
VoIP
Existing
links Services
and associated transport protocols can be retained if desired, however many MGWs in

6006 5U platform, equipped with SBCs and carrier blades, hosting the Adax HDC3 and SURF
AMC cards. Legacy voice and SS7 signaling enter the system on TDM links via the HDC3 T1/
ports. Voice channels are interworked to IP using I-TDM and sent to the SURF/Rider card whi
transmits VoIP packets to the network. Data services are handled by the LTE network or the le
interface when there is no LTE connection. The 3G solution interworking ATM voice traffic to I
the Adax ATM4 card and RTP instead of the Adax HDC3 and SURF/Rider card.

For a fully redundant system, cards and blades may be added, removed, and re-allocated with
of service. The flexible ATCA architecture fulfils the promise of cost-effective multi-vendor solu
and short time-to-market is achieved through close cooperation between committed ecosystem
partners Adax, SURF, and RadiSys.

The Adax CSFB Gateway Foundation: The CSFB standard

explicitly states that no changes are required to the User Plane transport
services so there needs to be a way to combine CSFB with the IP EPC
(Evolved Packet Core). The solution is User Plane interworking at the
Network Edge. This approach brings CS-based voice calls into existing
VoIP networks quickly and efficiently. In the UTRAN interworking between
ATM-IP is performed on already AMR-encoded voice using RTP (Realtime Transport Protocol) which facilitates multimedia streaming over IP.
For truly traditional voice over DS0s, the ATCA I-TDM specification allows
T1/E1 and DSP cards to pass traffic seamlessly between them and their
associated networks. Most recently Adax, Surf Communication Solutions,
and RadiSys delivered such solutions for both GERAN and UTRAN
networks providing the platform for a sub-system/OEM/VAS application.

Call Control*
UTRAN - IP*
UTRAN

GERAN

GERAN - IP*
A
O
R
T
ATM- UDP/
C
T
M
IP IW
3
P
4

V
o
I
P

H
S
T
DSO/I-TDM U
D
D
C
R
IW
M
3
F

V
o
I
P

* Third Party Software

MSC
Server

MGW

IP
Core

ATM_AMR Voice

VoIP

GERAN DSO Voice

Signaling

Figure 2: Adax CSFB GW w/VoIP IW Fx

Benefits:

Benefits
CSFB enables mobile operators to quickly and economically roll
out voice
Support of voice is a key requirement for LTE networks but Voice
services in conjunction with their LTE networks. It allows mobile devices
overisLTE
(VoLTE)
requiresfor
new
network
elements.
CSFB requi
Support of voice
a key
requirement
LTEIMS-specifi
networks cbut
Voice over
LTE (VoLTE)
to fall back to GSM or UMTS domains for incoming or outgoing voice
IMS-specific network
elements.
CSFBProviders
allows Network
Service
Providers
to integrate
allows Network
Service
to integrate
existing
ATM and
TDM- existi
calls, subscribers maintain access to the wide array of rich circuit-switched
and TDM-based
voice
andand
signaling
equipment
intointo
LTELTE
networks
without
IMSIMS
and the CS
based
voice
signaling
equipment
networks
without
capabilities, including international roaming while enjoying LTE broadband
interworking technologies
integrate
LTE, 3G
and 2.5G integrate
networks.LTE, 3G and 2.5G
and the CSFB
interworking
technologies
access to the Internet.
CSFB extends
the field life of legacy equipment into LTE providing Network Service Provid
networks.

with much needed cost savings as they build out broadband mobile access to the Internet

The CSFB Gateway platform (Figure 2) for existing TDM-based network

services uses RadiSys carrier-grade ATCA-6006 5U platform, equipped
with SBCs and carrier blades, hosting the Adax HDC3 and SURF/Rider
AMC cards. Legacy voice and SS7 signaling enter the system on TDM
links via the HDC3 T1/E1 ports. Voice channels are interworked to IP using
I-TDM and sent to the SURF/Rider card which transmits VoIP packets to
the network. Data services are handled by the LTE network or the legacy
interface when there is no LTE connection. The 3G solution interworking
ATM voice traffic to IP uses the Adax ATM4 card and RTP instead of the
Adax HDC3 and SURF/Rider card.
The Adax CSFB Gateway provides the foundation for OEMs, Telecom
Equipment Manufacturers and wireless enhancement solution providers
to build their CSFB solutions on. For a fully redundant system, cards and
blades may be added, removed, and re-allocated with no loss of service.
The flexible ATCA architecture fulfils the promise of cost-effective multivendor solutions and short time-to-market is achieved through close
cooperation between committed ecosystem partners Adax, SURF, and
RadiSys.

CSFB extends the eld life of legacy equipment into LTE providing
Network Service Providers with much needed cost savings as they
build out broadband mobile access to the Internet and ATM & TDMbased voice and data services can continue to generate revenues with
the minimal CAPEX investment.
CSFB also sustains user roaming services ensuring that existing
subscriber roaming expectations can be met.

The CSFB Gateway is available as box, or as a blade solution with

the Adax PacketRunner, and is quick and simple to install next to or
integrated in to the MME, MSC, or Media Gateway ensuring a fast time
to market for voice services in the LTE network.
ATCA exibility enables the CSFB Gateway to be congured according
to individual requirements and the fully redundant architecture provides
in-field upgrade capabilities with no loss of service.
OEMs, Telecom Equipment Manufacturers and wireless enhancement
solution providers can quickly and easily add their Call Control
applications to the Adax CSFB Gateway Foundation to rapidly deploy
their CSFB solution in the Network.
App5 0711/01

About Adax

Specializing in Foundations for the All-IP Network, Adax offers a complete set of I/O controllers, blades & signaling gateways for SS7, ATM & IP
packet processing, signaling & interworking. Adax high performance products meet todays challenges of I/O scalability, cost effectiveness and high availability in
LTE, NGMN and IMS networks.
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