Juniper Networks, Inc. 1194 North Mathilda Avenue Sunnyvale, California 94089 USA 408.745.2000 1.888 JUNIPER www.juniper.net
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................3 Introduction: Global Perspective on the Mobile Market ...........................................4 1G to 3G and Beyond .........................................................................................5 Making the Case: IP for 3G Mobile Networks ....................................................6 Mobile Architectures and the 3G Evolution..............................................................7 Generalized View of the Mobile Network Infrastructure .....................................7 Overview of GSM / UMTS Network Architecture .................................................8 The UMTS R3 Network ..................................................................................8 UMTS R4 and R5 Networks ...........................................................................9 Jointly Developed GGSN ................................................................................9 Overview of the CDMA Network Architecture ..................................................10 CDMA RAN ................................................................................................10 CDMA Core Networks .................................................................................10 Understanding the Drivers and Requirements for the Mobile Packet Core ............. 11 Applicability of IP/MPLS to Mobile Architecture ...............................................12 Supporting Traffic and Applications Mix on the Same Network .......................13 Performance Expectations for Mobile Packet Backbone Networks ........................13 Meeting Mobile Packet Core Requirements ......................................................13 Highly Reliable Networks .................................................................................14 QoS and Traffic Management Features.............................................................14 Operations, Administration, and Management.................................................15 MPLS Auto Bandwidth .....................................................................................16 Migrating Legacy ATM Traffic to MPLS ..............................................................16 Supporting BGP/MPLS Layer 3 VPNs on the Mobile Packet Core ......................17 Security ...........................................................................................................17 Network Management and OSS support .........................................................18 How Juniper Enables Service Provider Evolution to Fixed-Mobile Convergence .....18 Conclusion ............................................................................................................19 References and Further Reading ...........................................................................19 Complete List of Acronyms and Terms ..................................................................20 About Juniper Networks ........................................................................................21
Executive Summary
The mobile industry has witnessed explosive growth in number of subscribers, particularly over the past few years. As this paper is being written, there are more than 2.5 billion total subscribers of various mobile technologies, and it is expected that worldwide mobile subscribers will reach close to 4 billion by 2010. However, while usage measured in terms of the number of wireless minutes is increasing, the price per minute for these services is falling. This means that average revenue per user (APRU) is shrinking. Running a profitable business with stagnant or even declining ARPU is one of the fundamental challenges mobile carriers are facing today. The industry is addressing this challenge in two ways: By adding new services or new user experiences for which mobile subscribers are willing to pay. For example, applications driven by the Third-Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architectural framework fall into this category. By reducing operating expenses (OPEX). At the top of the list is the wireline infrastructure that mobile operators have to maintain regardless of whether they own or lease lines. This includes their core networks, since, for example, Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) are connected through the Time-division multiplexing (TDM) infrastructure. Moving to IP-based core networks is a way to leverage both of these approaches. The benefits of IP/MPLS are well known, having been proven in the wireline world with technology that has matured to the point where it is the clear choice for building next- generation networks. An IP/MPLS mobile packet backbone network is an ideal way to reduce OPEX while paving the way for the addition of new services. Juniper has industry-leading IP expertise that has led to a great deal of success with both wireline and wireless carriers. As illustrated in Figure 1, eleven out of twelve of the worlds top mobile operators are already using Juniper products in their mobile networks.1
Leading Mobile Carriers by Equity Connections
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Juniper enables carriers to build cost-effective, flexible, and scalable networks and gives them the ability to leverage a common IP infrastructure in order to increase profitability. Juniper Networks is the market leader in building flexible, service-oriented packet networks. An intelligent, secure, and open IP/MPLS infrastructure with products from Juniper Networks enables service providers to adapt easily as technologies evolve. This flexibility allows service providers to deliver a sustainable set of innovative and secure services both today and into the future.
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Equity connections = number customer * ownership share of mobile operator. Figure 1: Juniper Success in the Mobile Packet Backbone Eg. AT&T holds 60% share in Cingular with 54 million customers = 32 million equity customers. Process repeated for holdings of other mobile operators.
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Source Gartner Market Share: Mobile Equity Connections, Worldwide, 2005 , published August 2006.
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HSPA is a 3G mobile broadband data technology based on UMTS. The term HSPA is often used to refer to a combination of two technologies: HSDPA (high speed downlink packet access) and HSUPA (high speed uplink packet access).
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1G to 3G and Beyond
Standards bodies such as 3GPP (for GSM networks) and 3GPP2 (for CMDA networks) are actively involved in driving the development of a next-generation wireless system. The high level objective is to create high-speed broadband and IP-based mobile systems featuring network-tonetwork interconnection, feature/service transparency, global roaming, and seamless services independent of location. 3G (third-generation) mobile systems are defined by International Telecommunications Union (ITU) specification IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications-2000), a radio and network access specification. 3G is the successor of 2Gthe existing and hugely deployed digital mobile system. 2G is the successor of 1G, the original analogue mobile system. GSM is the most predominant choice for 2G deployments. As highlighted in Figure 2, though voice remains the primary method of mobile communication, a new generation of wireless technologies is now offering higher speed data and multimedia capabilities.
Architectural Evolution
1G Analog Voice 2G Digital Voice 2.5 G GPRS/GSM 3G User Mobile Broadband EVDO, HSPA
Figure 2: Evolving Voice and Data Technology from 1G to 4G For easy reference, Table 1 summarizes all of the major technology trends, speeds, and services offered by 1G, 2G, 3G, and beyond. Generation 1G 2G 2.5G Mobile Technology/ Switching Method Analog Cellular / Circuit Switched Digital Cellular / Circuit Switched Digital Cellular / Circuit SwitchedPacket Enabled Digital Cellular / Circuit Switchedvoice (later VoIP) and Packet Switched Data Digital Cellular / Packet Data Enable Packet-based Voice Deployed System Examples AMPS, TACS, NMT TDMA, GSM, CDMA CDMA, GPRS, EDGE, iMODE (Japan) CDMA2000, WCDMA/ UMTS, HSPA, EV-DO HSPA+, LTE, EVDO RevC/ UMB, WiMAX Data Bandwidth Offered (Upper Bound) 9.6 Kbps 14.4 Kbps 144 Kbps Services Offered Voice Voice (main), SMS Voice and packet data introduced Packet data on high-speed, voice, IMS-enabled multimedia applications Mobile broadband, mobile TV, VoD, location-based services
3G
Up to 14Mbps
4G
50 to 100 Mbps
The GSM air interface is a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology developed as a digital 2G successor to the European analog systems of the 1980s. Improvements over GSM include General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)each leveraging the existing GSM infrastructure and spectrum, each promising spectral efficiencies and improved data performance (GPRS up to 114 Kbps; EDGE up to 384 Kbps). EDGE is commercially deployed in around 100 countries worldwide. UMTS is a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) technology designed as the 3G successor to GSM. Initial WCDMA launches supported data rates up to 384 Kbps. HSDPA offers peak data rates up to 14 Mbps, with high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) improving uplink performance beyond 5 Mbps for better performance on interactive services. LTE, UMB and WiMAX are essentially based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology for downlink and innovative antenna technologies such as multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) to achieve larger data rates (50 to 100 Mbps) and lower latency.
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Figure 3: Mobile Network Infrastructure Generalized View The RAN consists of a Base Station Transceiver and Base Station Controllers (also known as Radio Network Controllers, or RNCs, according to the terminology of certain networks such as UMTS). The Core Network can be divided up into an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a Circuit Switched (CS) domain, and a Packet Switched (PS) domain. IMS is a collection of network elements that provide IP-based multimedia-related services like text, audio, and video. The data related to these services is further transmitted through the PS domain. In short, the Core Network includes the CS, PS, and IMS domains. A CS-type connection is a traditional telecommunication-style connection with dedicated resources allocated for the duration of the connection. In contrast, in a PS-type connection the information is typically transported in packets and each packet is routed in a distinct and autonomous fashion. The following sections discuss specific details about GSM, UMTS, and CDMA networks.
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Figure 4: UMTS R3 Architecture (Based on R99) In the RAN, key components include the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and Base Station Controller (BSC). The respective RANs for GSM and UMTS networks are GERAN (GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network) and UTRAN (UMTS Radio Access Network). Each RNC controls a number of Node Bs. Core network gear includes MSCs, packet data gateways, and core routing platforms. Architecturally, the RNC sits on the edge of a wireless network and provides RF connectivity to end user terminals. RNCs (BSCs in GSM) manage and aggregate Node B (BTS in GSM) traffic and MSCs groom this traffic onto the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) while also managing handoffs. Beyond voice, multi-service switches and IP routers provide data transport within the mobile network, with subscriber traffic linked to external data networks using packet data gateways. In GSM, GPRS, and UMTS networks, Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (GGSNs) perform the gateway function. The GGSN has the responsibility of maintaining contact with a mobile subscribers equipment as the subscriber moves in the network. Mobility management provided by the GPRS system lets subscribers send packets to Internet hosts and receive responses back regardless of radio handoffsas the user moves across cells. The Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSNs) essentially switch data streams and perform tunneling. They are responsible for session management, producing charging information, and lawful interception. They also route packets to correct RNCs. The GGSNs perform roles similar to border routers and Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA), maintaining some service context information and providing billing as traffic is handed off to an applications environment (such as IMS), to the open Internet, or to some other data service. Both the GGSN and SGSN facilitate interworking with external data networks.
Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks On the circuit-switched side, the MSC / Visitor Location Register (VLR) handles circuit management functions and tasks such as location registration. The Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC), on the other hand, acts as a gateway between external networks like the PSTN. It uses the Home Location Register (HLR) to identify which MSC is the serving MSC to set up the call. UMTS R4 and R5 Networks Starting from the UMTS R4 architecture defined by 3GPP, traditional circuit MSCs evolve into two components: MSC servers and Media Gateways (MGW). This architecture is also sometimes known as the distributed MSC architecture. In this architecture, the Media Gateway is the element responsible for performing bearer control and transmission switching functions, when they are required. The MSC server is the element controlling the MGW and supports all the control and signaling functions. 3GPP has specified two instances of a Media Gateway Controller, namely the MSC Server and the Gateway MSC Server. The Gateway MSC Server is an MSC Server that controls the connections to other networksfor example, the PSTN. As R4 supports packet-switched voice (VoIP), the circuit-switched calls are converted to packet-switched calls in the MGW. With this approach, the overall network architecture scales better because MSC servers centralize control plane resources, while MGW nodes can be placed further out in the network closer to radio nodes for efficient use of network transport resources. This keeps the local traffic out of the core and saves on backhauling costs. Communications between the MSC servers and the MGW for signaling and bearer services are optimized around IP/MPLS. The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) was introduced as standards evolved to R5, where the entire UTRAN is also assumed to be moving to IP-based protocols. IMS promises to facilitate rapid creation of premium multimedia services such as video, audio/VoIP, and location-based services. SIP has been chosen as the signaling/control protocol. Component Base Station Base Station Controller Circuit Core Devices Packet Core Devices GSM Term BTS BSC MSC SGSN, GGSN UMTS Term Node-B RNC MSC Server SGSN, GGSN
Jointly Developed GGSN Juniper Networks and its strategic partner Ericsson have jointly developed a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) platform that has been deployed by mobile operators worldwide in their mobile packet transport. The current generation GGSN platform is based on the Juniper M20 router product and supports an industry-leading scalability and performance. It is capable of handling a significant increase in data subscribers as well as growth in the always-on GPRS-type product such as Blackberry, and the growing popularity of services like MMS.
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Figure 5: CDMA2000 System Architecture CDMA RAN The RAN portion of the CDMA network consists of the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and Base Station Controller (BSC). Architecturally, the BTS sits on the edge of a wireless network and provides RF connectivity to end user terminals. Essentially it controls the interface between the CDMA2000 network and the subscriber unit. BSCs manage and aggregate BTS traffic and MSCs groom this traffic onto the PSTN while managing handoffs. CDMA Core Networks CDMA Core network gear includes MSCs, packet data gateways, and core routing platforms. Voice as well as data transport within the mobile network is provided by multi-service switches and IP routers, while subscriber traffic is linked to external data networks using packet data service nodes (PDSNs). The PDSN was introduced in the CDMA2000 architecture and is an essential element in the treatment of packet data service. It is a node that maintains contact with mobile subscribers as they move though the network, informing the network how the subscriber can be reached via the PDSNs IP interfaces. The PDSN establishes, maintains, and terminates point-to-point protocol (PPP) sessions with subscribers.
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Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks Communicating with the packet control function (PCF) of a BSC, the PDSN terminates PPP sessions for subscribers. If subscribers roam using mobile IP, the PDSN provides the foreign agent (FA) function to register them and receive data from the subscribers Home Agent. The PDSN also aids with the AAA function for mobile devices through AAA server(s). IP routers in the CDMA2000 core route the packets to and from the various elements such as the PDSN, AAA, Home Agent, Internet / Private data networks, and others. For the purpose of this paper, the primary focus will be on the applicability and usability of packet technologies (IP/ MPLS) in the core portion of the CDMA network. Component Base Station Base Station Controller Circuit Core Devices Packet Core Devices CDMA 2000/1x Term BTS BSC MSC PDSN
Understanding the Drivers and Requirements for the Mobile Packet Core
The mobile packet backbone network is also subject to evolutionary pressures somewhat similar to those experienced by wired operators when they moved from TDM to Packet (Figure 6). Operators need to control costs but they also need to modernize their voice networks, as legacy voice switches move nearer to obsolescence.
Transformation
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Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks Also, many operators need to upgrade their best-effort packet-switched cores as differentiated quality of service (QoS) data services and applications mix rise in importance and volume (Figure 7).
Location-based Services SMS/MMS Corporate Intranet & Email Data Services and Wireline Displacement eCommerce Gaming and Entertainment Packet Voice MMS
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Circuit Voice
Figure 7: Supporting Application Mix in the NGN Packet Core Network At the same time, carriers have to think about designing service-aware architectures that are aligned with the IMS Next-Generation Network (NGN) infrastructure for the support of end-to-end IP-based services.
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Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks As shown in the GSM / UMTS example in Figure 8, instead of operating separate networks for specific interfaces, all of these logical networks can be supported on a common converged core, and the feature-rich IP/MPLS packet core is an obvious choice.
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Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks The following sections will cover these requirements in detail and discuss how Junipers mobile packet backbone solutions address them.
Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks traffic that needs it the most. There is also overbooking per class, which permits extra bandwidth to be assigned to a specific CoS when it is needed. And policies help carriers keep a close eye on each CoS as it travels through an LSP to make sure it doesnt exceed the allocation its received. Juniper routers also classify packets at the ingress port and, based on multiple fields, can determine CoS and priority. Classification is based on the IETF Differentiated Services (DiffServ) standard and classifications are honored (or potentially changed by policy) on a per-hop basis across the mobile backbone. Juniper queuing and scheduling techniques offer deterministic delay and help operators meet tight jitter performance bounds. In tests conducted to assess the latency and jitter performance of Junipers M320 router (widely deployed in many mobile packet cores), high priority traffic (simulating real-time voice) of 40 byte packets was sent to an output interface loaded at 90 percent of the interface bandwidth. Best-effort traffic was also sent to the same interface to significantly oversubscribe the interface bandwidth. The result was that no high priority packets were dropped and the latency of each high priority packet was easily in the required range. Even with large data packet sizes as big as 4K bytes, the maximum latency observed was less than 50 microseconds and delay variation was below 25 microseconds.
MPLS Psuedowire
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Figure 9: Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) for MPLS LSPs BDF is essentially a liveliness mechanism to ensure that the forwarding state is intact along the end-to-end MPLS LSP, since it is possible that even if all seems well from the control plane point of view, there could be an issue in the forwarding plane. In protocol operations, the ingress router generates periodic BDF packets (LSP is unidirectional) that are sent along the LSP. The egress router, upon receiving each BFD packet, sends a corresponding BFD packet in response. If more than a certain consecutive number of BFD packets are lost, a warning message is generated for higher levels to take appropriate action.
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Figure 10: UMTS R99, ATM-heavy Architecture Many mobile operators have used Layer 2 VPN technology based on emulation of end-to-end pseudowires to enable carriers to introduce MPLS seamlessly within existing ATM networks. Pseudowires combine MPLS forwarding and IP routing to emulate ATM services and to transport the traffic while preserving ATM-like user experiences.
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Figure 11: Layer 2 VPN in the Mobile CoreCarrying ATM over MPLS As illustrated in Figure 11, traditional ATM interfaces at the RNC, MSC complex, and at the SGSN are still preserved, and MPLS is seamlessly introduced by carrying ATM VC over the MPLS core as pseudowires. Juniper supports LDP-based as well as BGP-based Layer 2 VPNs (also known as Kompella). Standards bodies such as the MFA Forum have developed specifications that handle control plane interworking between ATM/Frame Relay and MPLS networks. Juniper, along with our strategic partners, has been involved in developing these specifications and has pre-standard implementation. This approach decouples ATM and the MPLS control plane and enables them to evolve and be deployed independently.
Security
Moving to an IP-based infrastructure does bring some additional security concerns, such as Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which can potentially interrupt thousands of voice calls and other high revenue and critical services. Juniper routing platforms have hardware-based packet forwarding and filtering ASICs so that traffic can be controlled through line-rate filters on packets passing through the routing platform. This provides protocol-based firewalls that prevent DDoS and DoS attacks, falsification of source addresses, and implement traffic shaping and policing.
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Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks Juniper firewalls (such as the ISG 2000) with integrated Intrusion Detection and Protection (IDP) provide protection on both the network and application layers. They can also be used to protect OA&M and billing data from attacks. Juniper IDP solutions use Multi-Method Detection techniques with eight different detection methods, including protocol anomaly detection and traffic anomaly detection. Our IDP solution operates in-line and allows operators to create new and unique signatures.
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Conclusion
Regardless of whether a mobile carrier is deploying 3G or thinking of 4G, or whether they are deploying UMTS or CDMA, they will be faced with the reality that mobile core and backhaul architectures are evolving towards all-IP. Mobile technology is moving rapidly towards 2.5G and 3G technologies. Any IP-based architecture that is installed today must demonstrate best-in-class traffic engineering, reliability and scalability features. It must keep up with the current mobile standards and be designed to support the planned evolution of these standards. Juniper products deliver carrier-grade reliability, offer a smooth migration path for mobile providers transitioning from TDM-like infrastructures to packet-switched infrastructures, and provide unmatched performance and features in the IP infrastructure. We enable mobile carriers to build more cost effective, flexible, and scalable networks, leveraging a common IP infrastructure that increases profitability in the following ways: By allowing new higher-margin services to be introduced more economically, rapidly, and flexibly than before By reducing operating expenses associated with managing multiple networks that each depend on different technologies By leveraging existing carrier investments to create bundled services By maintaining a single Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) system for all users, regardless of which network resources they use By minimizing the security, reliability, and scalability risks associated with traditional IP networks.
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Building Next-Generation Mobile Packet Core Networks PLMN: Public Land Mobile Network PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network RAN: Radio Access Network RNC: Radio Network Controller SGW: Signaling Gateway SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node TISPAN: Telecoms & Internet Converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Networks (Standards Body) Formed from the previous ETSI working groups of TIPHON and SPAN. UMB: Ultra mobile broadband (new name adopted for EVDO RevC) UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System VRF: Virtual routing forwarding WCDMA: Wideband Code Division Multiple Access WiBro: Wireless Broadband Wireless broadband internet technology being developed by the Korean telecoms industry. In contrast to WiMAX (an American Wireless technology), WiBro uses licensed radio spectrum. Wi-Fi: Wireless Fidelity Wi-Fi certification encompasses numerous different standards, including 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, WPA, and more, and equipment must pass compatibility testing to receive the Wi-Fi mark. WiMAX: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access Another name for the 802.16 wireless networking specification used for long-haul and backhaul connections. WLAN: Wireless LAN
Copyright 2007, Juniper Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Juniper Networks and the Juniper Networks logo are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks in this document are the property of Juniper Networks or their respective owners. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Juniper Networks assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies in this document or for any obligation to update information in this document. Juniper Networks reserves the right to change, modify, transfer, or otherwise revise this publication without notice. Copyright 2007, Juniper Networks, Inc.
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