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MWC – Extreme Networks’ New Mobile Backhaul Routers To Deliver 4G Mobile Broadband Experience

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Extreme Networks today announced a family of mobile backhaul routers that will enable mobile operators to smoothly transition cell sites to 4G while maintaining existing 2G/3G investments. The company’s E4G mobile backhaul family will provide the simplicity and scale of a next-generation, pure IP/Ethernet packet network to enable the cost-effective delivery of full motion video, voice and data to the one billion mobile broadband users expected by the end of 2011.

As the tide of mobile users, devices and multimedia continues to rise, mobile operators must increasingly invest in next generation mobile backhaul networks that ensure scalability, low latency, price-performance and operational simplicity.  Extreme Networks’ new mobile backhaul routers will enable an all IP/Ethernet network that permits mobile operators to meet the performance and service expectations of an increasingly mobile enterprise and consumer subscriber base, as well as the cost requirements of the growing world of machine-to-machine (M2M).

“Motorola Solutions looks to advance the capabilities of microwave backhaul with Extreme Networks’ next-generation mobile backhaul routers,” said Phil Bolt, Vice President and General Manager, Wireless Network Solutions, Motorola Solutions. “The significant capacity and performance upgrades planned with its new mobile backhaul portfolio offer an opportunity for us to work with Extreme Networks to provide our customers with a flexible, resilient migration from circuit-based to IP networks.”

Extreme Networks’ E4G product family will include the E4G-200 Cell Site Router and E4G-400 Cell Site Aggregation Router that deliver 4G mobile backhaul by offering 1-10GbE scalability, integrated synchronous Ethernet ITU-G.8262, support for IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol, and carrier-class resiliency with support of Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) and ITU-G.8032 resilient packet rings.

Synchronous Ethernet can eliminate the cost of deploying GPS devices at every cell tower by providing predictable timing independent of packet load. IEEE-1588 provides an alternative based on the IP infrastructure, while Extreme Networks’ industry-leading resilient Ethernet packet ring technologies EAPS and G.8032 ensure carrier-grade resiliency.  IPv4/v6 scalability and MPLS-TP enables mobile operators to effectively scale the network, deploy new services and accommodate the anticipated explosion of users and capacity.

With the early stages of next generation mobile broadband deployment now emerging, Infonetics reported that in 2011 mobile operators are adopting a strategy to converge mobile voice and data traffic on an all-IP/Ethernet backhaul network.

“As the transition to 4G networks takes place, addressing cell site scalability, synchronisation and Ethernet resiliency is critical,” said Michael Howard, Principal Analyst and co-founder for Infonetics Research. “Mobile transport and wholesale operators are looking to build networks for the next decade and want future-proof Ethernet backhaul options. With existing deployments in mobile backhaul networks, Extreme Networks’ E4G product family has the features to address the requirements of additional mobile operators.”

E4G-200 Cell Site Router
Extreme Networks’ E4G-200 Cell Site Router will offer high-performance T1/E1 Pseudowire (PWE) support for 2G and 3G backhaul along with full line-rate, standards-based Gigabit Ethernet access to the resilient synchronous Ethernet mobile backhaul network. 4G performance expectations will be met through a dual-processor implementation, while a rich set of features across the T1/E1 interfaces will enable concurrent support for 2G, 3G and 4G mobile backhaul.

Purpose built for cell site mobile backhaul, the Cell Site Router will come in a 1RU form factor, and features extended operating temperature and carrier OAM capabilities in hardware. Extreme Networks industry-tested ExtremeXOS operating system, with more than 10M Ethernet ports shipped to date, will deliver Provider Bridging, MPLS-TP, VPLS, EAPS and G.8032 resilient packet rings, G.8262 synchronous Ethernet, IEEE-1588, and IP v4/v6 routing at wire speeds.

E4G-400 Cell Site Aggregation Router
Extreme Networks’ E4G-400 cell site aggregation router, also in a 1RU form factor, will come with 24 GigE ports and an optional 10G uplink.  It will provide performance and synchronous Ethernet integrated timing for the most demanding of mobile broadband aggregation requirements.

PWM-16 T1/E1
Extreme Networks’ PWM-16 T1/E1 module will add support for T1/E1 backhaul in the E4G-400, protecting a mobile operator’s investment in 2G and 3G access while taking advantage of resilient synchronous gigabit Ethernet for 4G mobile backhaul.

MWC – Operators Want Higher Smartphone Revenues, But Need to Educate Customers on Using Advanced Features – research

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At Mobile World Congress, Amdocs, a provider of customer experience systems, today announced the results of an independent survey that explores the impact of smartphone growth on service providers’ support services. The in-depth survey of 55 wireless service providers worldwide, conducted by analyst firm Heavy Reading and sponsored by Amdocs, highlights the challenges providers face in supporting their growing legions of smartphone users – as well as the steps they plan to take to enhance customer support and maximize the revenue streams smartphones offer.

Key findings include:

·         Smartphone support calls increase burden on call centers: Over 60 percent of the service providers polled believe that the volume of smartphone-related support calls has increased 10 to more than 25 percent over the last two years. The same percentage believe the average cost of supporting smartphones is anywhere from 10 to 50 percent above that of standard feature phones, due in part to longer call-handling times. Additionally, more than half of the incoming calls are not resolved by the initial call center representative who handles the call —further driving up costs.

·         Service providers are leaving money on the table with their smartphone customers: 75 percent of service providers surveyed are looking to advanced services to increase data usage and realize additional sources of revenue from smartphone customers. But the research shows that over two-thirds of customers do not use advanced services, due to lack of awareness or understanding. In addition, customers are returning smartphone devices if they experience support issues or delays, even though there may be nothing wrong with them.  Almost one-third of respondents reported that between 10 to 25 percent of their customers return smartphones, and 40 percent said that 20 to 60 percent of these phones are no-fault returns.

·         New tools and technologies are needed to empower call center agents to support customers: Service providers recognize they face an increased number of support calls, yet more than half of the providers surveyed do not plan on expanding their technical support staff by more than 10 percent. Instead, 40 percent plan to use better support tools and technologies to increase efficiencies and empower agents to resolve support inquiries during the first call (one example of these advanced tools is Amdocs Device Care, a product from the Amdocs Smart Device Support Solution, which gives call center agents direct visibility into a customer’s smartphone to diagnose and troubleshoot problems). Service providers are also increasingly using the Internet to resolve support issues, with 61 percent of respondents reporting that they already direct customers to a self-service portal.

“The survey confirms that smartphone support calls are increasing rapidly, caused by the dramatic increase in number of devices, features, and services,” said Ari Banerjee, senior analyst at Heavy Reading.  “Simply adding more call center representatives will not address the problem –efficiency, automation and outsourcing are the key mechanisms which operators will need to pursue in order to accommodate a higher volume of support calls while increasing their revenue margins.”

“Even though smartphones are creating tremendous opportunities, there are significant support costs involved,” said Rebecca Prudhomme, vice president of product marketing and solutions for Amdocs. “The survey results point to a critical need for more effective and efficient customer management technologies to ensure better lifecycle management and maximize the potential revenue opportunities associated with smartphones.”

The research, conducted in November and December 2010, surveyed 77 IT and marketing professionals at service providers worldwide.  It follows a 2009  consumer survey into smartphone support issues.

MWC – MegaFon Selects NEC to Build High-Capacity Indoor Mobile Network in Volga, Ural and Far-East regions of Russia

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NEC announced today that MegaFon, a leading Russian mobile operator, has selected NEC’s femtocell solution to enhance the indoor mobile experience of its residential and enterprise customers. MegaFon plans to launch the high-speed, high-quality indoor mobile service to its residential and enterprise customers later this year.

The NEC femtocell solution was successfully tested and trialled with MegaFon subscribers at the North-West branch of MegaFon in Saint-Petersburg in 2010.

The majority of mobile traffic is generated indoors; however there is an inherent 3G mobile challenge of unreliable indoor coverage. Femtocells extend indoor mobile coverage and boost capacity ensuring high speeds and reliability.

“NEC’s femtocell solution will allow MegaFon to differentiate by providing their customers with premium mobile services,” said Vladimir Lobanov Head of Project Management Division of CJSC NEC Neva Communications Systems. “Our femtocell solution will ensure that their customers always have the five-bar coverage indoors that they expect and dedicated capacity to run data-intensive applications on their smartphones and tablets.”

An NEC Femtocell is a small wireless cellular base station similar in size and appearance to a broadband router that connects over broadband to a mobile operator’s core network. It provides dedicated mobile coverage and capacity for full personal use delivering excellent experience and increased customer loyalty.

NEC is providing MegaFon an end-to-end femtocell solution that includes NEC Femtocells, and femtocell gateway systems that connect to MegaFon’s existing core systems. MegaFon customers can install the NEC Femtocell with no intervention from MegaFon due to its “plug and play” capability.

NEC has 11 contracts worldwide with mobile operators for femtocell system deployments which make up nearly half a million femtocell devices. In addition, NEC has 24 femtocell system trials in progress or that have been completed with mobile operators around the world.

Furthermore, NEC’s commercial accomplishments in the femtocell field include provision of the world’s first femtocell IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) for Softbank Mobile Corp. in Japan, the deployment of France’s first commercial femtocell services through SFR and in Norway through Network Norway. NEC is on target to deploy its first 100,000 Femtocell Access Point (FAP) network.

MWC – IPWireless and Amdocs Demonstrate Mobile Broadcast (IMB) Applications on Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab

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IPWireless, a specialist in developing key enabling IMB technology today announced that it has collaborated with Amdocs to demonstrate rich, consumer friendly multimedia applications for Mobile TV, video recording with catch-up with live TV and more based on the 3GPP IMB standard. IPWireless and Amdocs will showcase the various IMB applications on the Samsung Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab both running the Android OS, at Mobile World Congress.

IMB technology has been endorsed by the GSMA and allows mobile operators to leverage their currently underutilized 3G spectrum assets by overlaying a highly economical content delivery network on top of their existing 3G network. IMB-enabled networks bypass increasingly congested RAN and Core Networks, support vastly expanded capacity, and allow popular content and applications to be streamed simultaneously to an unlimited number of devices. With IMB, mobile operators can deliver live broadcast content, such as TV and digital radio, as well as store top shows, music, eBooks and other popular content in a ‘secure digital content locker’ for consumers to access either instantly or at a time that is convenient to them. Content can be refreshed as often as required, or in real time for time sensitive items such as news or sport-related content, with very high quality, no buffering and with up to 70% less battery usage on devices compared with how video content is currently delivered over 3G networks. IMB will be capable of broadcasting to an unlimited number of devices approximately 40,000 short form videos, 44,000 full length music tracks, 1,700 TV shows, or over 100,000 video advertisements in a single day.

The rich multimedia IMB client features a highly intuitive electronic program guide (EPG), channel grid and embedded video player for live TV viewing and video recording. All of the IMB applications can be quickly, effortlessly and cost-effectively adapted to support all major mobile OSs and different mobile device types including smartphones, tablets and e-readers.

Rebecca Prudhomme, vice president of product and solutions marketing at Amdocs commented, “IMB has the potential to deliver the multimedia experience consumers want at an economic model that makes sense for operators.  Amdocs and IPWireless bring advanced application features that enable service providers to move beyond Mobile TV and offer innovative and intelligent new broadcast services that will lead to an enhanced consumer experience.”

“Amdocs’ solutions for designing rich mobile media experiences combined with our core IMB technology enabled us to rapidly design compelling applications for a wide range of smart phones and tablet devices,” said William Jones, Chief Executive Officer of IPWireless. “We’re pleased to work together to demonstrate these mobile broadcast applications on today’s popular devices including Samsung’s Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S smart phone.”

MWC – Tekelec’s Subscriber Data Management Solution Surpasses 225 Million Subscriber Licenses

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Tekelec, a broadband data management company, has surpassed the 225 million subscriber license mark for its subscriber data management (SDM) products on the strength of three new tier-one operators in the United States, India and Brazil. Since the May 2010 acquisition of Blueslice Networks, Tekelec has also sold its SDM technology to a major Western European operator running an LTE network, a Caribbean-based multi-national operator, and two additional operators.

“These subscriber data management deals showcase a wide range of business use cases centered on improving the subscriber quality of experience,” said Ron de Lange, executive vice president, global product solutions at Tekelec. “Our SDM footprint has rapidly grown to over 225 million subscriber licenses due to our unique understanding of how to scale and integrate network and subscriber intelligence across the world’s largest networks.”

The scope of use cases deployed by Tekelec’s new customers highlight the importance of consolidating subscriber profiles, managing state and usage data to make real-time policy decisions, and dynamically allowing changes in subscriber preferences, thereby improving service portability across 2G, 3G, IMS and LTE networks. Multiple customers, including a tier-one operator, purchased multiple licenses per subscriber.

MWC – Envivio launches 3rd generation multi-screen video encoder

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Envivio, a provider of live and on-demand multi-screen IP video processing and delivery solutions, announced today that it will introduce the third generation of its 4Caster C4 live encoder/transcoder for Mobile TV, Internet TV and IPTV services at Mobile World Congress 2011. Nearly doubling the processing power and capable of supporting twice the HD channel density of its predecessor, the 4Caster C4 Gen III has already been deployed in live trials at four major operators in the U.S., Europe and Asia to meet the demand for live HD video services for Internet-connected tablets and TVs.

Envivio is also introducing version 2.4 firmware for the 4Caster C4 family. The new firmware brings numerous enhancements including support for the new Envivio Genesis output format—a single intermediate mezzanine format that supports multiple bit rates and resolutions to drive TV without boundaries for live and on demand services for every consumer device across multiple networks.

“The explosive growth of tablets and other TV alternatives is creating incredible opportunities for operators. Beyond the novelty of just delivering content to other devices, there is the greater challenge of building the high-quality services that retain subscribers,” said Envivio CEO Julien Signès. “They want premium HD and other features on all of their devices. That is where Envivio’s 4Caster Gen III delivers—it is the first video encoding platform optimized for the growing number and variety of HD formats operators must support.”

MWC – RIM and Telefonica to introduce BlackBerry App World with integrated carrier billing

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Research In Motion and Telefonica today announced that they are working together to introduce BlackBerry App World with integrated carrier billing on a global basis.

Carrier billing will allow Telefonica customers to purchase apps from BlackBerry App World and charge the purchases directly to their monthly bill. Customers will also be offered the flexibility of charging in-app purchases to their carrier bill which allows for the purchase of digital goods to be made without interrupting their application experience.

“Carrier billing is a payment method that brings a unique user experience and will further develop the on-device virtual goods and applications business,” said Joaquín Mata, global head of financial services for Telefónica.

“BlackBerry App World is now available in over 100 countries”, said Patrick Spence, regional managing director, RIM. “Integrated carrier billing will make it easier than ever for Telefonica customers to purchase apps for their BlackBerry smartphones.”

MWC – Huawei unveils “Any Connection” MBB Backhaul evolving to LTE

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Huawei  today unveiled its “Any Connection” Mobile Broadband (MBB) Backhaul solution at the Mobile World Congress 2011, which offers smooth evolution from UMTS and HSPA to LTE.

Mobile networks are migrating from UMTS and HSPA to LTE for more superior end-user experiences over higher-speed connections with higher spectrum efficiency, which requires larger bandwidth provisioning and greater reductions in total cost of ownership (TCO) for mobile broadband profitability. Huawei’s MBB backhaul solution is an All-IP-based solution offering “Any Connection” networking to dramatically reduce transport cost per bit of mobile networks on the way to LTE and guarantees premium mobile experiences by offering ultra broadband solutions in the MBB era.

The “Any Connection” capabilities of Huawei’s MBB backhaul solution offer comprehensive on-demand networking modes in traffic routing, service switching, site deployment and spectrum modulating, which will optimize asset efficiency of mobile backhaul networks. Additional highlights include:

  a.. Industry’s first backhaul with on-demand routing modes between dynamic and static in end-to-end router networking, with 300 mm-depth edge routers installed in outdoor cabinets, offering more agility to IP connections between Node Bs & RNCs or eNode Bs and aGWs to optimize diversified traffic modes amid mobile network evolution.
  b.. Industry’s first backhaul with on-demand switching modes from TDM, hybrid to pure packet with software upgrade in microwave networking, offering larger investment protection of traffic delivery to accommodate service migration from UMTS and HSPA to LTE.
  c.. Innovative backhaul with on-demand site deploying of nodal microwave supporting up to 14/28 pairs of ODUs and antennas at aggregation site, offering higher utilization of expensive space resources for rental cost saving of massive sites in multi-layer coverage and LTE era.
  d.. Innovative backhaul with comprehensive on-demand modulating modes of QPSK & QAM in microwave networking, with additional XPIC (Cross-polarisation Interference Counteracter), and Ethernet & IP Head compression, offering higher utilization of rare spectrum resources for a higher connection speed from megabit per second to gigabit per second per link over single channel.
 
“Huawei understands that mobile networks need to migrate from UMTS and HSPA to LTE and we are proud to offer ‘Any Connection’ Mobile Broadband backhaul solution to meet customer’s needs for investment protection of IP backhaul networks in mobile evolution,” said Zha Jun, President of  Network, Huawei. “Solution providers who help operators undergo the IP transformation of mobile backhaul networks need to have leading solutions, professional and successful experiences in mobile and fixed broadband networks and All-IP commercial deployments. Huawei possesses these advantages and has helped many customers achieve business success.”

MWC – Network Norway is first Scandinavian operator to launch femtocell service after extensive user trial

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Network Norway, the provider of professional mobile business solutions, today announced the launch of its femtocell service after a year-long user trial. Network Norway becomes the first Scandinavian operator to launch femtocells, and the first in the world to offer self-organising networks (SON) of femtocells to cover business buildings.

“The telecom industry has for years overlooked indoor coverage as a driver of business productivity. Our experience, from a thorough user trial with NEC, shows that our customers highly value the quality of service underpinned by femtocell technology,” said Network Norway CEO, Arild Hustad.

“Mobile business services require high quality, dependable indoor coverage. NEC’s femtocell solutions will provide the required indoor coverage to make uninterrupted mobile calls and run data-intensive applications on their smartphones and mobile devices. We view femtocell as a key driver in delivering a first class indoor end-user experience for business,” said Fredrik Turmegard, CEO, NEC Scandinavia.

“Femtocells provide reliable indoor 3G coverage thus enabling operators to build premium mobile services for their customers when indoors. NEC is providing a complete end-to-end Femtocell solution to Network Norway including femtocell access points from its strategic partner Ubiquisys and NEC’s femtocell gateway, femtocell management and provisioning system,” said Anil Kohli, General Manager, Femtocell, NEC Europe.

“Based on customer experiences in the user trial we find that femtocells can support a mobile-only strategy. The fact that the majority of the customers taking part in the trial demanded a continuous commercial service to be established was a clear indication that the technology offers business advantage,” said Tom Guldberg, CSO, Network Norway. He also underlined that the Norwegian operator will use small cells as an integrated part of its future network strategy.

The user trial was conducted with Network Norway customers in mixed-use buildings throughout Norway, included a light-industrial bakery, a logistics depot, and a shopping mall restaurant. The trial was conducted with femtocell solution NEC and included self organising femtocells from NEC.

The trial results were very positive, with 67% of customers refusing to return the femtocells, demanding an ongoing commercial service.

Mobile meets Cloud. Join NEC’s key note speech at Mobile Cloud Forum MWC

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Cloud computing is a huge disruptive force in the ICT industry, bringing with
it un-paralleled challenges and opportunities for the entire eco-system.
Mobile services will become much smarter by the application of cloud computing technology.

NEC’s core team will address the true potential of Mobile Cloud.

Join us for the opening keynote on cutting-edge innovation and unique business
perspective by NEC’s executives.

To register the NEC session, PLEASE VISIT the NEC stand 8A125 in Hall 8.
For further information visit
http://www.nec.com/global/solutions/nsp/mwc/conference_index.html#mcforum

Keynote Speech Info
NEC’s executives will make the following keynote speeches and presentations at the
following forums to be held in App Planet, Hall 7.

 Speaker 1
 Date and Time:  Thursday 17 February, 09:30-10:00
 Speaker:  Dr. Takemitsu Kunio, Senior Vice President, NEC Corporation

 Speaker 2 
 Date and Time:  Thursday 17 February, 10:00-10:30
 Speaker:  Dr. Heinrich Stuttgen, Vice President, NEC Laboratories Europe

 Speaker 3 
 Date and Time:  Thursday 17 February, 10:30-11:00
 Speaker:  Mr. Jaime Serrano, Head of Cloud Competence Centre / President & CEO, NEC Iberica

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