Huawei Technologies

2005.10 8
 Main Topic Single core network, future core network
Single core network, future core network
With the advent of convergent broadband multimedia era, traditional network structures are lagging
far behind the requirements of multimedia services and network integration. Highly efficient IMS-based
network architecture is emerging as the right solution.
T
here is a surge of new-
generation fixed and wireless
broadband access technologies,
telecom networks are
becoming increasingly complex and legacy
telecom services are facing tremendous
challenges from emerging IT and Internet
applications. This is making the core
network a key concern for telecom
operators in the post-softswitch era.
As-is of core networks
To construct a future-oriented new-
generation core network, operators need
to understand the current status and
deficiencies of core networks.
21 JUN 2010 . ISSUE 56
Access networks are increasingly
flattened and simplified, while core
networks are becoming increasingly
complex. In contrast to increasingly
flattened and simplified access networks,
core networks are increasingly complex
as bearer and control, control and service
capabilities are separated from each other.
As a result, many service areas, diverse
NE types, numerous internal and external
interfaces and protocols and increasing
same-type NE nodes due to limited
capacity, add to the complexity of the core
network topology. Network operation
and maintenance (O&M) becomes
complicated, while networking reliability
and efficiency getting low. The numerous
NEs and NE types lead to mounting
By Jiang Qingsong
OPEX in terms of maintenance personnel,
equipment room space and power
consumption.
Isolated networks and environments
cannot deliver integrated services and
experience. Statistics show that 29 of
the industry’s top 30 operators offer both
fixed and mobile services and operators
are trending towards providing a full range
of services. Still, most operators’ networks
build on a structure that separates fixed
and mobile capabilities. Each system must
be maintained separately, resulting in a
heavy workload and low maintenance
efficiency. As service control points are
distributed in two systems, it is difficult
to deliver a user experience that integrates
fixed and mobile services and in the end
subscriber loyalty is affected.
O p e r a t o r s a re s t r u g g l i n g w i t h
increasing competition from Internet
and IT applications. Gartner predicted
that by 2013, voice service will remain the
cash cow for operators, contributing over
70% to total service revenue. However,
pressure is mounting from a wide variety
of IT and Internet applications like IM,
VoIP and SNS which are obviously more
diversified and grabbing market share from
voice services.
Future-oriented single
core network
To r e s p o n d t o t h e s e c h a l l e n g e s ,
traditional TDM or softswitch-based core
networks must move toward IMS-centered
protocol systems and product solutions.

How will new-generation convergent core
networks adapt to multi-access scenarios?
Clearly, networks need to be convergent
and unified, simplified and efficient,
evolving and compatible, open and
interconnected.
Converged and unified
The top challenge for an operator is
reducing O&M costs while offering fixed/
mobile voice and broadband services,
making it imperative to build a convergent
network free from segmentation and
isolation. A convergent and unified core
network should have the following key
features:
A 5-in-1 network that integrates
session and access control. A convergent
core network must be able to control
at least the following five mainstream
access modes: GSM, UMTS/HSPA,
LTE/WiMAX, PSTN and xDSL/FTTx,
while delivering a unified experience
for these five access modes. The core
network requires an integrated IMS core
to authenticate, route and trigger services
for all these access methods and unify the
access experience. The IMS core needs
various types of access control devices to
Common TAS
Mobile service Common service
Enterprise service
FMC service
IMS core
mAGCF / mobile SS FMC / A-SBC
2G 3G
translate different access control signaling
to SIP signaling.
C o m m o n TA S e n s u r e s s e r v i c e
consistency in various access modes.
Access-independent unified control nodes
require a common telephony application
ser ver (TAS) to provide unified and
convergent service capabilities, as shown in
Figure 1. In addition to the basic voice and
video service combinations necessary for
FBB and MBB, the common TAS must
incorporate a number of traditional fixed
and mobile network services.
These services include hotline and clock
services in a fixed CS network and prepaid
and RBT services in a mobile CS network.
To meet the requirements of enterprise
customers, the common TAS must provide
advanced voice service features like IP
Centrex. These three function sets can
basically provide a unified experience
for end users that switch between access
modes. In addition, the common TAS
must provide more value-added services in
the FMC and ICT categories.
A convergent user data center is
essential for network convergence.
Under legacy network architecture,
subscription data is stored in different
places. A convergent user data center is a
Fixed service
ICT service
User profile DB
AGCF / fixed SS
4G PES PSS
Fig. 1 A convergent and unified core network
Huawei Communicate
“must have” when a network evolves from
CS/PS towards IMS/SAE, as it provides a
bridge for future network evolution and
smooth user migration.
Simplified and efficient
With falling ARPU, operators need to
improve networking efficiency and exploit
the potential of their networks to reduce
OPEX and CAPEX through the following
two approaches:
A unified and high-performance
s o f t w a re / h a rd w a re p l a t f o rm . T h e
introduction of high-performance blade
servers and virtualization technology
makes possible the integration of
numerous NEs into one hardware
platform as demonstrated by advanced
telecommunications computing
architecture (ATCA). The unified platform
helps reduce maintenance costs by sharing
spare parts. This platform greatly increases
the capacity of a single NE and reduces the
number of NE nodes on a network and
simplifies network topology significantly.
Integrated site management and
optimized collaboration of interfacing
protocols between NEs. Based on a
unified software/hardware platform,
Unified services
• Unified telephony AS for all
• Seamless experience
• Abundant VAS services
Unified control
• IMS based ICS architecture
• Support all kinds of access
Unified user profile
• Unified subscriber center
• Convergent DB
JUN 2010 . ISSUE 56 22
 Main Topic Single core network, future core network
different NEs in a site can be housed in
the same frame and cabinet by sharing
common components, such as bill server
and IP interworking units. This helps
enhance the solution integration, simplifies
network topology, and different NEs at
the same site can be centrally managed
as they support O&M in a similar or
identical style. This shortens the learning
curve for O&M engineers, reducing costs
and O&M experience is shared, leading
to improved O&M efficiency. Internal
optimization and collaboration can further
improve efficiency and reduce CAPEX.
Moreover, these NEs can communicate
with NEs outside of the site through
standard interfaces and the external NEs
remain unchanged.
Evolving and compatible
Mass LTE deployment is predicted
to happen sometime in 2012 or 2013.
Ne w - g e n e r a t i o n c o re n e t w o r k s a re
required to support VoLTE and backward
compatibility with 2G/3G networks.
Ability to integrate all existing
services. The evolution toward an IMS-
based new-generation core network is
unlikely to progress independently from
existing networks as user habits and
experience with legacy networks will not
change radically. In terms of operations, a
What is the best way for operators to evolve their
existing core networks toward the target core network
architecture? Overall evolution can be done in 3 steps:
First, All-IP and FMC. Second, all-service broadband and
multimedia. Third, IT and CT convergence.
23 JUN 2010 . ISSUE 56
new network should support all existing
services and deliver an enhanced user
experience. This is especially true for
mobile networks that center on a full range
of standard services.
Minimal impact on existing networks
a n d e a s y d e p l oy m e n t . E x p e r i e n c e
shows that it is tough to reshape the core
network architecture. Unlike access and
transmission networks, the core network
provides a wide variety of interfaces
and protocols. A new network structure
requires the transformation of related
network layers, such as the IN, OSS, BSS,
and HLR. This will inevitably increase
CAPEX for operators and slow down mass
network deployment. The new-generation
core network should have minimal impact
on existing networks. For example, the new
network should support traditional 2G/3G
voice services when the HLR, IN or even
the billing system remain unchanged.
The network will display access agnostic
and multimedia characteristics of an IMS
network and readily deliver FMC and
ICT services and value-added multimedia
services in addition to basic services, when
broadband and fixed access capabilities are
ready.
Support for new broadband
applications such as MMTel and RCS.
The new-generation core network should
support new broadband applications like
multimedia telephony (MMTel) and the
rich communication suite (RCS). This is
also what IMS is intended for.
New core networks should have entities
such as an IMS core to trigger multiple
services and support more broadband
services. Rich voice-based broadband
services, such as MMTel and RCS, deliver
stronger service availability and quality
control. In addition to enhancing user
experience and loyalty, these services
empower operators to compete with
Internet-based applications, such as MSN,
QQ, Skype, and Google Voice.
Supports dynamic resource allocation
and software-based smooth evolution.
Network evolution usually goes hand
in hand with user migration. Amid
t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o b ro a d b a n d a c c e s s
technologies such as LTE/FTTx, voice will
be moving from VoCS to VoPS. Similar to
user migration from 2G to 3G, the core
network must support a combination of
2G, 3G, and 4G access capabilities as these
access technologies will coexist over a long
time in the evolution toward LTE and 4G.
Specifically, various NEs in the new-
generation core network, such as MSC-S/
mAGCF, fixed Softswitch/AGCF, CSCF
and TAS should share the same platform.
Amid user migration from CS to PS,
these NEs can be upgraded via software to
CSCF and TAS components for hardware

reuse.
Open and interconnected
Operators will be able to create a market
space if they open and charge fees on their
more valuable resources like subscription
data, communications capabilities and user
status.
Open architecture. Core network NEs
communicate with each other through
standard protocols, and devices from
different vendors can interoperate with
one another, allowing operators to choose
products that best suit their needs.
The IMS Centralized Service (ICS)
architecture, which is defined in 3GPP R8,
is an option that provides the possibility
for a new-generation core network to
support 2G/3G/4G convergence, FMC
and convergence of narrowband and
broadband. This can guarantee service
integrity and continuity for users when
they switch between different access
technologies.
Open capabilities. To create a winning
business model, new-generation core
networks must have an open service
gateway (OSG), allowing operators to
open core network capabilities such as
communication capabilities, subscription
data, user status, preference and behavior
and accommodate third par ties via
APIs like REST. The new core network
should also support innovative Internet
applications combining CT and IT
applications to deliver a fresh user
experience.
Open access. End users have access to
services on the network anytime, anywhere
and can adapt communication policies to
their needs and preferences. A Web-based
personal service portal is integral to the
core network. Users can access the portal
through any terminal to make calls (click
to dial) or set communications policies,
such as binding terminals and setting a
routing policy for the person called.
Smooth evolution of core
networks
What is the best way for operators
to evolve their existing core networks
toward the target network architecture
after identifying the main features of a
new-generation core network? Overall
evolution can be done in 3 steps: 1 ) All-IP
and FMC. 2 ) All-service broadband and
multimedia. 3 ) IT and CT convergence.
Step 1: All-IP and FMC. Situations
differ with operators and they need
to individually map out evolution to
the target network in line with their
environment. The evolutionary roadmap
Huawei Communicate
may vary for TDM network operators,
operators that have enabled softswitches
and operators that operate both mobile
and fixed networks.
In the initial stage, operators that
prioritize mature and widely available
solutions can opt for a mature softswitch
solution. Those that hope for future-
proof evolution can choose a 2G/3G/4G
solution based on the 3GPP R8 ICS
architecture. Integrated operators with
focus on FMC can choose an IMS-based
convergent solution. Generally, the aim of
this stage is to build convergence and IP
capabilities into networks.
Step 2: All-service broadband and
multimedia. Given an IMS-based network
structure, users will be gradually migrated
f r o m Vo C S t o Vo P S a s b r o a d b a n d
t e c h n o l o g i e s s u c h a s LT E / F T T H
become available. During the transition,
circuit-switch networks will give way
to broadband networks and ultimately
morph into an All-IP broadband
networking environment. Operators are
then compelled to provide a wide array
of broadband multimedia applications,
such as RCS, multimedia high-definition
conferencing and IMS-based IPTV to
enrich end user experience.
Step 3: IT and CT convergence.
Broadband and IP capabilities will
ultimately push networks toward
ICT convergence. Telecom networks
should incorporate innovative
Internet applications to enhance user
experience, while the Internet requires
communications capabilities and user data
(with real names) from telecoms to make
Internet applications more relevant and
widely available. This trend means that IT
and CT applications will interweave and
jointly catalyze a networking boom.
Wi t h t h e i n c re a s i n g m a t u r i t y o f
computing technology, cloud computing
will be integrated into telecom networks to
improve their efficiency and flexibility in
using hardware resources. CT and IT will
transform into two powerful clouds that
underpin telecom network functionality
along with Telecom Core and Web Core,
helping operators extend their services
from telecom services to a combination of
CT and IT services.
Editor: Xu Peng xupeng@huawei.com
JUN 2010 . ISSUE 56 24