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RAN Optimization

Introduction

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Learn how you can optimize radio access network (RAN) transport to improve bandwidth efficiency and deliver new mobile IP services.

RAN Optimization Solution
Radio access network (RAN) optimization can help mobile operators deliver greater capacity and support new, bandwidth-intensive mobile applications – all without increasing costs for RAN transport. The Cisco RAN Optimization solution, based on the Cisco Mobile Wireless Router (MWR), evolves RAN architectures to add rich IP capabilities in the RAN.

With Cisco RAN Optimization, you can dramatically improve the efficiency of transporting Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) traffic. It lets you transport second-generation (2G) traffic 50 percent more efficiently than conventional RAN solutions, and third-generation (3G) traffic up to 90 percent more efficiently.

Cisco RAN Optimization extends Quality-of-Service (QoS) intelligence, IP routing, and other IP capabilities to the cell site. It also allows you to:

  • Reduce RAN operating costs by optimizing and aggregating multiple generations of radio traffic
  • Support current and future mobile broadband services, using the existing transport network, without adding expensive T1/E1 lines
  • Reduce costs by offloading bandwidth-intensive traffic such as High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) over any broadband IP backhaul network, including Metro Ethernet, WiMAX, and xDSL
  • Generate new revenues by letting you offer IP camera broadcasting and surveillance, Wi-Fi and WiMAX hotspots, and IP telephony access at existing GSM and UMTS cell sites

Boost Efficiency with Cisco RAN Optimization
Cisco IP RAN Optimization reduces operating expenses for RAN backhaul links by optimizing and aggregating bandwidth for GSM Abis and UTRAN Iub interfaces.

GSM traffic is optimized by up to 50 percent by removing idle channels and repeating patterns on the time-division multiplexing (TDM) link, so operators can transport the same level of GSM traffic with half the number of T1/E1 links. UMTS traffic is compressed up to 90 percent by removing idle cells and unused padding, and by multiplexing small payloads into single cells.

The Cisco IP RAN Optimization solution combines optimized voice and data frames into IP packets at the cell site, and transports them over the backhaul network. At the central site, the traffic frames are extracted from the IP packets and the Abis or Iub data streams are rebuilt.

The result is a transparent, radio vendor-independent solution that optimizes efficiency and adds new capabilities, while supporting legacy services.

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Cisco RAN Optimization Architecture
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Cisco MWR 1941 Mobile Wireless Router
This cell site wireless edge router optimizes and aggregates mixed-generation RAN traffic, allowing operators to significantly lower operating expenses and deliver new services.

Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Provisioning Platform (MSPP)
Cost-effectively deliver voice, video, data, and mobile services with a comprehensive, industry-leading multiservice optical platform.

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