UniqueNokia Siemens Networks Solutions for Communication Service Providers

Nokia Siemens Networks offers the whole range of mobile, fixed and converged networking technologies, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services.

Nokia Siemens Networks is among the leaders at the global markets of wireless networks and telecommunications services. More than 1.5 billion people use the company’s networks. We offer services to more than 600 providers in 150 countries. 75 of TOP 100 CSPs are our clients. The company employs about 60,000 employees around the world including 28,000 service professionals. The company’s headquarters are in Espoo, Finland.

Nokia Siemens Networks consists of three business units offering world-class end-to-end products, services and solutions: Business Solutions, Network Systems and Global Services.

www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

Nokia Siemens Networks is the leading global provider of communications services

Long Term Evolution solution: A seamless and profitable upgrade to LTEThe high performance and low total cost of ownership of LTE has rightly put this technology in the spotlight. More than a hundred Communications Service Providers (CSPs) are planning LTE upgrades in the next few years.A pioneer in LTE technology and LTE application strategies, Nokia Siemens Networks can provide your company with an end-to-end LTE / System Architecture Evolution (SAE) solution, infrastructure and services, and the smoothest possible migration path from 2/3G to LTE.

Lightning-fast data speeds of up to 173MB/s

Nokia Siemens Networks has been at the forefront of LTE development as the first supplier in the world to demonstrate LTE with data speeds up to 160 MB/s already in 2006. We were also first to demonstrate LTE in a multi-user, urban field trial with peak rates of 173 MB/s in Dec 2007, and are the first supplier to complete a handover between LTE and HSPA.

Key drivers for CSPs are:

• Capitalizing upon the increasing demand for data anytime, anywhere

• Opening new revenue streams from value-added services

• Boosting overall efficiency to combat declining voice ARPU

• Simplifying network architecture

• Support of variable standards per SW upgrades

A smooth, seamless network & service upgrade to LTE with Nokia Siemens Networks

The cornerstone of our LTE offering is the future-proof Flexi BTS, which provides a smooth path to LTE. It can be deployed right now with WCDMA/HSPA and upgraded to LTE with software only, when your local launch date arrives and LTE devices become available.

And, our Evolved Packet Core provides the capabilities to guarantee an unbeatable user experience in LTE, excelling in all the important performance aspects like signalling capacity, subscriber density and data throughput. And, because voice will continue to play a very important role for CSPs, our customers will be able to enjoy a smooth path towards VoIP by either reutilizing their mobile softswitching assets with our Fast Track Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or moving straight to IMS-based VoLTE.

Finally, our Mobile Backhaul solution is LTE-ready as well. Upgrading your carrier networks with this market-leading solution from Nokia Siemens Networks will help ensure your network is ready for LTE before the competition.

With our LTE solution you can:

• Bring LTE to any pre-existing antenna site

• Integrate hardware now, upgrade with software later

• Ensure smooth migration from current network to LTE

• Be the first to market with this revolutionary new standard

• Take advantage of our complete end-to-end infrastructure and services offering

• Optimize for best performance though the enhanced Self Organizing Networks (SON) features

Nokia Siemens Networks: the only vendor already shipping LTE-ready hardware

We were the first network vendor to demonstrate LTE over the air – in December, 2006.

In 2009 we are the only vendor to be shipping LTE-ready equipment.

We have a strong record in IP network innovation and have developed our entire portfolio, from the core network to operational support systems and services to align with the requirements of LTE. Additionally, our three LTE labs, including a brand-new lab in Dallas, are already helping CSPs across the world negotiate early deployments.

SON — self-organizing networks

The self-organizing network, or SON, aims to leapfrog to a higher level ofautomated operation in mobile networks.

Today SON is part of the move to the next-generation of radio technology known as Long Term Evolution (LTE). But to make the most of the very real benefits of automation, SON’s scope must be extended beyond LTE.

The twofold benefits of SON are easily summarized. It• Boosts network quality• Cuts operational expenditure (OPEX)

Traffic patterns in cellular networks are changing fast with mobile data closing in on voice services.

An intelligent network with the ability to quickly and autonomously optimize itself could sustain both network quality and a satisfying user experience.

SON offers tremendous potential and many ways of improving operating efficiency.

Business drivers and functional overview

Many compelling reasons could be cited for automating cellular networks, most coming under one of two headings:• The user experience

• Operating efficiency and cost

SON can markedly improve the user experience by optimizing the network more rapidly and mitigating outages as they occur. These are very important capabilities because time-to-operation and time-to-repair are such critical factors for every network operator.

A case in point is SON’s ability to balance loads – also called capacitybased optimization – between cells in congested traffic. It can distribute bandwidth equitably among users and minimize overloads that deprive each user of bandwidth. Best of all, SONdriven load-balancing achieves such improvements in real-time.

Operating efficiency, in turn, is all about simplifying and accelerating rollout, as well as running, maintaining, and optimizing the network more autonomously and more effectively.

And minimizing extra operating effort seems a very good idea indeed in view of the complication of introducing and managing new LTE technology alongside legacy 2G/3G equipment.

SON delivers operating benefits throughout the network’s lifespan.

Beyond the upfront benefits of faster, easier, and more cost-effective installation and commissioning, it continues yielding long-term savings and contributes considerably to greater overall network efficiency.

Figure 1: SON.s lifelong operating benefits

Three classes of key functions figure prominently in SON

Self-configuration comprises all tasks necessary to automate the deployment and commissioning of networks and the configuration of parameters. Network elements operate autonomously, running setup routines, authenticating and connecting to the OSS, as well as linking up and swapping parameters with need-to-know neighbors.

Self-optimization serves to improve or recoup network quality by tuning network parameters on the fly. Key tasks involve brokering handovers and balancing loads among neighboring cells.

Contributing to a greener network environment, SON offers advanced energy-saving features.

Self-healing encompasses a set of key functions designed to cope with major service outages, including detection, root cause analysis, and outage mitigation mechanisms. Auto-restart and other automatic alarm features afford the network operator even more quick-response options. Self-planning combines configuration and optimization capabilities to dynamically re-compute parts of the network, the aim being to improve parameters affecting service quality.

Functional overview

Figure 2: A look at SON functions

HSPA+ Evolution: intelligent network for intelligent devicesNokia Siemens Networks announces Flexi solutions for HSPA+.

Deployment of HSPA+ allows third generation network operators to achieve efficiency of spectrum utilization for data traffic similar to LTE. Additionally, HSPA+ is a logical extension for CSPs operating existing WCDMA/HSPA networks and WCDMA/ 2100/ 900 MHz license holders.

Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi Solution Benefits

• Upgrade of Radio access network is performed using only software without on-site visits. This decreases base station total cost of ownership. Network upgrade to support LTE may be performed the same way, if operator chooses that.

• Using the proven Cell_PCH solution together with the most powerful capabilities of signal traffic processing in RNC makes Nokia Siemens Networks HSPA+ the most suitable solution for smartphones and always-on applications.HSPA+ is a logical way to develop CSP business

based on 3G networks

Mobile backhaul – the power behind LTE

Service providers are now finding that optimizing mobile backhaul to cope with the vast rise in data traffic is a very pressing concern.

The market: mobile broadband for Web 2.0 services

While the key to revenue growth undoubtedly lies in 3G/4G mobile broadband services for the Web 2.0 generation, these demanding customers are used to seeing a steady decline in the cost per bit for their bandwidth-heavy applications, and that’s focusing attention on expensive and ageing traditional backhaul infrastructure.

The situation will change especially rapidly for service providers as they start to address radio access with LTE (long term evolution), the next-generation mobile standard. It will expose a major bottleneck in mobile backhaul, as much infrastructure around the world is rooted in legacy leased line and TDM architecture that simply will not scale up to provide efficiently the transport requirements of next-generation networks.

As analyst Infonetics Research reports, data traffic is likely to surpass voice traffic on mobile networks by 2010, thanks to the activities of subscribers with iPhones and other bandwidth-hungry devices. “Carriers everywhere are increasing the bandwidth on their backhaul networks to handle this exploding IP data traffic, and the most efficient, cost-effective way to do that is to transition from TDM to packet IP/Ethernet, which is driving the mobile backhaul equipment market,” reports Infonetics. It adds that mobile backhaul equipment investments jumped a healthy 19% in 2008 to $4.6 billion worldwide, and revenue is set to ‘explode’ over the next 5 years and beyond.

It’s a point reinforced by analyst Gartner, which states that service providers should plan for more than 100 Mbit/s backhaul capacity per site via a ‘graceful’ migration from TDM, factoring in resiliency, end-to-end network management, quality of service and SLA monitoring – and not least, cost per megabit.

The solution: an evolutionary path towards full packet mobile backhaul

The way forward lies, of course, in migrating all transport to the packet-based world. The key is to choose an evolutionary pathway that is as simple and efficient as possible, and which also fits in with present infrastructure outside of green-field implementations.

There are a number of approaches currently in place for backhaul – principally leased lines, and self-built microwave systems sometimes supplemented with leased lines. LTE (with speeds in tens of Mbits/s per user) will require cost-effective Carrier Ethernet based backhaul running on microwave, fibre or hybrid networks. Certainly, typical second generation (2G) cell sites have a few T1/E1 lines for cellular backhaul that will need to be overhauled for LTE deployments.

And increasingly, the converged fixed/mobile broadband service mix offered by service providers also competing in residential and business fixed broadband are coming into play and can equally be integrated into one simplified Carrier Ethernet Transport backhaul solution.

The challenges: maximizing performance and coping with complexity

The key aim is to maximize service performance – throughput, latency and transport efficiency – while minimizing total cost of ownership. Backhaul transport is a strategic and critical part of the overall network optimisation equation – it accounts for more than 30 % of technical operation costs as well as 30 % of the overall capital investments for many mobile service providers. These are figures that usually scale linearly as mobile data traffic grows. Many service providers now need to decouple transport costs from capacity growth and increase network efficiency – and so achieve LTE readiness.

But optimizing mobile backhaul can be highly complex, as it can involve multiple network layers and a wide mix of transport technologies and protocols.

A deep knowledge is needed of the multi-disciplinary complexity involved. The design of an optimized next generation mobile backhaul network and migration strategy can test the resources of even the most expert operator. A partner with the right expertise can help operators plan and implement a smooth, cost effective evolution to next-generation backhaul.

Figure 3: Evolution path towards a full packet mobile backhaul network

The Nokia Siemens Networks approach: optimizing backhaul is not “one size fits all”

Carrier Ethernet Transport is the best solution for many customers, either to lower costs and simplify backhaul across the entire network, or to migrate data traffic to Ethernet and keep voice on existing transport infrastructure. With migration towards LTE, service providers must ensure that the ratio between revenues generated per cell site and the backhaul cost per site is kept at sustainable and competitive levels.

Our aim is to help service providers enhance customer experience with true quality of service and flexible options for bandwidth allocation. Our solutions are tailored to individual transport infrastructure needs and the existing architecture situation.

1. Minimize costs in your cell site solution

A first step is to implement a “zero footprint solution” for sites, where universal transport capabilities are already integrated into Nokia Siemens Networks’ Flexi base station. This can optimize site costs by up to 25 % by eliminating additional shelter equipment, space and power consumption – a “greener” way to go.

2. Optimize operations with centralized management

A second – and overarching – point is common management for backhaul among other parts of the network. Our end-to-end transport management of IP/MPLS, Carrier Ethernet, microwave, optical and access networks improves operational efficiency by enabling data sharing between different systems and processes across a service provider’s whole network.

Easy application management can lead to cost savings. For example, a mid-sized service provider can reduce its transport configuration related annual OPEX by up to 80 % by harmonizing the transport connectivity management. Optimizing backhaul solutions is not a “one size fits all” exercise.

3. Maximize resources with Multi-Layer Optimization

A consultative approach is needed to provide the best resilience, end-to-end time synchronisation over packets, a hard quality of service and excellent reliability capabilities. For accurate timing over packets our solution provides simplified and cost efficient network synchronisation for today’s HSPA (high-speed packet access), HSPA evolution and future LTE networks.

Not least, optimal selection of transport technologies such as IP, Ethernet and optical across the backhaul network is a key consideration. Our consultative Multilayer Optimization (MLO) service is a new way to tune networks that examines every corner of network infrastructure and operations. Transport cost savings of 30 % can be realized.

Backhaul in action: customers speak

With more than 600 customers for mobile backhaul solutions in more than 100 countries, we have many successful deployments where greatly improved efficiency and enriched customer experience have been reported. A service provider in Malaysia with more than 10 million subscribers has moved to a full IP network with our mobile backhaul solution. We helped the provider build future-proof packet backhaul for optimal transport of HSPA and to prepare for LTE services. It is saving a great deal of OPEX not only in transport costs but also in staff effort, which accounts for about 20 % of technical operations.

Another example is the service operator Chunghwa Telecom in Taiwan, which created new wireless highspeed Internet services with 60 % lower transport costs using our mobile backhaul solution. The balance between cost and capacity has enabled the provider to offer mobile broadband data services and an enriched customer experience – and has also made the network more profitable.

Conclusion: the right strategic partner to prepare your mobile backhaul for LTE

For many service providers, moving to a high speed packet access network just does not make business sense where backhaul remains on TDM leased line architecture. The way forward will involve a good deal of modelling to ascertain the relative merits of, for example, a hybrid network, leased Ethernet or a full self-build carrier Ethernet backhaul network – but a simplified, unified packet-based network has to be the ultimate aim. Our mobile backhaul solution overcomes the obstacles to minimising cost and will stand the test of time. A strong consultative approach, integration expertise and portfolio breadth to create optimised backhaul solution makes us the right strategic partner to build up the mobile backhaul power behind LTE.