Softswitch the ultimate TETRA system architecturepocketguide.tetra-association.com/Library/Documents/...Softswitch – the ultimate TETRA system architecture Andreas Bode Rohill Presentation

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association 1

Softswitch – the ultimate

TETRA system architecture

Andreas Bode

Rohill

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Contents

• History of TETRA switching

• Definition of soft switching architecture

• IP integration opportunities

• Analysis of Total Cost of Ownership

• Technical benefits of soft switching


History of TETRA switching

• Comparison of four common TETRA system architectures

2010

Switchboard Hierarchical circuit switched networks

Hierarchical proprietary IP-based networks

Fully distributed open IP-based networks

Soft switch open IP-based networks

2012 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998


Soft switch architecture

• Overview of hardware & software layers

Hardware Layer 1

Operating System Layer 2

Transport Layer 3

Application Layer 4



• Layer 1 - Hardware Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

PC Server Platform “Network Equipment Building System”

(NEBS) certified Telecom Platform Micro or Advanced TCA



• Layer 2 - Operating system Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Microsoft / Oracle Open (Carrier Grade) Linux



• Layer 3 - Transport layer Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Proprietary Open IP

XML UDP IP

TCP HTTP

SSL

SNMP SMB

IPSEC

PPTP

SSH

FTP

T1 / E1

Proprietary IP

Frame Relay



• Layer 4 - Application layer

TETRA on top of dedicated hardware & operating systems

TETRA as Application

Layer 1

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4



• Summary of Benefits

COTS Redundancy

Hardware NEBS platform

Layer 1

Stability Real-time operation

Operating System Linux

Layer 2

Standards-based No vendor lock-in

Transport IP / MPLS

Layer 3

Flexibility Simplicity

Application TETRA

Layer 4


IP integration opportunities

Application Server Dispatch

IP Wireless Broadband network

Network Management

• Transport of TETRA voice, data and signalling

• Exchange of Voice, Status, SDS and Packet Data

• Interfaces for Network Management (SNMP, HTTP)

• Migration to TEDS and Wireless Broadband

TETRA Base Stations

TETRA System (SwMI)

IP backbone

/TEDS



• Future proof

– Based on pure COTS equipment

– Unifying communications (Voice, Data, Video)

– Supports migration to wideband & broadband data (TEDS, LTE)



• Lower cost

– Competitive market for equipment & services

– Lower cost of leased-line interconnection

– One networks versus many dedicated networks

• Flexibility

– Virtual access through whole network



• Benefits of Multi Protocol Label Switching – MPLS is an open IP standard, defined by the IETF

– Offers very fast rerouting - no service interruption

– Opportunity for No-single-point-of-failure

Main SwMI

Standby SwMI

BS2 BS4 BS6

BS3 BS5 BS7 BS1

Ethernet

E1, SDH, Fiber, ...

Main path to BS4

Standby path to BS4


Total Cost of Ownership

• CAPEX – Capital Expenditure

– Equipment cost

• IMPEX – Implementation Expenditure

– Project management, Training, System integration, Installation, Configuration

• OPEX – Operational Expenditure

– Site cost, Link cost, Energy, Maintenance, Support


Analysis of TCO

Aspect Soft switch advantages

CAPEX Fewer hardware components less equipment cost Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) hardware lower cost of equipment sourcing Simplicity of architecture less development and maintenance effort for supplier

IMPEX

Based on Open IP standards easy integration with IP backhaul networks Fewer hardware and software components less configuration effort Simple configuration and troubleshooting less training cost Simplicity in design and deployment lower project management cost

OPEX

Simplified hardware architecture lower maintenance cost Fewer hardware components lower energy consumption Opportunities for No-single-point-of-failure relaxed service terms Based on Open IP standards shared use of IP backhaul facilities Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) hardware fewer component obsolescense issues Open standards based equipment less vendor lock-in issues, more competition


Technical benefits

Aspect Soft switch advantages

Functionality All functionality resides in software ultimate flexibility Same software can run in site fallback mode all functionality available in fallback

Performance Single TETRA software application appraches theoretical throughput of TETRA High performance of current CPUs high number of calls / second

Scalability Distributed switching capacity can grow as needed Availability of scalable IP bandwidth opportunity to increase traffic

Availability Fewer hardware components higher inherent system reliability Carrier-class hardware and software high stability and availability No-single-point-of-failure 5-times-9 availability

Security Open IP based encryption and autentication high level of security TETRA encryption in soft switch encrypted communication over IP backhaul


Further reading

• Read white paper “Reliable and Scalable TETRA networks”

• Download from www.rohill.com, Downloads White papers


Summary

• Soft switch technology is truly the ultimate TETRA system architecture

• Minimized vendor lock-in when combined with IP / MPLS

• Results in lowest Total Cost of Ownership


Thank you

[email protected]

www.Rohill.com