For many years,
mobile network technology – the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM)
and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) – has been the dominant means of
making voice calls when away from home or the office. Today, mobile packet data
networks are just starting to be deployed and have yet to be widely adopted.
However, there are ambitious hopes for this technology.
World standards
bodies, such as the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), have defined
the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) architecture for second generation GSM,
and the packet domain architecture for the Third Generation Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (3G UMTS).1 Unlike telephony, which has been enhanced
by numerous revenue-generating supplementary services, such as call transfer,
voice mail and the Short Message Service (SMS), packet data transmission
provides few supplementary services, making it necessary for operators to earn
revenue primarily from basic data transport. Although the standard has defined mechanisms
for providing supplementary packet services based on intelligent network
architecture and the Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic
(CAMEL) protocol, their functionality remains limited, particularly when it
comes to differentiated charging systems.
In addition, a
growing number of service providers are interacting directly with users in a
manner that is totally transparent to the network, based on the internet
philosophy of locating intelligence at the ends, thereby requiring the minimum
of network services. Examples include downloading video and audio clips, games,
ring tones, screen savers and MP3 files. The GPRS operator has no part to play
and is thus reduced to the role of a simple “pipe” supplier.
The challenge for
cellular operators will be to evolve to become suppliers of high added value
services. Naturally, mobile operators can offer their own “end-to-end”
services. In addition, because of their position as infrastructure managers,
they can offer profitable enhancements linked to data transport. The Gateway
GPRS Support Node (GGSN) can help mobile packet network operators to achieve
this aim.
The recent emergence in the mobile world
of sophisticated, high revenue services using packet transmission has faced
operators with a dilemma: whether to remain as simple providers of a means of
communication and no longer be able to earn a return on the massive investment
required to enhance their infrastructures (particularly for 3G), or to evolve
to provide an enhanced transport service yielding additional income. Operators
have unique advantages when it comes to the latter approach. The GGSN is the
focal point in this evolutionary strategy. Two architectures for implementing
these enhancements are compared: the “integrated” approach which combines the
GGSN and enhancements in a single device, and the “segregated” approach whereby
these enhancements are deployed outside the GGSN in independent equipment.
Although neither solution is dominant,
depending on what enhancements are chosen, there is often a location (inside or
outside the GGSN) that is more logical, more natural or provides better
performance. Furthermore, the integrated approach may not be well received by
operators because it ties their choice of GGSN and enhancements. Considering
all the arguments, Alcatel has decided to offer its customers products that
satisfy both approaches. Alcatel’s “segregated” approach is based on the EASI
integration product. Its “integrated” approach has been produced through a
successful partnership with a specialist network systems company. By offering
both approaches, Alcatel should be able to respond appropriately to the wide
range of requirements of a segmented market, and thus maximize its
opportunities for future success.
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