Softswitch the ultimate

TETRA system architecture

Mario Schouten
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

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

History of TETRA switching

Comparison of four common TETRA
system architectures
Hierarchical
Switchboard circuit
switched networks
Fully distributed
open IP-based networks
Hierarchical proprietary
IP-based networks
Soft switch
open IP-based networks

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Soft switch architecture

Overview of hardware & software layers
Layer 4

Application

Layer 3

Transport

Layer 2

Operating System

Layer 1

Hardware

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Soft switch architecture

Layer 4

Layer 1 - Hardware

Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1

PC Server Platform

Network Equipment Building System

(NEBS) certified Telecom Platform
Micro or Advanced TCA

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Soft switch architecture

Layer 4

Layer 2 - Operating system

Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1

Microsoft / Oracle

Open (Carrier Grade) Linux

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Soft switch architecture

Layer 4

Layer 3 - Transport layer

Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1

T1 / E1

XML

IP

HTTP

TCP

Frame Relay
Proprietary IP

PPTP
SNMP

Proprietary
Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

UDP

FTP
SSH

SSL
SMB

IPSEC

Open IP

Soft switch architecture

Layer 4

Layer 4 - Application layer

Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1

TETRA on top of dedicated

hardware & operating systems

TETRA as Application

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Soft switch architecture

Summary of Benefits
Layer 4

Application
TETRA

Layer 3

Transport
IP / MPLS

Layer 2

Operating System
Linux

Layer 1

Hardware
NEBS platform

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Flexibility
Simplicity
Standards-based
No vendor lock-in
Stability
Real-time operation

COTS
Redundancy

IP integration opportunities

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
Dispatch

Application Server

Network
Management
IP backbone

IP Wireless
Broadband
network

TETRA
System (SwMI)

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

TETRA /TEDS
Base Stations

IP integration opportunities
Future proof
Based on pure COTS equipment
Unifying communications (Voice, Data, Video)
Supports migration to wideband & broadband data
(TEDS, LTE)

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

IP integration opportunities
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

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

IP integration opportunities
Benefits of Multi Protocol Label Switching
MPLS is an open IP standard, defined by the IETF (Internet
Engineering Task Force)

Offers very fast rerouting - no service interruption

Opportunity for No-single-point-of-failure

BS2

BS4

BS6

Ethernet

E1, SDH, Fiber, ...

Main path to BS4

Standby path
to BS4

BS1

BS3

BS5

Main
SwMI
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BS7
Standby
SwMI

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

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

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

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

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

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Further reading
Read white paper
Reliable and Scalable
TETRA networks
Download from
www.rohill.com,
Downloads White
papers

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

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

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association

Thank you

Mario M.C. Schouten

Regional Sales Director APAC
Rohill Engineering B.V.
Email: mario.schouten@rohill.com

Presentation on behalf of the TETRA + Critical Communications Association