Professional Documents
Culture Documents
N E T W O R K S
Small Cells
Improve Metropolitan Coverage, Capacity and Subscriber Services with BelAir Networks GigXoneTM Architecture
The wireless data industry is experiencing a tremendous amount of growth driven by the following key market influences: Smartphones and tablets with cellular/Wi-Fi connectivity Extensive application ecosystems for smart mobile devices The surge of video enabled internet applications HD video moving into the mainstream The emerging always on broadband wireless user culture
Mobile service providers continue to offer increasingly innovative and cost competitive wireless data services to capture the demanding smartphone and tablet user markets. The increasing popularity of video enabled applications like Netflix, Apple FaceTime, and Facebooks Video Chat (Skype), plus streaming and downloading of music/video content will continue to drive users desire for lower cost wireless data consumption. One Gbyte of broadband data usage averages $10 in North America and Europe, with continued downward price pressure. Mobile service providers must look to alternate wireless broadband solutions to maintain competitive and profitable mobile broadband service offerings. Carrier Wi-Fi solutions offer broadband data services at a small fraction of the cost of 3G/ LTE macro solutions, enabling a new low cost dimension of mobile broadband data services. Apple, Android and RIM have created significant application ecosystems to drive smartphone and tablet sales, which in turn drives more wireless data usage. The iPhone has created a huge surge in wireless data traffic since its introduction. The next significant surge in data traffic will result from the introduction of tablets and new smartphones by numerous suppliers. Smartphones data usage are now at par with laptop usage just 2-3 years ago. Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE services will improve the broadband wireless user experience, lower broadband data service costs relative to 3G/LTE, and provide new revenue opportunities
Current Mobile Network Operator (MNO) macrocell networks cannot cost effectively scale to meet capacity demands in dense user population environments. Operators are making use of lower-cost Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE solutions as in-fill networks to augment existing services by bringing capacity closer to consumption while lowering cost per Gigabyte thus improving customers experience in dense urban areas. With data demands increasing at a rate of 25x to 35x in the next 3-5 years (according to both FCC and Ofcom) and the potential for a larger increase in the future, a fundamental change in architecture is required. BelAir Networks believes that the most effective option to solve the mobile operators broadband challenges of today, and in the future, is with a Wi-Fi and small cell solutions architecture that co-exists with and complements capacity
Copyright 2012 BelAir Networks BDMC00140-B01
Small Cells
and coverage of macrocell networks in dense wireless user environments. A Wi-Fi and small cell architecture can increase capacity by a multiple of up to 100 by replicating cells more frequently and can deliver a better user experience as base stations are closer to the end user resulting in more frequent and consistent use of higher order modulations. MNOs without significant wired broadband service capabilities have not been able to widely deploy small cell solutions due to a lack of locations with mounting rights, available power, and backhaul capacity. Strand-based Multiple System Operators (MSO), have access to all those critically important assets by using the Hybrid Fibre Co-axial (HFC) to deliver wireless services. The HFC offers the ability to rapidly deploy Wi-Fi and small cells at a scale, performance, and coverage not previously thought possible. Hosted and shared service capabilities, embedded in the Wi-Fi and small cell architecture, further enables new business models and revenue opportunities for MNOs, MVNOs and strand-based MSOs. The industry trend towards virtualization of network infrastructure capabilities into cloud based services enables mobile service providers the opportunity to easily commercialize infrastructure services for multiple broadband access services. This also enables new revenue opportunities with business customers wanting to outsource IT infrastructure plus service provider partners who do not want to own and operate their own wireless infrastructure.
The immediate market need for Wi-Fi as a 3G offload solution leads to the need for an end to
end solution architecture based This white paper outlines an architecture and roadmap of key capabilities to on available technology. offload data traffic from congested areas of 3G/LTE mobile networks on a targeted and wide scale. Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE services will improve the broadband wireless user experience, lower broadband data service costs relative to 3G/LTE, and provide new revenue opportunities. With industry leading 3G offload solutions from BelAir Networks, service providers can: Increase customer satisfaction of broadband services Utilize cloud services or re-use broadband service infrastructure for Wi-Fi services Maintain control of the customer relationship and user experience across multiple wireless access technologies Seamlessly offload data traffic from 3G/LTE macro-cell services to carrier Wi-Fi Offer 3G/LTE offload utilizing Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE small cell solutions from a single architecture Offer multiple Wi-Fi services from a single platform Utilize 3G/LTE small cell capabilities for macro-cell data offload and coverage/capacity enhancements Offer shared and hosted services Offer location based services Offer advanced services for video applications Rapidly deploy new services and coverage
Small Cells
Mobile service providers have a great opportunity to become the value added, mobile everywhere, service provider for their target markets. The challenge is to effectively provide: Mobile coverage to a wide array of wireless devices, customer types, and service areas A cost competitive, high capacity network that meets the fast growing market demands for subscriber functionality, performance, value, and personalization A seamless subscriber experience for devices with: Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi/3G, and Wi-Fi/4G Easy to use Wi-Fi service access models for customers, partner customers, and guests Differentiated Wi-Fi video services to enhance the user experience of demanding applications utilizing streaming video, video calling, and video broadcast Subscriber control of a trusted Wi-Fi location based information source to enable mobile capabilities for social networking, local advertising, and search applications Differentiated Wi-Fi service personalization to enhance user experience and value Trusted security of user data and network resources The BelAir Networks architecture is modular, distributed, and flexible. The modularity enables separation of the core network functions from the radio access functions to allow straight forward integration with existing broadband network architectures and infrastructure services. The distributed, intelligent edge, policy enforcement and security provides for smooth and independent network capacity growth including; number of APs in the network, number of simultaneous users, and network data traffic capacity. The architecture is driven by the BelAirOS networking software and managed by the BelView Network Management System. All the network management and gateway control functions can be deployed as a virtual appliance or as integrated products. The shared and hosted service capabilities of the BelAir Networks solutions enable new business models and revenue opportunities. BelAir Networks solutions also enable subscribers to seamlessly move from access point to access point while maintaining their Wi-Fi and small cell connections as long as they remain in the service coverage area. This metro and national scale of seamless mobility is unique and especially important to allow wide scale Wi-Fi and small cell networks to deliver enhanced services like video, gaming, and VoIP to mobile users. User Managed Data Offload User managed data offload is a user configured method for Wi-Fi enabled devices like smartphones and tablets to gain access to Wi-Fi networks as an alternative connection to 3G data connection for internet access. Figure 1 depicts an overview of the user managed data offload approach. This effectively provides data offload from 3G networks, however, it bypasses service provider involvement in the service for any value added capabilities. This offload method is being utilized today and will continue as an offload solution in some circumstances even when service provider offload solutions are offered. This offload method requires the user to configure the SSIDs to be recognized and configure any authentication information required to access the SSID. The benefits of this approach for the user are: higher performance data connection, lower cost data usage than 3G data (often free), and user control of data connectivity. This bypass of the service provider 3G core network for data represents a loss of revenue opportunity and a loss of user experience control. The benefits for the service provider is this 3G offload capacity is provided by a home or business and does not require any service provider resources.
Small Cells
Public Internet
The key advantage of this architecture for mobile operators is the Wi-Fi service utilization of the 3GPP AAA service and PDG/PDN-GW infrastructure from a 3G/LTE core network. This architecture provides for automatic user authentication onto Wi-Fi services based on cellular subscriber ID information contained within the device for 3G/LTE service authentication. The main dis-advantages of this architectural approach are: No session continuity to/from 3G/LTE and Wi-Fi is supported Local offload is out of scope in the I-WLAN standards Requires IPsec tunneling from wireless device to PDG Smartphones and Tablets do not presently support IPsec IPsec network termination is resource intensive and adds complexity
Small Cells
PDG
AAA
WAG
Wn
Wa
4G Non Trusted Access Architecture (Wi-Fi/LTE) Figure 3 depicts an overview of the 4G Non Trusted access architecture based on the 3GPP release 8 set of standards. This architecture allows for various levels of integration between LTE and Wi-Fi networks, plus supports: seamless authentication, session continuity (Automated connection re-establishment), and fully integrated connection hand-off capabilities. This approach also requires IPsec tunnelling from the wireless device to the ePDG. This IPsec requirement is resource intensive for both the device and the ePDG.
PDN-GW
SWn
S14
Wi-Fi APs
Small Cells
Deployment Readiness Both the I-WLAN and 4G non-trusted Wi-Fi architectures described above are not yet deployable for the following key technology shortfalls: Smartphones and tablets do not presently support IPsec for secure connectivity from the wireless device to the PDG/ePDG There is a lack of commercially available ePDG/PDG industry standards defined products
BelViewNMS
HLR/HSS
MAP
Internet
Mobility Gateway
BelAirBI
L2VPN PMIP or IP
L2VPN PMIP or IP
IP
BelAirCC8000
CAPWAP
BelAir3200 strand
Figure 4. BelAir Networks GigXone for Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE Small Cell Services
Small Cells
See the BelAir Networks Architecture Solutions white paper (BDMC00120) for full details on the service provider Wi-Fi and small cell architecture for all supported applications including 3G Offload.
SWm
Local offload
Public Internet
Controller Gateway
The BelAir Networks Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) mobility architecture utilizes available functionality from smartphones and tablets, plus leverages available 3GPP core network capabilities for GGSN (GTPV1) and PDNGateway (GTPV2) connectivity. The Wi-Fi network connectivity to the cellular core network is achieved by having a direct GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP) interface to the 3GPP GGSN or PDN-GW, which has no architectural impact on the 3GPP core network. The GGSN/PDN-GW can provide for Wi-Fi user connectivity to cellular core services, 3GPP content, and Internet access. IMS services and mobile operator portals are examples of 3GPP services that can be made accessible by Wi-Fi users.
Small Cells
The key 3GPP integration functionality is delivered by the Mobility Gateway (MG) function of the BelAir Networks architecture. The Mobility Gateway and Controller Gateway functions can be combined into a single integrated product for smaller deployments. The 3G offload functionality provided by the MG is: Aggregation of Controller Gateways (CG) Trusted interface to 3GPP core network AAA services (SWm) Local internet offload Trusted 3GPP core network data interface (GTPV1/V2)
Wireless access communications is secured by standard 802.11i mechanisms supported in smartphones and tablets today. BelAir Networks is an industry leader in the deployment of CAPWAP (IETF RFC 5415) with secure transport for communications links between APs and the CG/MGs. The communication link between the CG and MG is IP and can optionally be secured by an aggregated IPsec tunnel which carries the traffic from all CG subtended APs and clients. This aggregated IPsec approach enables larger scalability through minimizing the IPsec overhead required to secure communications, if required. Macrocell Site Co-location BelAir Networks 3G offload solutions include integrated macrocell site co-location capabilities. These co-location capabilities are based on the deployment proven architecture depicted in Figure 6. This architecture is capable of delivering Wi-Fi and small cell 3G/LTE services from one infrastructure. The key elements of the cell site colocations capabilities are: Macrocell backhaul, power, and mounting utilization Cell site co-location APs Mesh networking underlay architecture Mesh networking APs delivering Wi-Fi and 3G/LTE small cell services
BelAir1300
BelAir2100
BelAir1300
Figure 6. Cell Site Co-location Architecture
Small Cells
The BelAir Networks co-location solution utilizes BelAir100NE APs to provide the wireless mesh links from rooftop macrocell sites to street level mesh APs, plus provides the wired backhaul network connectivity at the macrocell site. The architecture supports multiple BelAir100NE APs for direct Wi-Fi service delivery or multiple mesh wireless access links to street level APs. BelAir100N APs are mesh nodes that provide Wi-Fi access and can be located on street level assets where mounting rights and an AP power source are available, such as building walls, street poles, and traffic lights. BelAir100P APS are mesh nodes that provide 3G small cell service and can be located on street level assets where mounting rights and an AP power source are available, such as building walls, street poles, and traffic lights.
Small Cells
Client
AP
Network
RADIUS
Provide private address
Web Server
Policy Manager
Customer Records
Check MAC for registration
DHCP Check MAC with RADIUS Check MAC results http redirect http Login page Credentials
Blocked and sent to login page Web Server checks with RADIUS
II
Not pre-Authorized
redirect Allow access Check policy with RADIUS and start accounting OK GO
Internet access is allowed here
redirect http
Open Access Open access utilizing web redirect and MAC authentication enables Wi-Fi service access to the widest variety of potential Wi-Fi users. This is the entry level for seamless authentication and security. This method is based on a web portal for initial known user credential entry or guest payment capture, including creation of a user profile that includes the device MAC information. Further service accesses with the authenticated device can be seamlessly authorized based on a MAC pre-authorization check procedure. Figure 7 depicts the call flow for initial Wi-Fi attachment. The BelAir Networks AP allows an unauthenticated device to start a DHCP session and allocates a local and temporary IP address. All http traffic from the user device will be redirected towards a landing Web page. The Web page provides a registration portal where the client credentials can be entered and stored. The client MAC is also captured and stored during this process for use in further access authorization requests to provide the seamless authentication. Secure Access-EAP Utilizing EAP mechanisms for network access provides an increased level of integrated Wi-Fi access security and authentication automation.
10
Small Cells
Supplicant
Authenticator
AAA Server
Client
AP
Network
RADIUS
RADIUS
II
EAPOL Authentication RADIUS
Authentication messages
Master Key (MK) Pairwise Master Key (PMK) (PMK) 4 way group handshake to generate the various Transient and Temporal keys (PTK, - KCK, KEK, GTK, TK...) DHCP Allow access GO
(PMK)
Secure Access-EAP SIM/AKA EAP SIM/AKA authentication enables the network operator to re-use their 3G, or 4G authentication services for Wi-Fi access as well. Utilizing EAP SIM/AKA allows the network operator to maintain control of the user data sessions for offload to Wi-Fi from the 3GPP data session and vice versa. Figure 8 depicts the detailed EAP SIM call flow and Figure 9 provides the initial overall attachment call flow including into the 3G/EPC core network.
11
Small Cells
BelAir AP/CG
Initial EAP-AKA authentication for access
AAA
PDN-GW
PCRF
DHCP Discover
Create Session Req PDN-GW Addr Update Create Session Rsp DHCP Offer DHCP Request DHCP Ack End-to-end IP traffic
Hotspot 2.0 BelAir Networks is an active member of the Wi-Fi Alliance task group developing the Hotspot 2.0 industry standard. Hotspot 2.0 is intended to simplify and unify the Wi-Fi user experience when utilizing service provider Wi-Fi networks. Hotspot 2.0 is a collection of standards that provide a cohesive approach to address: user authentication (EAP SIM/AKA and TLS/TTLS) and service query & advertisement (802.11u/ANQP) as well as operator policy download to devices over the air (new) and on-line service signup (new). This standardized set of capabilities will enhance the user experience when utilizing Wi-Fi and offer the service provider new revenue opportunities by enabling value added services, and on-line sign up to Wi-Fi users.
Session Mobility
Session mobility between 3G and Wi-Fi networks will enable users to roam between 3G data and Wi-Fi data connectivity without their application sessions being terminated. The always on broadband community sees this capability as very important for the Wi-Fi user experience. The application types that benefit the most from session mobility are: FaceTime, Music/Video content streaming, social networking, VoIP calling, gaming, and many VPNs. Seamless Wi-Fi to 3G/LTE Service Connectivity Data session connectivity between Wi-Fi networks and 3G/LTE networks is enabled by GTP encapsulation of traffic to the PDN-GW or GGSN in the 3GPP core network (See Figures 5 & 9). GTP encapsulation in the Mobility Gateway (MG) toward the GGSN/PDN-GW allows Wi-Fi access to the Internet through the 3G core
12
Small Cells
network as well as access to 3G core services and content. The BelAir Networks solution also offers a local data offload capability directly to the Internet to offload the 3G core network as well as the Radio Access Network (RAN) offload. Seamless Wi-Fi Session Mobility in Very Large Wi-Fi Networks For very large networks, encompassing multiple MGs, this is achieved by mapping standard DHCP messages from the Wi-Fi device to 3GPP handover indication messages to the PDN-GW when roaming across MGs. In this way the Wi-Fi device IP address does not need to change, enabling full session mobility across massive Wi-Fi networks. Seamless EPC to Wi-Fi Session Mobility This final step in the BelAir Networks HetNet mobility architecture enables seamless session handover when roaming from EPC to Wi-Fi networks and vice versa without requiring any special client software. BelAir Networks is working with tier-1 EPC vendors to enable this solution. The BelAir Networks MG communicates with the EPC AAA / HSS server to obtain the 3GPP IP addresses of the roaming client. Using that information, the MG then initiates a GTP handover indication to the PDN-GW, using that address, to convey the client is roaming. The PDN-GW communicates with the serving gateway to determine if there is already an active session on the 3GPP network, and if so, terminates the 3GPP session. All established sessions and applications remain active when roaming to Wi-Fi as there is no active session termination in this method. The established 3GPP application session will be preserved when roaming to Wi-Fi using this approach.
13
Small Cells
Open and industry standards architecture enables best of breed solutions Lawful Intercept based on industry leading Mobility Gateway, and PDN-GW capabilities Charging support based on PDN-GW charging capabilities Optimized performance of video and location enabled applications Ease of network and operations integration
Conclusion
As the mobile community continues to fuel data demand with increasing numbers of Wi-Fi and 3G/4G devices and video enabled applications, mobile service providers are compelled to consider Wi-Fi and small cell solutions as mission critical services required to remain competitive. BelAir Networks GigXone solution is deployable today with investment protection for migration to LTE and a Heterogeneous Network supporting many wireless access technologies. BelAir Networks Wi-Fi and small cell managed services offer MNOs, MVNOs, and strand based MSOs new business models for partnering and new hosted and shared revenue opportunities. The shared services and cloud infrastructure services approach also provides new shared business and revenue model approaches for SMBs, Large Venues, Large Enterprises, and Metro based public and private services. 3G offload is the present driving force for service provider Wi- Fi, however, Wi-Fi will also continue to be integrated into mobile operator networks as a more ubiquitous, high performance and lower cost wireless data service into the future. The BelAir Networks GigXone solution meets or surpasses all the key service and network values discussed here, in a robust and highly available solution designed for wide scale mobile service provider deployments.
14
Small Cells
Glossary of Terms
3G 3GPP 3GPP I-WLAN 802.11i AAA AC ANDSF ANQP AP BNMP CAPWAP Controller DHCP EAP SIM EAP AKA EPC ePDG FA GGSN GRE GTP GW HA HetNet HFC HLR Hotspot 2.0 HSS IMS L2TP L2VPN L2VPNoGRE LAN LTE MAC Mobility Mobility 3rd Generation cellular 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP 3G and Wireless LAN Interworking IEEE specification amendment for Media Access Control security enhancements Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting Access Controller for WLANs defined in CAPWAP specification Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (3GPP Specification) Access Network Query Protocol (part of IEEE 802.11u) Access Point BelAir Networks Network Management Protocol Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (IETF RFC 5415) Wireless network element providing AP management, AP aggregation, user mobility and Gateway local offload Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (IETF Specification) Extensible Authentication Protocol Method for GSM Subscriber Identity Module (IETF Specification) Extensible Authentication Protocol Method for UMTS Authentication and Key Agreement (IETF Specification) Evolved Packet Core Evolved Packet Data Gateway Foreign Agent Gateway GPRS Support Node Generic Routing Encapsulation GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (Version 1/Version 2) Network Gateway Home Agent Heterogeneous Network Hybrid Fiber Co-axial Home Location Registry Wi-Fi Alliance set of industry standards for Wi-Fi network discovery and authentication Home Subscriber Server IP Multimedia Subsystem Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol Layer 2 Virtual Private Networks Layer 2 Virtual Private Network over GRE Local Area Network Long Term Evolution Network (4G) Media Access Control The transparent wireless connectivity of mobile users while roaming Wireless network element providing Controller Gateway aggregation, user Gateway mobility, internet access, and 3G/LTE network integration MNO Mobile Network Operator MSO Multi Service Operators MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator NGH Next Generation Hotspot Online Charging Charging systems capable of processing real time client usage information for service modification based on client policies and entitlements (Pre-paid) Offline Charging Charging systems for processing client usage billing (Postpaid) PCRF Policy and Charging Rules Function (3GPP) PDG Packet Data Gateway
15
Small Cells
PDN GW Pack Data Network Gateway PEP Policy Enforcement Point PMIP Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (IETF Specification) QoS Quality of Service RAN Radio access Network SaaS Software as a Service SAE System Architecture Evolution core network for LTE SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node Serv-GW Serving Gateway Seamless Mobility Transparent mobile user connection and session persistency when roaming between APs Small Cell Synonym for short range 3G and LTE wireless base stations SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol SON Self Organizing Network (3GPP) SSID Service Set Identifier TR069 Broadband Forum technical specification - CPE WAN Management Protocol UMA Unlicensed Mobile Access VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol WAG Access control for Wi-Fi users Wi-Fi Synonym for the 802.11 family of standards WTP Wireless Termination point (WLAN AP) defined in CAPWAP WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
N E T W O R K S
To find out more, contact BelAir Networks: info@belairnetworks.com sales@belairnetworks.com 1-877-BelAir1 (1-877-235-2471) 1-613-254-7070
Copyright 2012 BelAir Networks. BelAir Networks products and associated technology are protected by one or more of the following US patents: 7,171,223 / 7,164,667 / 7,154,356 / 7,030,712 / D501,195 / 7,545,782 / 7,433,343 / 7,162,234 / 7,433,361
www.belairnetworks.com
BDMC00140-B01
16