FREE White Papers

Tecore is pleased to announce the availability these new white papers. Following are excerpts of the papers. To receive your free copy of the complete document, please provide us with your contact information and you will receive the paper via e-mail. (All fields are required.)

Check off which white paper(s) you would like. Clicking on their titles will take you to the excerpts below.

The Long Term Future: Scalable Evolution to LTE in a Multi-Technology Environment

Table of Contents

The Long Term Future

Long Term Evolution (LTE), defined as the next generational step for the wireless industry, is the first specification set that allows the complete network architecture to fully embrace IP. The critical step forward provided in the technology is a universal set of IP-based interfaces and equipment throughout the network for the support of voice and data applications. Traditionally, these network services (voice and data) have been handled separately by dedicated infrastructure. LTE provides the first generation of technology that handles both through a common infrastructure set and common access method based on IP and packet communications.

The universal acceptance of IP transport as the standard communications medium is pushing towards the famous “IP Everywhere” statements made decades ago. One of the key aspects that IP enables is an ability to use common transport and common interfaces to carry multiple applications. The wireless industry is poised to leverage the power of a common pipe for communication through the support of not just LTE but multiple other protocols and technologies.

Other than the grass roots technologies of the 802.XX vintage, LTE represents the first globally significant shift of a wireless technology family to a full IP capability (EV-DO, being “data only,” does not count). While the wholesale incorporation of the LTE access into the network will take years to implement, the product paths today must support the incorporation of this technology. The LTE standards incorporate key network components that can lay the groundwork for support of access technologies for generations to come.

While the current deployments of 3G technologies can support voice/data on a single RF interface, the investments made in the core network for 2G, 2.5G, and 3G combined with the hesitation of the operators to use VoIP in their networks have left the core infrastructure implementations separated (voice handled in its environment (Circuit-Switched) and data handled in its environment (Packet- Switched)). This approach changes with LTE. The implementation of LTE allows for the IP transport of control and user data through to a common network working with a centralized handling infrastructure (IMS) that provides commonality of services and features across networks. While this realizes the implementation of the convergence utopia discussed for the past decade, truth be told there are still 3.8 billion subscribers on existing technologies that must be addressed before all can play as one in the IP kingdom.

As with any new technology, the standardization process (just achieved by the LTE group) is merely the first step in a long line of development and product hurdles that exist before the technology is truly market-worthy. History has shown that initial availability forecasts for any communications technology underestimate by a number of years the time it takes to become a mass-produced, mass-market deployment delivering the features and services promised. Another key factor is that the maturation process of the new technology takes money and investment. In today’s environment, the pressures of a global economy in distress and hesitancy toward large investments, LTE may encounter even further slowdowns in global adoption. This will no doubt impact the 2010 dates mentioned for widespread deployments in larger networks. For the smaller wireless operators who must wait on the technology family of LTE to mature and reach a point when user equipment becomes cost-effective, the path seems much further out. The “L” in LTE may represent the long period of time the industry will wait before LTE is a reality for all. On the bright side, one of the advantages LTE has is the ability to learn from the earlier WiMAX implementations and build on the lessons learned with OFDMA technology. This should shorten the timeframe required to deliver on the high-speed capacity and low-latency promises that have been the Achilles' heel of the current WiMAX developments.

However, despite the multiple detracting points that will no doubt lengthen the cycle of deployments, the global support of the world’s top operators provides LTE with the best chance to succeed as the next-generation technology of choice.

Military Secured Rapid Deployment System: Extending the Government Communications Network into the Mobile Environment

Table of Contents

Overview

As the complexities of technology and speed of developments continue to accelerate at an exponential rate, it has become increasingly difficult for military and government groups to develop internal solutions one at a time. The days of government innovations driving the technology of tomorrow for the consumer are over. Commercial technology developments have lapped the field several times over when compared to their government counterparts grown organically. Today it is much more commonplace for government and military applications to leverage commercial technology and overlay a custom feature set to achieve the desired solution. This provides a broader scope of solution possibilities across current state of the art technologies.

Communications, and specifically wireless, is a key element of technology where the commercial off the shelf innovations can be applied directly to the custom applications of the government and military. The economy of scale presented by technologies that have shipped to the billions of subscribers has advantages. Additionally the recent availability of handsets and devices that are open platforms ready to accommodate custom applications and enhanced security make the use of commercial wireless the obvious path forward for the evolution of military and government communications.

While using commercial wireless as a baseline is a good start, the selection of technology and spectrum can complicate the decision when ubiquitous service and a consistent user experience is required as the network is deployed globally. To address the current deployments of 2G, 3G, 4G across technology families and spectrum requires a solution that is flexible and compliant to assure the devices and applications continue to operate as expected regardless of the deployment scenario.

The global compatibility of a technology family like GSM provides a foundation to work from that is capable and familiar to users. While good in the sense of providing mature technologies that has been vetted and proven, basic GSM services require additional features and security elements to adapt to the custom deployment situations presented by military and government applications. But supporting a single technology is not enough. Single technology solutions while having application, cannot address the flexibility required to adapt to any market. In many areas the local environment of operators and spectrum as well as governing regulations may dictate a particular technology (other than GSM) and frequency that may be used. A solution that is flexible in operations supporting multiple-technologies from a single platform is ideal to provide the local adaptation required to incorporate the required RF frequencies and technology with a common core.

For the end user the technology and feature set compatibility should be transparent to the end user. The use of commercial devices has the benefit of being capable for use on the commercial wireless infrastructure. However the commercial network is not always a viable option. Sometimes you need to bring the network with you.

To address this market and bridge the compatibility and frequency set required for a worldwide deployment combined with the unique feature set of the government and military, Tecore offers the Military Secured Rapid Deployment System (MilSec-RDS). MilSec-RDS is a custom built solution for government and military that implements the features and interfaces required to extend existing communications infrastructure over a single or multiple wireless technologies. The system is scalable and supports both standalone as well as integrated operations making it ideal for everything from embassies to the battlefield.

Managed Access: Precision Control of Wireless Communications in Secured Areas

Table of Contents

Overview

Driven by the convenience of access and freedom of mobility, today more people communicate wirelessly than in any other medium. The ubiquity of network coverage, and the availability of low-cost devices and plans have made wireless communications a part of everyday life. However, as the popularity and benefits of wireless communications grow, so do unwanted side effects – such as use of cellular devices in restricted areas.

That same ubiquitous coverage that facilitates communications nearly everywhere can facilitate communications in areas where there is a need to restrict access. While carriers have built out more coverage and capacity to address requirements in their spectrum licenses, little has been done to carve out the restricted areas and provide a method of limiting service. The result is a blanket of coverage that penetrates areas of restricted access while serving the general population.

To address the market requirements for this balance ofaccess types and delivering a common solution across technologies and frequency bands, Tecore offers the Managed Access solution on its iNAC™ platform.

The Intelligent Network Access Controller™ (iNAC) provides an end-to-end solution for selective communications restriction across the spectrum of technology, frequency and portability in a single platform. Users are classified into categories and either allowed to access the commercial network or prohibited access on a subscriber-by-subscriber basis. Managed Access provides the method for making the decision at the device level rather than at the RF signal, so the iNAC is able to distinguish the allowed users from those not permitted service. This meets the requirement of service restriction while continuing to allow access to select individuals. Further, this approach eliminates the need to overlay additional systems to provide localized communications.

The principal differentiator of the iNAC is the patented multi-technology controller, capable of addressing all commercial networks from a single platform. The scalability of the platform enables a range of configurations, from a permanent installation to cover a fixed, sizeable area, to a multi-technology rack ready for vehicle mount, to a suitcase model (ideal for a single technology). For more advanced multi-site installations, iNAC provides centralized control and operations with each location servicing the necessary technologies and frequencies applicable in the area.

In a multi-operator environment, a solution must support all types and technologies of handsets to be effective. iNAC supports the technologies and frequency bands employed by major carriers worldwide, including GSM, CDMA, UMTS, EV-DO and iDEN.

Rapidly Deployable Multi-Technology Mobile Networks

Table of Contents

Introduction

In the United States today, the majority of the population have or have access to a wireless phone. Whether on a nationwide carrier or a local service provider, by large the majority of the country has their choice of several operators. This has resulted in the implementation of several technologies. The resulting nationwide ubiquitous coverage has changed the-day to-day life of most Americans.

The two dominant technologies in the United States today have a relative split of the wireless subscriber base Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile communications (GSM). Among the major service providers in the U.S.A., AT&T and T-Moblie use GSM, and Verizon Wireless and Sprint use CDMA. Both technologies therefore have a nationwide footprint and significant market penetration. Combined with the emergence of municipal Wi-Fi networks and hot spots, the resulting multi-technology environment in a given area must be considered when analyzing potential scenarios or situations. Add to this the additional deployment of the third generation wireless technology and the multi-technology equation gets more complex. This presents a significant challenge for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Multiple technology support is not a luxury for DHS, it is a necessity.

When DHS is called to action, the speed of deployment, the reliability of the solution, and the flexibility to adjust to the situation are key factors in addressing the needs of both targeted personnel and the general population on the ground. In a wireless environment, a Rapid Deployment System that can adjust to the proper technology or technologies from the same platform, is deployable in a rapid fashion, and is built for mobility are the key components for addressing the requirements of these critical situations.

Rural Mobile Network Architecture: Leveraging the Power of IP for 2G, 3G and 4G Services

Table of Contents

Overview

The challenge facing many operators today is how to provide service to rural and remote areas in an economic fashion while maintaining the same services as their main network. For these scenarios, Tecore offers the Rural Village System (RVS). The RVS turns remote build-outs that are traditional loss leaders to revenue potential. The RVS is a flexible network solution for distributed deployments in multiple wireless technologies. Targeted at scenarios for hundreds to several thousand subscribers, the RVS provides a compliant solution that extends the network to previously unreachable (technically or economically) locations.