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Consumers and professionals are increasingly using mobile phones and other multimedia handheld devices to stay connected to each other, to access the Internet, to utilize business applications and for entertainment. At the same time, mobile operators are experiencing declining profits from voice services and increasing competitive pressures. To address these changes, mobile operators are deploying next-generation, 3G networks that are capable of delivering high quality, mobile multimedia services to subscribers. In deploying these new networks, mobile operators are seeking packet-based multimedia infrastructure solutions that can deliver higher performance and functionality than has been available from products repurposed from wireline applications.
Products
Our products consist of the ST16 and ST40 multimedia core platforms, proprietary software that allows the ST16 and ST40 to be configured for specific network functions, software that enables operators to provide In-line Services, and the Starent Web EMS, a web-based element management system that allows a mobile operator to monitor and operate the platforms through a graphical user interface.
ST16 and ST40 are robust hardware platforms that combines high capacity, availability and performance with subscriber and network intelligence. The platforms are radio access-independent and can be deployed in multiple mobile network environments, including CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO Rev. 0 and Rev. A, GPRS, UMTS, Mobile WiMAX, Wifi, and eventually 4G networks.
The ST16 and ST40 consists of a chassis, application or processing cards and line cards. The application or processing cards provide system management and process all network functions and services. The line cards provide the physical connection to the network. The ST16 is capable of providing multiple network functions and In-line Services.
Network Functions
Starent's ST16 and ST40 multimedia core platforms are able to support one or more of network functions — as required by the mobile operator — in a single piece of equipment by enabling appropriate software features. As a result, the platforms provides converged, universal services to multiple access technologies, which can be more cost effective and easier to manage than the deployment of many single-purpose access gateways. The ST16 and ST40 can be configured with software packages to provide each of, or a combination of, the following network functions:
- GGSN. The Gateway GPRS Support Node, or GGSN, is the network element on a GSM/GPRS or UMTS/HSPA packet core network that performs multimedia session establishment and termination, accounting and traffic routing.
- Home Agent. The Home Agent is the network element on the subscriber's home network that effectively allows the subscriber to be reachable at its home address even when the subscriber is not attached to its home network. The Home Agent enables multimedia service mobility between multiple networks.
- PDSN/FA. The Packet Data Serving Node/Foreign Agent, or PDSN/FA, is the network element on a CDMA2000 packet core network that performs multimedia session establishment and termination, accounting and traffic routing. When enabled, PDSN/FA can also provide re-direction to the subscriber's home network through communications with the Home Agent.
- Starent Session Control Manager. The Starent Session Control Manager is an integrated network element that enables multimedia services such as voice-over-IP and IP television. The Starent Session Control Manager integrates a Session Initiation Protocol Proxy/Registrar, Proxy-Call Session Control Function and Policy Agent to perform voice-over-IP routing, translation and mobility, admission control, authentication and registration.
- ASN Gateway. We have announced the Access Service Network, or ASN, Gateway, which is the network element in a Mobile WiMAX packet data network that performs multimedia session establishment and termination, authentication, accounting and traffic or services routing between radio access and packet core network.
- SGSN. The Serving GPRS Support Node, or SGSN, is the network element that will track the location of mobile devices on a GPRS or UMTS network and route packet traffic to that location.
- Security Gateway. Starent’s Security Gateway delivers the following standards-based functions, Packet Data Interworking Function (PDIF) for CDMA WLAN Interworking, Packet Data Gateway (PDG) for UMTS WLAN interworking, Tunnel Terminating Gateway (TTG) for UMTS WLAN interworking, Security Gateway functionality for Femtocell aggregation, and Security Gateway for UMA/GANC. These functions will perform multimedia session establishment and termination, accounting, secure tunneling and traffic routing from a WiFi network.
- IPSG*. The Internet Protocol Services Gateway, or IPSG, is the network element that will be capable of implementing services, such as enhanced charging and billing, intelligent traffic control or content filtering, in the packet core network behind a PDSN, GGSN, ASN Gateway or other elements.
"In-line" Services
The ST16's processing power and abundant memory are designed to enable mobile operators to integrate multiple in-line service capabilities into the core network. In-line services that we currently offer or plan to offer in the future include enhanced charging and billing, intelligent traffic control, peer-to-peer detection and control, stateful firewall and content filtering. Mobile operators can deploy in-line services along with required core network functions such as a PDSN, GGSN, Home Agent or ASN Gateway. Deploying these service functions in-line with the core network can provide more efficient network traffic flows and a more secure and satisfying subscriber experience. Additionally, in-line services allow a mobile operator more flexibility and greater simplicity in designing their networks because they have fewer network elements, such as servers, load balancers, firewalls and routers, to deploy and support. This can lead to a higher degree of network optimization, lower operating costs and a higher level of service assurance.
Starent Web EMS
The Starent Web Element Management System, or EMS, is a centralized service and network element management product that controls the multimedia core platforms. Starent Web EMS is a multi-service element manager, which provides fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security functions through a graphical user interface. Starent Web EMS enables mobile operators to monitor, manage and control the performance of the ST16 and ST40, as well as integrate and interoperate with other components and network management systems. The Starent Web EMS also provides a variety of performance and operation records based on mobile operator defined parameters.
*Denotes future functionality.
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