Read more at Mike Demler’s EE Daily News

Read more at Mike Demler’s EE Daily News

While Long-Term Evolution (LTE) cellular technology enables a variety of supercharged automotive infotainment applications, the novel technology introduces a number of engineering challenges regarding network handoff and antenna complexities. Designers need to evaluate these considerations before they can unlock LTE’s potential for advanced data management, cost savings, and a better user experience.

Imagine being able to take your Netflix account on your next road trip and letting your kids stream their favorite movies on demand. Imagine jumping onto a video conference for some last-minute prep for a big meeting while getting a ride to the airport. Imagine watching real-time video of upcoming traffic problems taken from other drivers’ vehicles and streamed right to your dashboard.

You don’t have to imagine much longer. High-quality video streaming to the vehicle is almost here, and new Long-Term Evolution (LTE) cellular technologies are making it happen. Network-based In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems such as Ford SYNC have been on the market for several years, offering a variety of cloud-based media, maintenance information, emergency assistance, and other services. These applications are about to get supercharged with the wide-scale deployment of LTE technology.

LTE networks operate at data rates up to 100x faster than today’s 2G and 3G cellular connections, bringing the horsepower of fixed-line home broadband connections to the vehicle. They also provide much better range, especially in rural areas that are underserved by 3G data networks.

However, LTE introduces some significant challenges for system designers and automotive engineers, including more complex network handoffs and antenna requirements and the need for ample flexibility to accommodate evolving standards and technologies. What do system designers need to know about LTE, and what can they do to make the most of it?

LTE advantages

While today’s IVI systems use an assortment of network connectivity technologies, current trends indicate that LTE is the future of networking. The Global Mobile Suppliers Association reports that, as of September 2011, 237 operators in 85 countries are deploying LTE, with 26 networks now commercially launched. In fact, LTE is the fastest developing mobile system rollout in the history of the industry, and for good reason.

First, LTE can enable a superior user experience, with increased capacity and theoretical peak download/upload speeds of 100 Mbps/50 Mbps. LTE also operates with as little as one-tenth the latency of current 3G technologies. This means that an LTE-equipped vehicle can load a standard Web page in less than a second, compared to a typical 3G network with 100 millisecond latency, which takes five seconds to load the same page regardless of connection speed. For in-car video services, this reduced latency translates to a significant and immediately noticeable improvement in the user experience.

As an IP-based technology, LTE also has a more advanced control plane and data plane system. This enables IVI systems to employ sophisticated data management and prioritization schemes and allows drivers to access multiple network services and applications simultaneously.

Unlike previous-generation cellular systems, LTE is extremely flexible and can be deployed over several different frequency bands, including frequencies currently used for 2G and 3G services. As operators refarm their spectrum for LTE, many are deploying new high-speed networks in lower spectra (especially the 1,800 MHz frequency), improving the range of cellular data services considerably when compared to 3G technologies.

Finally, LTE’s simplified IP core and transport networks, as well as its ability to reuse existing 2G cell sites for LTE services, allow operators to deploy LTE networks more quickly and inexpensively. Ultimately, this cost savings gets passed down the line, lowering the cost per bit for in-car connected services and making high-quality HD video applications a viable business proposition.

The potential of LTE for IVI services is considerable. However, LTE technology also introduces some significant engineering challenges – most notably, more complex handoffs between LTE and non-LTE networks.

Shifting between operating modes

On today’s roads, any LTE-equipped vehicle will enjoy pockets of high-speed LTE connectivity separated by long stretches with only 3G or even 2G network coverage. In this environment, having a good LTE radio is not enough. Designers need a system that can effectively navigate complicated handoffs between different technologies and maintain a consistently high-quality user experience across the network as it is today, as well as the network of the future.

In any viable IVI system, the LTE module or modem must be capable of functioning with combinations of 3G, 2G, and evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) networks as well as LTE, potentially in multiple frequency bands depending on where the vehicle will be sold. And it’s not enough to simply hand off the session in a way that is transparent to the user. The system also must employ some intelligent decision-making capacity to choose the best possible connection at all times. If you’re videoconferencing with your team on the way to an important meeting, for example, and your car switches from LTE to 2G even though 3G service is available, it will be little consolation that you still technically have a data connection.

All of these potential modes and frequencies raise basic engineering challenges. Operating with 2G, 3G, and LTE, as well as managing handoffs from each mode to all others is a much more complex proposition. Engineers must integrate radios for each connectivity type (possibly in multiple frequencies) and test each one individually, in addition to all possible handoffs.

Given these complexities, it is essential to look for cellular solutions from vendors with broad expertise not just in LTE, but also in other 2G and 3G technologies. LTE suppliers should demonstrate their success developing solutions that operate in multimode environments.

Because LTE is being implemented in many different ways over many different frequencies, it’s also a good idea to work with a supplier who has developed a broad range of successful LTE solutions (modules, hotspots, USB modems, and so on) in different markets. Along those lines, system designers should seek global suppliers who can pursue certifications with multiple network operators worldwide and offer precertified LTE solutions for many markets.

Thinking about antennas

Antennas have been a mature, reliable technology for many years in 2G and 3G systems, but for LTE in-vehicle systems, they can be a significant challenge. LTE relies on Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas, which are inherently more complex than those used in 2G or 3G systems. Balanced antenna structure, coherent distance (antenna separation), polarity, and even directionality become critically important, and systems that do not properly account for these factors deliver a noticeably degraded user experience.

In addition, while the lower-frequency bands on which LTE operates improve range, they also increase electrical noise. So antennas must not only account for more complex requirements, they must do so in a noisier environment. Given the fact that many operators are rolling out LTE in existing 2G cell sites, network coverage might also be less optimal than it would be in a network built from the ground up for LTE services.

To address these factors, system designers should make sure they work with vendors who offer a high level of expertise in the specialized discipline of antenna design and testing.

Flexibility for the future

One of the biggest challenges associated with LTE technology is simply its novelty. LTE systems work – the new network deployments launching each month testify to this fact – but LTE is still very much an evolving technology. For example, while the industry is developing an IP-based voice and SMS messaging capability for LTE (the Voice-over-LTE, or VoLTE initiative), there is currently no industry-wide standard for implementing these services. In addition, LTE is evolving to LTE-Advanced, which will support even faster data rates.

When developing LTE-based infotainment systems for vehicles that will be on the road five, six, or 10 years down the line, designers need to be sure they are using solutions with enough headroom to accommodate evolving standards and technologies. They should look for programmable LTE modules and modems that will allow them to embed application and communication intelligence into the cellular module, as well as add new capabilities over time via over-the-air software updates. They should look for modules built with operating system-like processing capabilities, if not actual lightweight operating systems. Along those lines, they should seek out cellular vendors with robust development platforms that provide everything designers need to build and continually evolve in-vehicle cellular solutions. For example, Sierra Wireless offers its AirPrime AR Series of wireless modules designed specifically for the automotive industry (see Figure 1).

Don’t drive alone

The facts are clear: LTE is coming, and it will unlock a world of new possibilities for in-vehicle communications and applications. Moreover, it is just as clear that delivering LTE IVI systems is not a straightforward proposition.

With mature 2G and 3G technologies, it might have been possible to simply add a cellular modem to an otherwise isolated infotainment system. To develop a high-quality LTE solution, however, system designers will benefit greatly from working with an established supplier who can navigate the unique challenges and potential pitfalls of the technology. From shepherding the system through operator certifications to assuring the solution accounts for unique network implementations in target markets, a strong wireless technology partner can make the journey to tomorrow’s infotainment systems a much smoother ride.

Pierre Teyssier is senior VP of engineering for the M2M Embedded Solutions Business Unit at Sierra Wireless. Prior to joining Sierra Wireless, he served as VP of operations and smart business solutions at Wavecom and director of manufacturing at Axiohm, and also worked as a software engineer at Enerdis.

Sierra Wireless PTeyssier@sierrawireless.com @SierraWireless www.sierrawireless.com

]]> http://tech.opensystemsmedia.com/lte-advanced/2011/10/lte-in-the-drivers-seat/feed/ 0 http://www.industrial-embedded.com/articles/id/?5389 http://www.industrial-embedded.com/articles/id/?5389#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000 Staff, OpenSystems Media http://tech.opensystemsmedia.com/lte-advanced/?guid=55e70e59745886d2f4c119342293bfe2

Everyone in the cellular market is getting into the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) act, enticed by the potential for lower costs and increased efficiencies. Mike outlines the considerations for choosing which network technologies to use in M2M designs and explains how the higher speeds and data transfer capabilities offered by these technologies can improve remote monitoring in industrial applications.

IES: What is the market outlook for M2M, and how is its growth increasing demands on M2M modules?

UELAND: The M2M industry has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, and this rapid expansion of the market is not expected to slow anytime soon. According to Beecham Research, the M2M market grew 26 percent from $700 million to $883 million in 2010, and the firm anticipates the same 26 percent volume growth will occur in 2011. From 2011 to 2015, Beecham estimates a 27.2 percent growth rate for the industry.

In terms of the number of M2M connections, Juniper Research has predicted that the number of embedded module devices will reach about 412 million globally by 2014. Other analyst firms have quoted more conservative numbers, claiming that the approximately 71 million M2M connections in 2009 will grow to about 225 million in 2014. Regardless of the disparity in these predictions, no one can deny that M2M is going to be a large part of our technological future, and the market is quite far from reaching maturity, especially in North America.

Industrial M2M applications are poised to grow at a rate similar to the overall market, with volumes increasing by 26 percent through 2015 as companies continue to deploy remote monitoring solutions to increase efficiencies and cut costs in managing industrial assets and systems.

While M2M presents a compelling business case that has spurred this accelerated adoption, the engagement of major cellular characters in the market has played and will continue to play a large role in the growth. As the number of M2M connections eclipses the number of cellular voice subscriptions – a market that is nearing saturation – network operators are seeing a revenue opportunity in M2M and dedicating resources to help application developers get their devices to market quickly.

As carriers have a larger stake in the M2M market, their own interests in network efficiency will be a guiding force in evolving module technology. Though most current M2M applications only require a 2G network speed for transferring small bits of data, some carriers prefer these applications to run on their 3G networks and encourage designers to work with modules that are compatible with this newer technology.

IES: What are the main factors designers must consider when selecting cellular hardware for industrial systems?

UELAND: As industrial M2M applications are often put under great environmental stress, designers will typically need to choose a rugged hardware solution that can withstand harsh conditions, operate within an extended temperature range, and resist shock and extreme vibrations. If a module fails under these conditions, replacement can be expensive, and the temporary loss of connectivity for the monitoring solution could be even more costly, especially if something goes wrong and immediate intervention is necessary.

Not limited to industrial applications, all M2M design decisions are ultimately centered on the choices of carrier and cellular network, which are determined by the geography and data requirements of the deployment (see Figure 1).

IES: What are the benefits of implementing cellular technology versus other wireless technologies in industrial applications?

UELAND: The inherent benefit of cellular technology is the existence of established, ubiquitous networks over which to send data. The widespread coverage of cellular networks allows for reliable connections across North America and internationally for global companies, providing the option of mobility for tracking assets during transport.

For fixed industrial assets, organizations can leverage these dependable, proven cellular networks and maintain cost efficiencies. With the rapid expansion of the M2M market and the introduction of new cellular technologies, module prices, especially at the 2G level, have sharply decreased. Combined with the economies of scale for large deployments, these lower hardware costs make cellular M2M a viable option that can be easily integrated into existing systems.

IES: What is the value of continuing to invest in maturing communications technologies like GSM/GPRS, as well as integrating newer technologies such as LTE?

UELAND: While consumer cellular devices such as mobile handsets have a short lifespan of 18 to 24 months, industrial applications are generally intended to last 10 to 15 years. To extend an application’s lifespan, it’s crucial to understand the technology roadmaps for both network operators and hardware providers.

As previously mentioned, some carriers are pushing customers to use 3G modules for M2M designs and rolling out new network technologies like LTE. For industrial applications, however, the minimal data requirements make 2G GSM/GPRS or CDMA/1xRTT networks the optimal platform on which to deploy these devices. Carrier selection therefore becomes an integral decision in planning for an application’s lifespan, as some operators plan to provide 2G network support for at least another 10 years.

If the chosen carrier supports a 2G application, there is more to consider than just the technical difference from 3G. Deploying a GSM/GPRS or CDMA application results in significant cost savings. Furthermore, a 3G module might cost more than a 2G module, and several design considerations must be taken into account, including the number of frequency bands and additional band support.

As newer technologies roll out incrementally, they work their way to the ubiquitous geographic coverage offered by older networks. The 4G LTE network, for example, will take at least another three years to reach the equivalent coverage level of today’s 3G coverage and even longer to be on par with 2G/2.5G. For applications that require a constant, reliable connection, the LTE solution must include some combination of older network technologies such as GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, or UMTS as fallbacks. Figure 2 shows the Telit HE910 module, which offers 2G and 3G coverage and thus allows companies to launch M2M applications without the need for regional variants.

IES: How are advances in network and module technology enabling new types of industrial applications?

UELAND: New network technologies mean higher speeds and data transfer capabilities, and the most significant new function of this technology for industrial applications is the capability of streaming video.

Visually monitoring remote industrial sites can be crucial. With advanced cellular technologies, companies can offer remote video surveillance solutions with fast, real-time transfer capabilities to ensure that water systems, pipelines, and power facilities, for example, are secure against theft, vandalism, and tampering.

Video capabilities are additionally valuable for remotely monitoring sites with a significant environmental impact. For oil fields and gas lines that require careful attention and immediate response in the event of a dangerous incident, a video-streaming M2M solution could save a company millions in fines for environmental violations and protect the surrounding area from detrimental repercussions.

Mike Ueland is the VP and general manager of Telit Wireless Solutions North America. He has more than 15 years of experience in the M2M segment, and previously was responsible for Motorola’s business and market development within the North American utility market. In 1998, Mike founded the U.S. operation of RAMAR, a U.K.-based wireless company, and developed it into one of the fastest growing companies within the automatic meter reading industry. Mike received a BA in Political Science from Kenyon College and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago’s Booth Graduate School of Business.

Telit Wireless Solutions North America 888-846-9773 • www.telit.com NORTHAMERICA@telit.com www.facebook.com/telitwireless @Telit_WS

]]> http://tech.opensystemsmedia.com/lte-advanced/2011/10/why-m2m-makes-sense-for-industrial-systems-qa-with-mike-ueland-vp-and-general-manager-telit-wireless-solutions-north-america/feed/ 0 http://www.compactpci-systems.com/articles/id/?5316 http://www.compactpci-systems.com/articles/id/?5316#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000 Tom Roberts, Mercury Computer Systems http://tech.opensystemsmedia.com/lte-advanced/?guid=2683365d32d4acea27674004f1822083

Responsible for the AdvancedTCA business at RadiSys, Venkataraman Prasannan (VP), has more than 20 years telecom and networking experience and has been involved in AdvancedTCA product planning and customer engagement since the inception of AdvancedTCA.

How is the whole of what RadiSys offers customers more than just the sum of its parts?

We try to anticipate customers’ needs and we have led consistent innovation throughout the evolution of AdvancedTCA. Early on we enabled application-ready platforms. Recently we have taken that to the next level with a security product that is much closer to a turnkey solution, with our LTE Security Gateway (LTE SEG).

When I engage with customers, which I do a lot, the conversation starts out with what they are trying to do.

When I talk to customers about building a media gateway for example, the first thing that we try to do is understand the requirements and, coming from the telecom world, RadiSys understands those network elements pretty well. We have a good sense of what is required architecture-wise and building-block-wise, and we can map our solutions to their requirements and deliver the solutions that they need.

Why was the RadiSys Alliance Partner Program created?

To enable our customer solutions to be completed the fastest. It’s a program that allows our customers to leverage the AdvancedTCA ecosystem.

In conjunction with the RadiSys Alliance Partner Program [RAPP], we have put together things like REDI Lab, so customers have faster access to our platforms and assets. In some cases REDI Lab has allowed RadiSys and its partners to work together without having to travel to the customer location. Our customers are excited about this program because it brings business benefits to them.

RadiSys works with leading silicon providers.

Yes, to give our customers access to the latest and greatest processors and compute technology. This helps our customers build their products. Also, as a leader in the market, RadiSys does a fair amount of architectural work. This process does not take place in a vacuum; we talk to a multitude of customers to understand their requirements better and we share information about how to meet those requirements.

Customers have particular requirements, whether it is to gain a greater number of subscribers, more gigabits of throughput or similar objectives, and they would like to see more complete, more integrated solutions to accelerate their time to market. They look to us to have done the analysis and the research to pick the solution, and we do. We look at the application, work our way down to the architecture and choose the right hardware-software combinations to enable that.

What are the main points that skeptics with regard to AdvancedTCA, individuals who see its role as limited, are not understanding in your view?

I am not sure there are many AdvancedTCA skeptics left. Practically all the TEMs are using AdvancedTCA in one program or the other. AdvancedTCA has also been successful in its ability to address a multitude of applications beyond wireless and broadband. And developers working with optical network elements are considering AdvancedTCA, so there is no question about its usability in a broad span of applications. Even mil-aero has started adopting AdvancedTCA for high-performance solutions.

What has been RadiSys’s role with regard to AdvancedTCA for GPON development?

We have several customers that are developing GPON and optical solutions with AdvancedTCA. As this takes place, we are working with them in a consultative fashion regarding how to do it and what it takes to do it, bringing all the necessary ingredients to this role of accelerating the adoption and implementation on AdvancedTCA.

How is RadiSys helping customers with the 10-gig to 40-gig transition?

Thanks to our commitment to forward- and backward-compatible solutions, customers can start with our 10-gig products or be working with our 10-gig solutions and move to our 40-gig solutions with the same look and feel, same interfaces and same API.

Change takes place underneath the hood to increase performance, encompassing the 4x switching capacity, the higher processing functionality and the transitioning to the chosen next-generation silicon. We are also enhancing the completeness of the solution for our customers to shorten the time to market.

With the integrated platform, we have already brought the development cycle in the telecom world from the 18- to 24-month range to the 9- to 13-month range. We will continue to focus on an approach that helps our customers get to market faster, including by bringing out more complete offerings such as our LTE Security Gateway (LTE SEG).

The RadiSys LTE SEG allows customers to bring security functions into their platform. By adding security functionality, customers can accelerate time to market beyond the 9 to 12 month time frame and start doing lab trials to get to market much faster.

We are also enhancing core software functionality at the platform level, making it possible to do things like firmware upgrades, diagnostics and other management activities that help put applications in place and achieve a more complete solution, faster.

We want to reduce our customers’ risk and accelerate their time to market and time to money.

Resources

Video: 40G – What’s Ahead

Whitepaper: A Smooth Transition To 40G

Whitepaper: Securing Next Generation Mobile Networks

www.radisys.com

]]> http://tech.opensystemsmedia.com/lte-advanced/2011/04/venkataraman-prasannan-general-manager-radisys/feed/ 0 http://www.embedded-computing.com/articles/id/?5092 http://www.embedded-computing.com/articles/id/?5092#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:00:00 +0000 Jeff Sharpe, RadiSys http://ECD5092

Jeff describes why an AdvancedTCA-based LTE security gateway has characteristics well suited to both deflecting security threats and enhancing wireless offloading performance.

Mobile usage has exploded, putting pressure on mobile network operators to meet consumers’ insatiable data demands (Figure 1). Data traffic is expected to double every year through 2014[1], by which time it is projected that 17 percent of all mobile data will be transmitted over the Internet. To handle this astronomical increase in data usage, major mobile operators worldwide are currently transitioning their networks to Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is an all-IP network that increases broadband capacity, supporting up to ten times higher data rates than traditional networks while enabling an abundance of new mobile applications. LTE delivers four times more downlink bandwidth and eight times more uplink bandwidth than traditional networks. Higher cell performance and Quality of Service (QoS) with lower latency characterize LTE, which also supports more users at a lower cost per byte than High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). LTE networks can take several years to rollout, so mobile operators are planning and deploying LTE today to prepare for tomorrow’s demands.

While LTE offers a number of network benefits, it also introduces new security threats and challenges to network operators. Security threats resulting from untrusted network endpoints, shared facilities, and disgruntled employees are magnified in an all-IP environment.

Traditional mobile networks used network backhaul for connecting cell sites to the core network, employing dedicated T1 and unshared facilities between macro cell sites and the core network base station. LTE uses Ethernet and IP connections, occasionally leveraging commercial broadband links. The direct route from cell sites to the core network brought about by flat LTE topology creates the possibility for Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks and interception of user communications.

The LTE network architecture pushes more mobility function out to the cell sites, enabling hackers to potentially disrupt service and bring down larger portions of the network. LTE networks also have more small, distributed cell sites, which are difficult and costly to physically protect and might be vulnerable to criminal activity. Furthermore, operators are increasingly sharing cell sites and integrating femtocells and WiFi architectures alongside traditional macro cell sites.

These challenges are further compounded because the technology is complex and engineers with relevant experience are scarce and expensive. Combined with the increase in mobile devices and the growing volume of sensitive data being transmitted, these factors are driving new security requirements for LTE.

The increase in sensitive information being transmitted across mobile networks is helping drive demand for enhanced LTE security.

Security gateways

The 3GPP Network Domain Security (NDS) standard requires that LTE networks protect elements over “untrusted” communications links. Links may be deemed untrusted either because they are owned by different operators, therefore residing in different security domains, or because they are owned by the same operator but are connected in a way that may increase the likelihood of security breaches. The primary requirement of NDS is to use Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), where data is processed between the network elements in secure “tunnels” using Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP). ESP includes subscriber authentication, content integrity, and data encryption. These secure tunnels are set using Internet Key Exchange (IKE), enabling elements to identify each other using Security Association (SA).

An LTE Security Gateway, or LTE SEG, is a security gateway that is compliant with the 3GPP NDS standards. An LTE SEG should provide the following:

• Adherence to the 3GPP packet gateway (P-G) standards
• Scalable, high-performance IPsec capabilities with carrier grade reliability
• Support for key Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request for Comments (RFCs) for ESP, IKE and Certified Management Protocol (CMP) as required by 3GPP LTE Specifications 33.210 and 33.310
• Ability to process at least multi-Gbps of encrypted IPsec traffic and scale to support large amounts of IP data from many LTE cell sites
• A stateful firewall with pre-defined and custom filters, consistency checks, and DoS prevention mechanisms capable of processing several million concurrent IP flows
• Static and dynamic Network Address Translation (NAT), Virtual Routing (VLAN), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) services and traffic management

Enhancing current 3G networks

While planning for future LTE deployments, some operators are looking for more near-term wireless offload and coverage solutions. Wireless offloading routes both voice and data traffic over the public Internet, relieving pressure on 3G access networks and improving coverage. However, such offloading introduces networks to many of the same security threats as LTE. Connecting WiFi access points and femtocells over the public Internet exposes the core network to a full range of Internet attacks including address spoofing, identity theft, man-in-the-middle, and DoS. Mobile devices require end-to-end security to the core network with network gateways appropriately firewalled to protect the core network.

By securing offload capabilities, security gateways allow network operators to enhance their current 2G/3G networks while preparing for LTE. The LTE SEG delivers full security support for wireless offloading, protecting a large number of WiFi-connected mobile devices and femtocells. An LTE SEG can support various authentication schemes appropriate for each device – including support for both femtocell smart-card and certified based schemes – and back-end RADIUS support. Applications such as I-WLAN and Home NodeB femtocells also require associating the user’s IPsec tunnel with the GTP connection to the packet core. By using an LTE SEG for wireless offloading, network operators can deploy a future-proof solution that immediately enhances their 2G/3G networks.

ATCA for security deployments

Because of the complex nature of LTE, it is typically more cost- and energy-efficient for network operators to leverage a complete LTE SEG solution that can be easily and cost-effectively integrated into other LTE network elements. When considering an LTE solution, operators look for a fault tolerant configuration option that meets their requirements for high availability and service availability. To satisfy these requirements, many Telecom Equipment Manufacturers (TEMs) are adopting the open standard Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA). ATCA-based products offer a number of benefits for network operators. The ATCA form factor is modular, with standards-based interfaces that can help ease development and integration. As a Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) component, ATCA can help shrink development cycles by up to 12 months. ATCA blades readily integrate into spare slots of existing network elements, or can be in a standalone configuration for maximum deployment flexibility. Finally, by using a pre-integrated ATCA platform, developers can save time and resources that would otherwise be spent on component integration and testing.

Pairing high performance firewall and IPsec tunneling

One example of a high-performance security gateway purpose-built for LTE deployments is the LTE SEG from RadiSys (see Figure 2). Recognizing TEMs’ need for a packaged, rapidly deployable carrier grade security solution, RadiSys developed the industry’s first 3GPP NDS compliant security gateway to enable both high performance firewall and IPsec tunneling in a single carrier grade solution. The LTE SEG enables security in the wireless infrastructure and improves performance more than 5x in secure tunneling over current solutions. Developed based on an ATCA architecture, the RadiSys LTE SEG can be deployed as a standalone network element or easily integrated as a turnkey blade solution into existing TEM products. This lowers both OPEX and CAPEX for mobile operators while addressing the security challenges of an all-IP network.

Figure 2: The RadiSys LTE SEG is the industry’s first security gateway purpose-built for LTE deployments. (click graphic to zoom by 1.9x)

Avoiding a piecemeal approach to security threats

Mobile operators worldwide are planning and deploying new LTE networks. As operators make this transition, it is important that they take into consideration the scope of security threats introduced by an all-IP architecture. Integrating an ATCA-based LTE security gateway allows network operators to protect their networks against an array of security threats while also providing immediate performance enhancements for wireless offloading. Whether operators choose to move directly to LTE or enhance their current 2G/3G networks with wireless offload applications, using a turnkey security gateway that can be easily integrated will allow network operators to make new network rollouts secure from the outset.

References

[1] Source: ABI Research

Jeff Sharpe is a senior product line manager for RadiSys Corporation with his primary focus on AdvancedTCA and LTE Security. Prior to his role at Radisys, Jeff spent 27 years with Nortel in its Carrier Networks Division in Raleigh, North Carolina. Jeff began his career as a packet networks engineer setting up and supporting Nortel’s Data Center expansions around the globe. He consequently expanded his role from engineering to business leadership and most recently as PLM director. Jeff graduated from Louisburg College with a degree in Computer Science.

RadiSys Jeff.Sharpe@radisys.com www.radisys.com

]]> http://tech.opensystemsmedia.com/lte-advanced/2011/04/securing-the-transition-to-lte/feed/ 0