Radio Access Network

Today's mobile wireless operators need a flexible Radio Access Network (RAN) to efficiently support multiple generations of radio technologies and quickly adapt as their network characteristics and business needs evolve. And, to remain profitable, operators must reduce operating expenses (OpEx) while expanding their networks and providing new services.

The Cisco RAN Optimization Solution is a comprehensive family of IP-based solutions to optimize RAN architectures. An optimized RAN can significantly reduce OpEx and support new revenue-generating services for both GSM and UMTS mobile wireless operators. The solution includes a bit-transparent technology that integrates smoothly into an existing RAN, providing optimized RAN transport over IP to increase bandwidth efficiency of GSM/GPRS/EDGE and UMTS/HSDPA backhaul transport. The solution also provides cell-site IP points of presence (POPs) to enable profitable new services and applications, and alternative RAN backhaul support to economically transport high-throughput cell-site traffic such as circuit-switched Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) data and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) traffic.

The Cisco 2-Port T1/E1 Protection Switching RAN VWIC is an integral part of the Cisco RAN Optimization Solution (Figure 1). The Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports traditional T1/E1 communications and it features advanced processing for applications such as the Cisco RAN Optimization Solution and circuit emulation over packet or standard-based Pseudowire Emulation Edge to Edge (PWE3). For example, the VWIC enables the Cisco MWR 1941-DC-A Mobile Wireless Router's cell-site access platform to perform optimization of delay-sensitive GSM/GPRS/EDGE traffic for efficient and transparent transport over traditional  CISCO1841-ADSL-DG backhaul networks, achieving efficiency gains up to 50 percent and often more, as well as over alternative RAN backhaul networks such as DSL, IEEE 802.16, and Metro Ethernet. With PWE3 support, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC enables mobile operators to extend their service offering. Operators can use more scalable, more robust Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks to provide standards-based circuit emulation services and to carry data streams or protocols that do not meet the format requirements of other multiservice platform interfaces. In addition, the Cisco T1/E1 RAN VWIC supports an extended operating temperature, and features solid-state protection switching relays to support 1:1 cell-site access-platform redundancy for high availability with a custom T1/E1 Y-cable.

Figure . Cisco 2-Port T1/E1 Protection Switching RAN VWIC