Multiservice Packet Core Consolidation

Market conditions are driving a growing trend for mobile operators to move to a unified architecture by network and service consolidation on to a common multiservice transport network. This multiservice transport network is a key element of the softswitch architecture proposed by the 3GPP UMTS R4/5 recommendations.

This unified network is distributed in nature with a separation of service layer, common broadband core layer and (several) access layers. In this serviceindependent network, network functions such as transport and signalling are decomposed. This gives operators flexibility and scalability of network implementation and evolution, which in turn results in cost reduction and reduced complexity. It also allows the rapid and easy introduction of new services (important for payback of 3G licences and networks) through the support of open and standards-based protocols.