TEWKSBURY, Mass. -- Starent Networks, Corp. (Nasdaq: STAR), a leading provider of multimedia core solutions for mobile broadband, will demonstrate its Evolved Packet Core (EPC) at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. The Starent EPC solution is designed to provide mobile operators the highest levels of flexibility in architecting their networks, including co-location of 2G/3G and EPC functionality in a single platform and open interfaces, combined with the high-performance and intelligence required for an enhanced subscriber experience.
“For many operators the future is today,” said Ashraf Dahod, president and chief executive officer of Starent. “Operators expect Starent to provide robust, high-performance, cost effective multimedia core network solutions that they can deploy in their broadband 3G networks now, such as EV-DO and HSPA, that can evolve to LTE as those networks are deployed.”
Starent’s solution offers 2G/3G functionality today and, consistent with its platform design, supports an evolution to LTE through software upgradeability. Additionally, it allows operators to co-locate multiple core network functions in a single node or to support stand-alone functions with a common core platform. Examples of co-located functions include, an EPC Mobility Management Entity (MME) combined with a 2G/3G SGSN, a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) and GGSN, and an HRPD Serving Gateway (HSGW) and PDSN. This upgradeability and flexibility will allow mobile operators to smoothly migrate their networks without a forklift upgrade.
“While multimedia services have become a significant revenue stream for mobile operators, we continue to see multi-element solution offerings, such as off-the-shelf platforms, servers, or routers repurposed for EPC,” said Gennady Sirota, vice president of product management of Starent. “The multimedia core is critical. We must offer solutions that are specifically designed for the challenges of mobile broadband and high-demand multimedia core networks. This has been our focus from day one.”
In a separate release:
TEWKSBURY, Mass. -- Starent Networks, Corp. (Nasdaq: STAR), a leading provider of infrastructure solutions that enable mobile operators to deliver multimedia services, today announced it has completed 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Evolved Packet Core (EPC) interoperability testing with the Multi-Vendor Radio Access Network (MVR) from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. As a result of the successful interoperability, Samsung will be demonstrating a live LTE connection at Mobile World Congress, February 16 – 19, in Barcelona.
The LTE demonstration will utilize Samsung’s eNode-B system and Starent’s multimedia core solutions including Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW).
The interoperability testing and public demonstration showcases the two companies’ commitment to creating a solution that is standards compliant and can address mobile operator requirements for broadband connectivity along with network deployment flexibility. The demonstration further validates Samsung and Starent Networks’ leadership positions in delivering next generation mobile broadband and multimedia core networking solutions to an ever evolving market.
“Because Starent focuses on mobile broadband and the multimedia core network, they were the perfect choice to showcase the interoperability requirements of a multi-vendor LTE EPC solution,” said Woon Sub Kim, Executive Vice President of Samsung. “We believe this interoperability test is the first with the radio access from one company, Samsung, and the packet core from another, Starent. While other live network demonstrations have showcased end-to-end vendors demonstrating their radio and EPC, the completion of interoperability testing between Samsung and Starent validates the open standards compliance of both companies and demonstrates that we are ready and able to work with other companies’ solutions.”
Starent Networks Corp. (Nasdaq: STAR)