1. MPLS Mobile Backhaul Evolution –
4G LTE and Beyond
Sultan Dawood
BBF Board Member & Vice Chair Mktg Commitee
Sr. Manager, SP Marketing Cisco Systems
2. Global Mobile Data Traffic Drivers
More Mobile Connections Faster Mobile Speeds
More Mobile Users More Mobile Video
Source: Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, 2011–2016
3. Global Mobile Data Traffic will Increase 18x from
2011 to 2016
12 78% CAGR 2011–2016
10.8 EB
10
per mo
Exabytes per Month
Exabytes per Month
8 6.9 EB
per mo
6
4.2 EB
per mo
4
2.4 EB
per mo
2 1.3 EB
0.6 EB per mo
per mo
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Source: Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, 2011–2016
4. Global Mobile 4G Traffic
By 2016, 4G will Account for 36% of Global Mobile Data Traffic
12
4G Traffic
10
Non-4G Traffic
36%
Exabytes per Month
8
6
4 64%
2
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Source: Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, 2011–2016
6. IP/Ethernet is 94% of 2012 MBH Equipment
Spending — Must Support LTE
Global 2012 MBH
equipment spend will be
$7.3 billion
– Surge of Ethernet MBH
routers in China caused part
of the 2011 bump; return to
normal in 2012
• Steady growth after 2012
– $8.3B in 2016
– Cumulative $39B over 5 years
This is very healthy
growth, especially for a
market in the billions of
dollars
Source: Infonetics Research: Mobile Backhaul Equipment and Services, Market Size, Share, and Forecasts, March 2012
7. LTE: All-IP, simplified network architecture
What is EPC ? New, all-IP mobile core network introduced with LTE
End-to-end IP
Clear delineation of control plane and data plane
Simplified architecture: flat-IP architecture with a single core
Broadband Forum focus
areas for backhaul
LTE+EPC
IP channel
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
eNode B IP Network
(eNB)
Transport (backhaul
and backbone)
Evolved Packet Core = End-to-End IP transformation of mobile core
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8. LTE Deployment Requires Evolution of
Backhaul Transport
LTE+EPC
eNB
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
IP channel
IP Network
eNB
Transport (backhaul and
backbone)
LTE is built on an all-IP architecture – compared to 3G and previous generations of
mobile technology
Transport Implications
Flatter IP architecture requires smooth interworking between previously separate
mobile backhaul and backbone transport networks
9. Mobile Backhaul Standards Landscape
3GPP
– RAN definition and specification – definition of the RAN and its interfaces
Broadband Forum
– TR-221 – architecture of mobile backhaul transport support with MPLS
– TR-221 Amd-1 (work in progress) – scaling and resiliency of the mobile
backhaul network (for example small cell deployment)
– WT-145 – next generation broadband network architecture to support
mobile backhaul
– Certification – certification of MPLS technologies to support mobile
backhaul transport
– Tutorials – education on MPLS in mobile backhaul transport
MEF
– MEF-22.1 – Metro Ethernet services and interfaces required to support
mobile backhaul
– Mobile Backhaul Whitepapers and Tutorial
ITU-T SG 15
– Specification for Clock Synchronization over packet network
9
10. Broadband Forum’s MMBI?
MPLS in Mobile Backhaul (MMBI)
MPLS in Mobile Backhaul (MMBI) is a technical initiative started in
2007 by the IP/MPLS Forum and adopted by the Broadband
Forum
The initiative currently consists of
– Architecture and nodal requirements specifications
– Test specifications
– Certification programs related to mobile backhaul (e.g., TDM
over MPLS)
– Whitepapers
– Tutorials (such as this one)
There are currently 7 specifications
More specifications are in progress to address mobile backhaul of
LTE and beyond.
10
11. MMBI Reference Architecture
Access Aggregation Core
BS Cell Site
Mobile
Gateway
Aggregation RC /
Abis Site Gateway
MME /
TDM TNL MSC 2G
Edge S-GW A A
Access
Node
TDM TNL Abis Gb MSC 3G
Iub Access
network Iu-CS
ATM TNL
xDSL,
Node Edge S5/S8A
Node ATM TNL Iub IP/MPLS
microwave, Aggregation Core S5/S8A
Leased network mobile PDN GW
Iub/S1 Line, Edge IP Iub/S1 network
IP
TNL
GPON, Node
Edge
TNL Gb
Optical Eth Node HDLC Abis Iu-CS
TNL Iu-PS SGSN 2G
Abis Iu-PS
HDLC
TNL
MPLS transport network Iur SGSN 3G
MPLS PE function could be integrated into
RAN
the BS (BTS/Node B/BS)/RC
Terminology WCDMA/ CDMA LTE
UMTS 2000/1x
Base Station Node-B BTS eNB
Base Station Controller RNC BSC -
Circuit Edge devices MSC MSC -
Packet Edge devices SGSN, GGSN PDSN S-GW / MME
Note: Mobile backhaul expense is a sizable portion of overall
Mobile operator OPEX
12. RAN Backhaul and Carrier Ethernet Converging
Intelligent
Converged
Expand into CE services Network Expand into RAN services
Leveraging Unified RAN Leveraging Carrier Ethernet
Converged Scenarios:
Mobile Fixed/Mobile Infrastructure Telcos
Operators Wholesale Ethernet / RAN Backhaul (+ MSOs)
Value Mobile Operator with Business Services
Typical Services:
Typical Services: • Security Typical Services:
• Mobile Internet • Business Ethernet • Security
• Wholesale RAN Backhaul • Mobile Internet • Business Ethernet
• Triple Play • Triple Play
• Internet Access • Wholesale Ethernet
• RAN Backhaul • Internet Access
Unified Converged Carrier
RAN CE + Unified RAN Ethernet
13. MPLS as a Network Convergence Technology
Optimizing Service Delivery
Access Aggregation Edge Core
Th
e
im
ag
T
Cross-Domain Convergence IP/MPLS
T
Th
e
im
ag
MPLS
MPLS is THE unifying technology for various backhaul types
MPLS is proven in Service Provider deployments globally
MPLS adds carrier-grade capabilities
– Scalability - millions of users/end points
– Resiliency - high availability including rapid restoration
– Manageability – ease of troubleshooting & provisioning
– Traffic Engineering plus QoS – predictable network behavior
– Multiservice – support for 2G (TDM), 3G (ATM, PPP/HDLC and IP), and LTE (IP) and co-
existence with other types of traffic e.g. residential
– Virtualization – VPNs to ensure separation of OAM from signaling / bearer planes, partitioning
of multi-operator traffic
14. Why IP/MPLS in Mobile Backhaul?
Backhaul requires co-existence of multiple transport options
– MPLS is a proven mechanism to support ATM, TDM, Ethernet, Frame Relay
emulation (Pseudo-wires)
– Allows legacy RAN equipment to continue to be utilized (CAPEX protection)
while leveraging the advantages of new packet transport networks
Packet Backhaul needs to support multi-media traffic
– Voice/VoIP, Video/Multimedia, SMS, Data
– MPLS –TE enables advanced QoS capability
– Improved network utilization, Better ROI
Reliability is critical
– MPLS offers faster convergence and interoperable mechanisms for failure
detection and recovery
Backhaul is increasingly becoming a strategic asset
– MPLS at cell site enabled carriers to offer new revenue generating services (i.e.
L2/L3 VPNs)
IP/MPLS
Scalability Resiliency Multi-Service Manageability TE/QOS
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15. LTE Architectural Requirements
LTE factors Network Requirement
Direct “X2” interface & handover between eNodeBs Distributed network intelligence
Mobile Service Edge/Offload architecture, service Distributed Data-plane Gateway intelligence
differentiation for Video, Internet, Business
IPSec requirement in the backhaul IPSec gateways (IKEv2) requirement in the Aggregation
Authentication and Security framework Intuitive and secure networking
IPv6 framework fully defined IPv6 and IPv4 support mandated
Multicast requirements Multicast and Multicast VPN support
Synchronisation (Freq. & Phase) requirements Packet and Physical Layer options
Strict Latencyrequirement (LTE/SAE standard) Optimal platform and network design required
Intelligent H-QoS requirements Extensive UNI QoS capabilities required
Wholesale offering with Multi-Operator Core Network Intelligent network identification and forwarding
Simplified Fast Convergence options Optimised and simplified IP/MPLS fast convergence
OAM mechanisms & Performance monitoring Troubleshooting and fault isolation/SLA metrics
19. Summary
LTE networks will co-exist with 2G/3G/4G networks
MPLS architecture is an efficient way to support IP centric
LTE network traffic
MPLS backhaul delivers the performance LTE requires
(latency, synchronization, resiliency, etc) and scalability to
address traffic growth
TR-221 technical specifications provide the backhaul
foundation for 2G/3G/4G and Beyond
- Simplifies operations and improves operators’ bottom line
- Flexibly supports all NGMN deployment scenarios
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20. Thank you
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