Currently mobile networks are considering just how they will take advantage of the 3GPP and soon to come LTE based architectures of the future. All of these architectures have a few things in common:
- Primary driver is Bandwidth per subscriber
- Data Services is the revenue model
- All Ethernet/IP based
When we consider all of these common things and dig a little deeper into the current state of these network and just how they will transition to LTE we find something else. The current push to move to an all-ethernet all-IP based network has its challenges and none are more apparent, after a cursory look, than the issue of network synchronization.
In an all IP/Ethernet world the networks are asynchronus by design. Timing within the network isn’t necessary and this is one of the big advantages of an all IP network. In the voice world, however, timing is part and parcel of the architecture. So…..just how do we solve this problem?
There are a number of methods:
- 1588v2 – a standard for clocking and continuity over any media
- Synchronus Ethernet – a partial solution as it’s a node to node application
- Hybrid timing – using E1 circuits parallel to and Ethernet network to maintain timing
With LTE looming on the horizon and timing a major issue still yet to be completely dealt with there is alot of room for clever people to come up with good designs that take advantage of todays and tomorrows tools.
Over the past year or so I have seen another commonality…..one of Network Operations Departments dreading the impending switch to LTE. They are afraid of the timing issues, the fact that most Ethernet gear available today has poor troubleshooting possibilities, IP based network timing is not exact enough to meet their requirements as well as a host of other technical issues related timing and how it’s manifested in the network.
Even some Mobile providers are considering running parallel networks for longer periods than the initial phase of the LTE rollout. This will definitely mean very high costs but perhaps a safer way of ensuring uptime and service levels while coping with a brand new architectures based on unfamiliar technologies.
Regardless of how this all plays out there is a enormous amount of opportunity for the Carriers that get it right quickly and the Vendors who help them get there.
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