The mobile operators that wish to keep pace with the increased demand in mobile broadband services as well as the increased demand as a result of the increase in “time- and place-independent communication” applications currently seek ways to increase the capacity and performance of their existing 3G networks. While the investments in existing 3G networks continues, another point of emphasis for the forward-thinking mobile operators is the simplification of the 4G transitions. The greatest problem that the operators face with is the complexity of the investment costs to be made for multiple platforms such as SGSN(Serving GPRS Support Node), GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) that support 2.5G and 3G as well as S4 SGSN to be applied in the future. At this point, many SGSNs and GGSNs that are seen by the operators can only provide service for 2.5G/3G, while they cannot support the transition to EPC (Evolved Packet Core) networks.
SGSN solution that runs on Cisco’s ASR5000/ASR5500 platform has been chosen by many most innovative 3GPP network operators in the world which has installed GSM, UMTS, HSPA networks. Cisco SGSN offers all the support required for UTRAN/GERAN in access of 3GPP core networks. The tasks as supported by Cisco SGSN briefly include to perform mobility management, to create GPRS tunneling Protocol (GTP), to create and manage connection activation using Packet Data Protocol (PDP), to connect to, and disconnect from, the network as well as to provide pricing for mobile subscribers using SGSN.
Supported on Cisco ASR5000/ASR5500 platform, SGSN supports GPRS, EDGE, UMTS and HSPA network accesses with high capacity in accordance with the standards. Fully IP-based accesses and interfaces conforming to standards enhance the performance and scalability, while allowing decrease in the complexity of connection with other network components. Therefore, the operators can achieve higher performances, with less operating expenses.
In addition to all of these, Cisco SGSN also enables easy transition for new generation EPC networks that can be only verified by licensing. Thus, Mobility Management Entity (MME), Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) and Serving Gateway (SGW) tasks can be performed without need of any additional equipment.
Cisco ASR5000 is a product which has been developed to meet the mobile packet requirements. Cisco ASR5000 SGSN defines the mobile subscriber, verifies the subscriber’s identity, and directs the subscriber’s session to GGSN located on packet core network. Then, the subscriber traffic can be redirected to any point for Internet or a private operator service. SGSN also follows the subscriber’s mobility, and therefore, even if the subscriber changes their location, the service being used by the subscriber will not be interrupted. Cisco SGSN controls the signaling traffic created by the mobile subscriber at very high speeds while connecting to the network and disconnecting from the network. Thanks to the SGSN software design on Cisco ASR500 hardware, the bottlenecks that may be created in the signaling traffic is minimized.
Main features and benefits of SGSN
- It has a high capacity and ability to carry very heavy traffic, and industry leader performance consisting of session and mobility management.
- It supports all GTP, PDP and those protocols including pricing, which are located on UTRAN / GERAN networks, fully based on the standards.
- Resources of SGSN use are minimized with FastPasth architecture as developed alternatively by Direct Tunnel and Cisco located on UTRAN networks and the subscriber’s resources of packet use are optimized. These structures also reduce operating and investment expenses of the operators.
- 2.5G and 3G SGSNs gather on ASR5000 platform consisting of a single hardware.
- SGSN can also run on the same platform with MME, SGW and PGW components for GGSN and 4G networks.
- Frame Relay, ATM, and IP-based accesses are supported in accordance with the operator requirements with the help of different interface cards located on the platform.