GSM NETWORK EVOLUTION TO W-CDMA

GSM-based wireless networks, with initial deployments throughout Europe, are now supporting over 1 billion subscribers worldwide. Existing GSM service providers are already migrating their circuit-switched wireless networks to 2.5G architectures, with a migration path to pure-IP 3G wireless networks defined by the 3G Partnership Program (3GPP).

The diagram below depicts a generalized GSM-based 2.5G network, commonly referred to as a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network architecture. The radio access network is based on digital circuit-based GSM wireless technology, however the architecture introduces an IP packet-based service overlay network—the first steps in the migration to a pure 3G architecture. The MRFP delivers media processing functions on behalf of the Application Server (AS), and performs the media functions on the Real Time Protocol (RTP) streams flowing to/from the Media Gateway (MGW) and the Gateway GPRS Serving Node (GGSN). This approach is analogous to the Service Offload strategy increasingly deployed by established wireline service providers.

Convedia media servers are ideally suited to support the Multimedia Resource Function Processor (MRFP) in a GPRS wireless architecture. Under the control of an Application Server (AS) or the Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF), Convedia media servers can support enhanced services in an economical IP services core for existing wireless subscribers using circuit-switched GSM technologies.

Convedia Media Server in a GPRS Deployment

GPRS architectures are evolving to a 3G architecture, with an IP-based radio interface known as WCDMA. The MRF now delivers media processing functions on behalf of both the AS and the Serving Call State Control Function (S-CSCF). With IP connectivity directly to the wireless device using WCDMA, a broad range of enhanced services will be delivered economically to a growing subscriber base of wireless users with end-to-end IP connectivity.

Convedia Media Server in a W-CDMA Deployment