Building a Foundation for Customer-driven Growth: Media Aware Networking

Technology Update

SmartEdge 100—Purpose Built for the Broadband Edge
The deployment of high impact, revenue generating services require solutions that are flexible, low risk, and cost effective. The SmartEdge 100 is a compact, small form factor edge router optimized for smaller sites in a broadband network. It is built from deployment proven technology found in the chassis-based SmartEdge 400 and 800 products. By leveraging the same programmable ASIC technology and modular operating system throughout the entire product line, the SmartEdge 100 has the same service enabling capabilities as the other SmartEdge products, such edge routing, Ethernet aggregation, and subscriber management to enable triple play services at the broadband edge. No matter what the access technology, the SmartEdge 100 enables the delivery of personalized services.

The SmartEdge 100 extends the SmartEdge family of routers so that service providers can build out an intelligent edge throughout their broadband network. Often due to cost issues, service providers have traditionally deployed less intelligent devices, such as Ethernet switches, for network environments supporting fewer customers. Although technically feasible, the downside to this approach is the lack of consistency in service delivery, which complicates operations and could result in inconsistent service availability.

With its full-featured edge routing capabilities, the SmartEdge 100 can be used for services such as IPTV, VoIP, and high speed Internet service. The product can also be deployed as the provider edge router for MPLS or VPLS business VPN services or to aggregate wireless traffic for backhaul to the IP core. The upgradeable ASIC technology, modular operating system and support for IPv6 makes the SmartEdge 100 a service platform that can adapt to the service requirements of the most advanced carriers worldwide.

Small or Remote PoPs
Subscriber Management, Edge Routing, and layer 2, 3 and 4 service optimization are critical function for all POPs no matter the size. For triple play service in particular, flexible multicast services and replication are essential to predictable performance when deploying advanced streaming services such as IPTV. When a SmartEdge 100 is deployed in a remote PoP, it provides the same services as a chassis based SmartEdge 400 or 800 in larger POPs. Residential subscribers can be terminated directly on the SmartEdge or placed into transport tunnels for wholesale services.

The diagram below gives a high level view of typical deployment applications for the SmartEdge 100 in a small or remote PoP delivering triple play services.

Business VPNs
In addition to enabling triple play services, the SmartEdge 100 also enables carrier-class business VPN services. With support for both MPLS and VPLS, the SmartEdge 100 can be deployed as the provider edge device for a variety of business VPN services. The MPLS/VPLS capabilities are consistent throughout the SmartEdge family of routers, allowing for a consistent set of services and operational model throughout the network.

The ability to deliver Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services provides significant benefits in terms of both capital and operational expenses. First, only one device, the SmartEdge router, needs to be deployed, reducing the amount of equipment that needs to be purchased and integrated into the operations support system. Second, the personnel that will manage the equipment only needs to be trained on a single piece of equipment for all services. Finally, the costs to purchase and store spare equipment is drastically reduced because of the fewer pieces of equipment involved.

Below is a high level diagram showing how the SmartEdge 100 can be deployed to provide business VPN services. Although the diagram depicts the scenario of delivering business services, the reality is that the SmartEdge 100 can simultaneously support both business-class MPLS/VPLS services as well as residential triple play. With the introduction of video services, the reliability and availability of a residential broadband network meets or exceeds the expectations for business services.

Wireless Aggregation and Backhaul
Service providers are evolving towards an Ethernet-based infrastructure leveraging the flexibility of IP/MPLS. The SmartEdge 100 allows them to achieve this cost effectively for both wireline and wireless services. Whether the end user requires access at a coffee shop or a fixed DSL service, the same set of services can be delivered. The convergence of wireline and wireless services will become increasingly important as architectures such as the IP Multimedia Subsystem become more widely adopted. The SmartEdge 100

Conclusion
As service providers move towards designing and deploying a converged next generation IP network, the need to really focus on building a network that can deliver personalized services and adapt to emerging business models. Over time, service providers will be moving from providing connectivity services to entertainment or content-based services. This requires changes in not only the network but also in the provisioning, billing, and marketing.

For service providers, the network is their business, and it needs to be designed to be flexible and efficient. A poorly designed network could become a liability when a service provider needs to quickly introduce new services or adapt to changing market conditions. Time to market and personalized services will differentiate the winners from the losers in the race to offer new services.

The SmartEdge 100 is an extension of the award-winning SmartEdge router family. With its proven technology and full features edge routing, high density Ethernet aggregation, and advanced subscriber management, the SmartEdge 100 integrates the key functionality to service-enable the broadband edge. With the addition of this new product, service providers can now establish the network intelligence at the edge that is required for successful triple play services.