The SUN-P Architecture for the WiMAX ASN Gateway provides a completely new approach for building a WiMAX network. It offers a unified architecture based on open standards and can enable radical consolidation. These benefits are made possible by recent technology advances from Sun in the areas of chip multithreading (CMT), machine virtualization, and high-performance Data Plane software. Telecom carriers can benefit from:
The cost savings are achieved by eliminating the need for physically separate servers for every network element. Initial costs required to build the network that will serve the first subscribers are the key to the carrier's success in deploying the new services. For small to medium-sized networks (e.g., networks typically requiring fewer than 150 base stations for initial coverage), first-year costs are dominated by the cost of the core network which includes the ASN Gateway and the associated CSN. Since all services are derived from this core network, it must be in place before the new WiMAX carrier's first subscriber can be served. Because the Sun WiMAX Reference Architecture can enable radical consolidation of the WiMAX core network, it can significantly reduce this first-year capital challenge. Check the WiMAX ROI model to estimate the expenses to build your initial WiMAX core network.
Faster time to market
The faster time to market and to service is a result of the greatly simplified application development versus proprietary platforms and technologies.
The proliferation of wireless LANs, mobile IP, and broadband Internet is driving the demand for new services using the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standard. WiMAX provides a robust, scalable, and cost-effective approach for bringing these services to mobile subscribers, and enables the carriers to deliver mobile broadband connectivity at high data rates. This agility is important in today's fast-changing markets. Unlike in the previous era of telecommunications, when large national networks were being built out, today's telecom carriers are often looking to drive revenue growth by addressing unique market opportunities such as municipal government applications that may operate under new business models.
The Sun Reference Architecture for WiMAX demonstrates how the Sun Unified Network Architecture (SUN-P) can provide a comprehensive developmental platform for network Control and Data Plane application development for NEPs to accelerate the process of bringing new services to the market.
Ability to scale for the growing number of subscribers
The primary challenge in serving small WiMAX subscriber bases is that traditional core network architectures require high capital expenditures just to serve the first subscriber. Networks, whether entry-level or full-scale, have traditionally been built using separate network elements for each of several different functions. And most network elements have been deployed with a pair of carrier-grade servers to achieve redundancy with an active and a standby configuration.
Thus a new network with 10 network elements would require 20 servers just to provide service to the first subscriber. Furthermore, because the network would be designed to eventually support a large population of subscribers, the servers would remain underutilized until the subscriber base grew to the expected population. The ROI for small and emerging markets has therefore been limited by these high capital outlays. High operating costs for maintaining the servers and providing datacenter floor space, power, and cooling have also hindered new service opportunities.
Now through the use of Sun's unique virtualization, compute and networking technologies, new Telco infrastructure for wireless and broadband networks can be cost-effectively scaled and grown to accommodate the growing numbers of subscribers.
Investment protection through a scalable open architecture solution
The ability to easily scale for the growing numbers of subscribers on the same platform using general-purpose, open-standards technology components from Sun and its partners will protect your investment for many years to come. A properly designed WiMAX network can provide a highly effective and low-cost method of delivering new 4G services to subscribers. You can avoid the high cost and inflexibility of traditional network architectures by consolidating your core network using the Sun WiMAX Reference Architecture. The architecture offers a radically simple approach to building out your network, enabling faster time to market and dramatic reductions in cost. By bringing together leading third-party software solutions with innovative Sun technologies in a complete WiMAX solution, Sun offers you a chance to create a competitive advantage in today's fast-changing wireless markets.
