Wireless service provider backbone network evolution with packet technologies

Moving toward the third-generation (3G), wireless service providers (WSPs) have key decisions to make in evolving their backbone networks in a cost-effective way Today, most WSPs in the United States deploy fully meshed, circuit-switched metro backbone networks and hand off long-distance traffic to an interexchange carrier (IXC). With the increased complexity of managing a growing meshed network and the emergence of enhanced data services, the goal is to evolve toward a multi-service packet network. This paper presents a rigorous model for circuit-to-packet (C2P) network evolution planning that addresses evolution alternatives for voice services, technology choice, network architectures, design, performance, reliability, and financial analysis. The model allows WSPs to quantify the benefits of various evolution scenarios and helps Lucent Mobility Solutions assess product roadmaps. The paper also presents a case study based on typical code division multiple access (CDMA) WSPs in North America that examines various C2P evolution strategies in metro, regional, and national backbones based on different choices of technology (TDM vs. ATM vs. IP), product availability, network architectures, and traffic forecasts. Also included are key insights and a summary of the study results. (C) 2004 Lucent Technologies Inc.