Stoke, Inc.

Solutions : 3G Core Network Offload

Using current 3G network architectures, the cost of supporting the exponential traffic generated from mobile broadband data services has become unsustainable: revenues are being outpaced by the rising cost of service delivery. In February 2011, Cisco updated their Visual Network Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, predicting mobile data traffic will increase 26-fold between 2010 and 2015! Adding insult to injury, mobile broadband data traffic is overwhelmingly Internet focused, offering little chance for revenue generation beyond the flat rate data plan subscription fees. If only MNOs didn't have to carry the Internet traffic back through their mobile infrastructure when its true destination is an Internet property.

3G Core Data Offload Video

Stoke's Intelligent Core Network Offload
Stoke Service eXchange (formerly Mobile Data Offload) breaks out, or offloads, traffic destined for the internet at the edge of the RAN and delivers it to the nearest Internet interconnect or service LAN. The design objective is to reduce as much load as possible on the backhaul network and on existing network elements without interfering with voice traffic or operator hosted data services traffic, and without requiring mobile network reconfiguration of any kind. Unlike Femtocell and Wi-Fi offload schemes that require new service design, implmentation and rollout, Stoke Service eXchange can be deployed in a matter of weeks and only where it is needed: Service eXchange is a low-cost surgical remedy to today's data overload problem. The key characteristics of Service eXchange are:

• it is Non-Intrusive requiring no re-configuration of any mobile network elements
• it is Transparent in that neither the mobile network elements nor the subscribers are aware of its presence
• Service eXchange uses 3GPP Standard mechanisms to intercept and redirect data plane sessions
• A Sevice eXchange deployment brings an IP interface to the RAN Edge, enabling network services and content to be located closter to subscribers.

The Service eXchange gateway is inserted into the data path between the RNCs and the SGSNs. Service eXchange monitors control traffic and, using operator set selection criteria (e.g APN or IMEI), detects if the session request is for an Internet bound session or is from a specified device type. If the session meets the operator selection criteria, Service eXchange alters the traffic path, bypassing the SGSNs and GGSNs, and forwards session traffic directly to the nearest Internet peering point. In the case where the session does not meet the selection criteria, MDO takes no action, and session control traffic and user data flows as though the Service eXchange were not present.

Enabling Services at the RAN Edge
Stoke is collaborating with mobile network service and application vendors to improve the effective network performance be relocating services and content closer to subscribers. Service eXchange offers an IP network (Gi) interface at the edge of the RAN, bringing services like content caching and CDN nodes nearer to users which services to improve content access times. Lab testing has shown download times can be reduced as much as 70% when content is accessed next the RAN versus via a public CDN. Other functions like video optimization, DPI and policy management are also enabled at the RAN edge. Moreover, where Service eXchange is implemented affords these applications additional intelligence not available to applications locked deeper in the core network.

Service eXchange improves the subscribers' Mobile Internet experience while allowing mobile operators to curb spending on 3G core network elements, and effctively flatten their architectures to better scale to meet growing traffic demands.

Learn More:

Datasheet

• Stoke Mobile Data Offload

White Paper

• Scalable Security Gateway Functions for Commercial Femtocell Deployments and Beyond
• Stoke Mobile Data Offload: - Retooling 3G Networks for Today's Mobile Internet Realities *
• Internet Offload for Mobile Operators (by Heavy Reading partnering with Stoke) *

Video

• Stoke MDO, the Direct Tunnel Alternative

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