OCT 2015 VOL. 17 ● NO. 5 ● ISSUE 160

VIP Voices Telkom: Planning for Healthy Development

Tech Forum Service Quality Management in PTN and IP RAN

Special Moblie Backhaul Topic Any to Any MPLS for Mobile Backhaul

Joddy Hernady, senior vice president of Synergy Department at Telkom Indonesia

Enrique Blanco, Global CTO of Telefonica 05 CONTENTS ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015

VIP Voices

Telkom: Planning for Healthy Development 05 Reporters: Liu Yang and Zhang Ying

Rostelecom Armenia Focuses on IPTV Services 10 Reporters: Liu Yang and Zhang Ying Joddy Hernady, senior vice president of Synergy Department at Telkom Indonesia DirecTV: Combining Pay-TV with Internet 13 Services to Win More Market Share Reporters: Liu Yang and Zhang Ying Telkom is the largest telecom services company in Indonesia. Joddy Hernady, senior vice president of Synergy Department at Telkom Indonesia, talked in the interview about Telkom’s investment strategy, development priorities, smart city deployment and Tech Forum main challenges in Indonesia. He also shared with us his expectations for the future cooperation between Telkom and ZTE and his views on global telecom trends. Service Quality Management in PTN and 16 IP RAN By Liu Aihua

Special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

Any to Any MPLS for Mobile Backhaul 19 By Cui Yanyun

Introducing SDN into IP RAN 23 By Feng Zhijian

Intelligent Backhaul Management 25 and Optimization By Zheng Pan Packet-Based Backhaul for Small Cell 10 27 By Zhang Yongjian, Zou Kaipu and Ma Xin

01 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 19

ZTE TECHNOLOGIES

Advisory Committee 37 Director: Zhao Xianming Deputy Directors: Chen Jane, Xu Huijun, Zhu Jinyun Advisers: Bao Zhongjun, Chen Jian, Chen Xinyu, Cui Li, Fang Jianliang, Sun 33 Zhenge, Xu Ming, Yang Jiaxiao

Editorial Board Director: Sun Zhenge Deputy Director: Huang Xinming Members: Chen Zongcong, Cui Liangjun, Han Gang, Heng Yunjun, Huang Xinming, Liu Shouwen, Sun Jiruo, Sun Zhenge, Wei Xiaoqiang, Ye Ce, Zhou Yong

Sponsor: ZTE Corporation Edited By Shenzhen Editorial Office, Strategy Planning Department Editor-in-Chief: Sun Zhenge Solution Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Huang Xinming Editorial Director: Liu Yang Executive Editor-in-Chief: Yue Lihua POTN: Making a More Intelligent and Flexible Network Editor: Zhang Ying 30 By Li Lin and Deng Feifei Circulation Manager: Wang Pingping

Editorial Office Success Stories Address: NO. 55, Hi-tech Road South, Shenzhen, P.R.China Postcode: 518075 AIS Selects Hybrid IP RAN for Full-Service Development Tel: +86-755-26775211 33 By Hu Junjie Fax: +86-755-26775217 Website: wwwen.zte.com.cn/en/about/ publications SLK Builds Information Highway Email: [email protected] 35 By Yuan Zhibing

A technical OCT 2015 VOL. 17 ● NO. 5 ● ISSUE 160 magazine that keeps

VIP Voices up with the latest Telkom: Planning for Healthy Development Tech Forum industry trends, Service Quality Management in PTN and IP RAN communicates Press Clipping leading technologies

Special Moblie Backhaul and solutions, and Topic Any to Any MPLS for Mobile Backhaul shares stories of our China to Get ‘Four Times Faster’ Pre-5G Internet in 2016 amid Joddy Hernady, senior vice president of Synergy Department at Telkom Enrique Blanco, Global CTO of Telefonica customer success 37 Premier’s Push for Tech Development Source: South China Morning Post

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 02 ZTE News

ZTE 6-Month Net Profit Rises 43.2% as 4G LTE Network Revenue Surges

26 August 2015, Shenzhen ― ZTE are enabling the company to strengthen announced that first-half net profit rose partnerships with leading carriers around 43.2% as the company increased sales of the world, including Telefonica, MTN 4G LTE network equipment to carriers. Group and Bharti Airtel. In China, ZTE Net profit attributable to shareholders strengthened its leading market position of the listed company jumped to in the 4G LTE network solutions market. RMB 1.62 billion (US$252 million) in the ZTE’s strong position in the 4G first six months, according to the results market is providing a platform for announcement posted by ZTE today. the company to lead the industry in Basic earnings per share climbed the transition to next-generation 5G to R MB 0.47, while revenue increased technologies. ZTE is committing 21.8% to RMB 45.9 billion. increased investment into the research broadband experience to end-users before ZTE’s industry-leading 4G network of 5G technology, and is working with 5G is standardized in the industry. solutions including cloud radio and magic numerous carriers around the world In addition to wireless products, radio helped the company win increased to accelerate the deployment of the ZTE also posted growth in its wireline customer orders in the 4G LTE equipment company’s proprietary pre5G solutions, division, helped by strong orders for market internationally. ZTE’s innovations delivering immediate improvements to optical transport networks and in FDD-LTE and TD-LTE technologies network performance and a better mobile broadband systems.

ZTE Constructs the First Communications Institute in Equatorial Guinea 4 August 2015, Shenzhen ― ZTE has With more than 20 years of experience completed the construction of Equatorial in knowledge service training, more Guinea’s first communications training than 100 professional senior lecturers in institute in Oyala. The institute, which communications technologies, and 15 will be run with ZTE’s assistance, sees successful training centres worldwide, the Equatorial Guinean government ZTE University will provide powerful usher in the new era of smart education, knowledge service support and extensive promoting the development of ICT-based operations management experience education. for the training institute in Equatorial The excellent teaching facilities and the network-wide communications Guinea. After the project is completed, laboratory built by ZTE will provide a the institute will train communications comprehensive environment for students professionals to work for the Equatorial to practice cutting-edge technologies. Guinean government.

03 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 ZTE News

ZTE and Telefonica Strengthen Partnership

ZTE Helps Smartfren

Launch 4G LTE-Advanced 27 August 2015, Shenzhen ― ZTE signed a global cooperation Service in Indonesia agreement with Telefonica, one of the world’s largest operators. The partnership will strengthen ZTE’s position as primary 26 August 2015, Jakarta ― ZTE is successful trials and the June launch technological partner for Telefonica. pleased to help PT Smartfren Telecom of our Andromax range of LTE ZTE delivers several cutting-edge launch 4G LTE-Advanced network in smartphone and portable WiFi network solutions for Telefonica across Indonesia, giving users access to the devices. We believe that 4G 2G/3G/LTE radio access networks, fixed highest-performance mobile LTE-Advanced technology will open access networks, high capacity optical broadband services. many opportunities for our customers transport networks, IPRAN, IMS core The new 4G LTE-Advanced, and further accelerate the ICT network solutions, power systems, and which supports both the FDD-LTE and industry as a backbone for Indonesian value added services and applications TDD-LTE standards, was launched economic growth. 4G LTE-Advanced such as voicemail platforms. commercially by Smartfren in Jakarta will enable our customers to enjoy This agreement aims to increase on 19 August, and coverage areas improved multimedia streaming, ZTE’s involvement in areas where it is already include the 22 major cities of online games, cloud storage and video already working with Telefonica. It also Indonesia. The new network deploys aims to deepen the par t nership on conferencing. Smartfren is committed ZTE’s market-leading 4G LTE solutions next-generation network innovations to bringing the best of 4G LTE including evolved node B (eNB), cloud such as the development of ultra-high technology to Indonesia to deliver not radio and eHRPD to deliver the best broadband via GPON, high-resilient, only higher speeds but a more stable user experience to subscribers. high-capacity transports solutions using and reliable 4G LTE experience” said “The nationwide launch of our photonic mesh networks, clearer and 4G LTE-Advanced service follows Smartfren CEO Paul Hodges. richer VoLTE services, and microwave transmission. “Telefonica is constantly exploring ZTE Unveils New 4K Ultra High-Definition new technologies that will provide best-in-class user experience for our Set-Top Boxes at IBC Conference customers,” said Mr. Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete Lopez. “We see 11 September 2015, Amsterdam ― Broadcasting Convention 2015 in ZTE as one of our key technology ZTE unveiled new ultra high-definition Amsterdam are ZTE B800S2, a 4K partners in helping us support the ever set-top boxes (STB) supporting 4K UHD STB that enables users to access increasing communication needs of the resolution to deliver an enhanced IPTV and OTT applications, and ZTE future. Partnering with ZTE will also viewing experience to homes around B820T2-A10, a 4K UHD hybrid STB support our vision of being a smart, the world. that enables users to access DVB-T2 digital telco, primed to lead the digital Products shown at the International and OTT applications. transformation.”

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 04 vIP Voices

Telkom: Planning for Healthy Development

Reporters: Liu Yang and Zhang Ying

elkom is the largest telecommunication services Tcompany in Indonesia. It provides fixed wireline and wireless connections, mobile communications, networking and interconnection services, and internet and data services. Recently, ZTE Technologies interviewed Joddy Hernady, senior vice president of Synergy Department at Telkom Indonesia. He talked about Telkom’s investment strategy, development priorities, smart city deployment and main challenges in Indonesia. He also shared with us his expectations for the future cooperation between Telkom and ZTE and his views on global Joddy Hernady, senior vice president of Synergy Department at Telkom Indonesia telecom trends.

05 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 vIP Voices

We have been using ZTE’s products so far mainly to support our infrastructure and some businesses for consumer services such as IPTV.

Q: What is your new role users, which is around 30% of the mobile broadband. We will continue at Telkom? population. Accessing social media investing in broadband for next represents the highest proportion of several years as our current broadband A: I am currently the senior vice internet activity. Indonesia has the penetration is still low. president of the Synergy Department fifth largest number of social media For the short term target, Telkom at Telekom Indonesia. I ensure users in the world. From the top ten has an initiative to deploy optical synergy between Telkom Group active users for example, Jakarta is the transport network to 446 cities (90% of members in order to increase the number one city for active twitter users total) in Indonesia in 2015. This is true overall revenue of the Group. In in the world and Bandung is the sixth. broadband capability covering 18.7 addition, I help reduce costs and About 58% of internet users are million home pass (up to 100 Mbps). minimize cash out by maximizing between 12 and 34 years old, and In addition, for medium and longer the Group’s internal transactions; are online for five hours by laptop term, we will invest in the area of IT I resolve the conflicting portfolios or personal computer and about two and Media and preparing the company in the implementation; I manage hours through mobile devices. As to be a digital company by investing the Group’s business portfolio by many as 62 million people are active in both organic and un-organic monitoring subsidiaries performance on social media. 52 million of them investment such as data centre, cloud, and giving recommendation for their access social media through mobile big data, digital advertising, OTT improvement; and I manage post deal devices for about three hours per day. platform, payment platform and video. integration on acquisition and Other activities include searching alliance projects. for information and emailing (48%), Q: What are Telkom’s priorities downloading or viewing and chatting for the next three to five years? Q: How would you characterize (47%), while game playing and other the Indonesian telecom market? activities account for less than 35%. A: Over the next five years, our portfolio objective will consist of the A: The Indonesian telecom market is Q: What is Telkom’s investment following three aspects. basically a mobile market. Our mobile strategy? What are your medium- First, we will defend and shape penetration is already 112% across to-long term investment targets? the traditional legacy ecosystem by 90% of Indonesia. Our fixed telephone sustaining our leading position in penetration is less than 4%. For the A: Based on market situation, the mobile and developing broadband broadband, currently the broadband current and future business potentials nationwide. penetration is still as low as 1.1% are in broadband market and building Second, we will grow our digital (fixed broadband) and 22.2% (mobile digital ecosystems. These are all portfolio to build value premium over broadband). driven by the development of the legacy business by providing digital However, for digital business, internet. Therefore, now we are services to enterprise, government and Indonesia is a potential market. There investing aggressively in broadband consumer as well as building the smart are already around 75 million internet by deploying fiber, Wi-Fi and LTE for enabler “hub” platform for the

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 06 vIP Voices

digital services. program called IDN 2015. The Indonesia for both fixed and mobile, Third, we will enter overseas program of IDN contains three major Telkom will provide comprehensive markets to drive scale synergies sub-programs. end-to-end solutions for smart city. and import digital ecosystems into The first sub-program is Indonesia Our concept is to develop an Indonesia by developing major Digital Access (id Access), which integrated city management above oversea digital and telecoms foothold involves deploying true broadband ICT infrastructure. The integrated and investing into new emerging access and mobile broadband access. city management will consist of businesses and technologies. The goal of this program is to cover smart government, smart citizen, 30% of households with true fixed smart healthcare, smart building, Q: How do you create synergy broadband and 200 cities with mobile smart transportation, smart energy, between fixed and mobile broadband in 2020. and smart security, whilst in the ICT business? The second sub-program is infrastructure will consist of smart Indonesia Digital Ring (id Ring), infrastructure and smart technology as A: Synergy between fixed and mobile which involves achieving Indonesia shown in the following page. starts with infrastructure sharing. Express Super Core, Always ON With this concept, Telkom is We are driving this synergy from the transport backbone and creates creating a unique smart city framework planning. We plan the infrastructure International Gateway & CDN that comprises nine key components together and make sure that the enhancement. Telkom is also in a as mentioned above. We have several implementation is running smoothly; preparation of launching new Telkom technology partners to support us on we also change our organization Satellite 3S in upcoming 2016. The providing those smart city components in both sides by adding some key target is to cover 100% of sub-districts and ZTE is one of our partners. functions related to the synergized by broadband in 2020. In the implementation, currently areas to make coordination run The third sub-program is Indonesia we have a pilot project with Bandung smoothly and more responsive so both Digital Convergence (id Con), which government for Bandung smart city. parties will feel the value and benefit involves building a 50,000 m2 The cooperation with government of from this synergy. data center by 2020, and creates Bandung started in 2014. As part of In addition, we also have the convergence services and meaningful this pilot, we showed some solutions Synergy Department, which is now services through digital ecosystem, that have been commercialized during led by me to manage and orchestrate including providing Smart City the Asia Africa Commemoration in all synergy programs amongst Telkom solutions. The target is to provide Bandung in April 2015. Group. This is very important for us to a nationwide cloud computing for Smart city is very important for create the belief between both parties government, business and individual Telkom. This can be one of future that synergy can create values to use. This program also includes potential markets for Telkom since it both sides. building a nationwide Cyber Security will involve some key technologies for In addition to infrastructure we System by 2020. the future in the digital era that Telkom also create more synergy activities has already started to invest such as in other areas such as integrating the Q: “Smart city” is a buzzword cloud, big data, broadband, and M2M/ video platform for fixed and mobile. in the telecom industry now. IoT. The market is also promising Where is Telkom now in terms of because Indonesia has around 500 Q: How will Telkom support the smart city deployment? What is cities that could potentially become national broadband project? the importance of smart city for Telkom’s overall strategy? smart cities. A: Telkom initiated the Indonesia Digital Network 2020 Program to A: Broadband infrastructure is the Q: What is the biggest challenge support the national broadband project. foundation to build smart city. As the that you are facing in smart city It is the extension of our previous biggest telecommunication provider in project? How have you overcome it?

07 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 vIP Voices

A: The biggest challenge for smart To overcome this, we need to create Q: OTT players are having a big city development is funding from local several options of business model impact on operators. How would government. To create a smart city, it including some breakthrough public/ you describe the relationship is very important to develop a smart private partnership scheme. We have between operators and government first. Unfortunately, most developed this model and now in the OTT players? of local government in Indonesia has a discussion with the local government limited budget for building a smart city. of Bandung as the pilot project. A: There are three models that we can

PILAR 3 SWART USER (DIGTAL USER)

PILAR 2 INTEGRATED CITY MANAGEMENT (DIGTAL ECOSYSTEM)

Data Sharing Platform/"Big Data" Support Platform/"Applications"

Data Data Data Business Machine to Unified eMail Security Integration Werehouse Security Intelligence Communication Manchine

Data Center/Cloud

Facility Servers/Storage/Virtualization Security Network

Connectivity Device

Detector Smartphone Sensor Infrared Reception Monitoring Trunking Wi-Fi Wi-MAX Radio- Sensor Device Device Terminal 802.11 802.16 Comm Sat-Comm 3G+ Ethernet Fiber BPL

PILAR 1 ITC INFRASTRUCTURE (DIG AL INFRASTRUCTURE)

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 08 vIP Voices

play with OTT. solutions and services. It has solutions over the competitors. By doing this, The first model is telco as a dump for enterprise and government as well we will be able to know Indonesian pipe. In this case, we only provide as for retail consumers. We have been subscriber’s behavior better and data connectivity while OTT players using ZTE’s products so far mainly to develop products that will fit with the sell their OTT services on their own. support our infrastructure and some need of Indonesian market including Telco gets the benefit of increased businesses for consumer services such finding out the right business model. data consumption and monetization as IPTV. (billing enabler). One of the cons is For enterprise and government Q: How will the global telecom that the telco does not create customer market, especially in providing IT market develop over the next stickiness and experience. services, there are two ways for ZTE few years? The second model is a hybrid to enter the market. model. In this case, we can create First, ZTE can go to the market A: The biggest market of telco industry an exclusive partnership with OTT directly and compete with us as a telco now is still traditional fixed and players and support the promotion to head-to-head. Even though Telkom is mobile services. However, traditional a target audience. In this model, we a telco, the border between industries fixed and mobile business is declining can get higher revenue share as an is blurring. Telkom has expanded everywhere. Globally, our voice and exclusive partner and promoter, but the its business portfolio to the adjacent text messaging revenues have already cons is having limited monetization industries such as IT, media, and declined by 9% with Europe and and dependent on OTT players to bring entertainment. Therefore, our approach Asia being the most impacted. The their services. to enter the enterprise and government next biggest market in telco industry The third model is end-to-end or market now is not only providing is broadband. All telcos are entering hard bundling. We create our own OTT telco infrastructure but also providing broadband as the next frontier but in services and hard bundles the product IT services, especially offering the general, the broadband services are not with its existing plans. We also own connectivity bundled with IT services. able to compensate the decline in the compression technologies, new device Second, ZTE supports Telkom as a legacy services. compatibility, digitization, etc., that technology partner to provide bundled We are living in the digital era and cater to changing customer needs. This solutions to enterprise and government. people’s lifestyle is also now shifting model can create customer retention I think the second option would be to digital lifestyle. Therefore, it is very and differentiation in the market, but better because this collaboration important that telcos also transform the cons is we have to create better will benefit both of us, and we can themselves into digital companies as OTT services than services provided capture a bigger market share. In term the biggest market both in consumer by OTT players, which is usually very of market understanding, we have a and enterprise side will be based difficult as it is not Telco’s DNA. better understanding especially for Which one is suitable for us will government markets as Telkom is also on digital. We can also enter other really depend on our strategy, market a state owned enterprise company. industry by digital services. situation and our capability to develop In addition, for future cooperation, In terms of the telecom market, OTT services. ZTE can also consider some budget we believe that the future enterprise to build a joint innovation and market will be the key market for Q: Could you comment on development for new enterprise telcos. In the consumer market, I ZTE’s solutions and services? and government services. I think think in general, OTT players will be What is your outlook for future this is very important for our future more dominant than telcos. Therefore, cooperation between Telkom cooperation and to have a better digital enterprise market including and ZTE? understanding on new requirements smart city will be a key market for of customers such as in smart city and telcos over the next few years. A: ZTE has a very wide range to create our competitive advantages

09 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 vIP Voices

Rostelecom Armenia Focuses on IPTV Services Reporters: Liu Yang and Zhang Ying

Hayk Faramazyan, CEO of Rostelecom Armenia

rmenia’s telecom market has Q: What are the characteristics broadband internet, VoIP and IPTV; developed rapidly in recent of Armenia’s telecom market? and Rostelecom Armenia, which Ayears. The competition is provides broadband internet, VoIP, extremely tough. Rostelecom provides A: The telecom market in Armenia has and next-generation IPTV. broadband internet access, VoIP and been developing rapidly over the past new generation IPTV services for 10 to 15 years. Armenia is considered as Q: What are some of the latest customers in Armenia. The company one of the leaders in implementation of developments of focuses on IPTV services and is gaining innovative technologies in telecoms. Rostelecom Armenia? more and more market share. Recently, The market is extremely ZTE Technologies interviewed Hayk competitive. There are five major A: From December 18, 2012, Faramazyan, CEO of Rostelecom players: Vivacell-MTS, which has GNC-ALFA CJSC has provided Armenia. He talked about Rostelecom the largest market share in telecoms telecommunication services for Armenia’s latest developments, most and provides 2G, 3G and LTE; Armenina through a subsidiary called demanded services, main challenges, Beeline, which provides 2G, 3G and Rostelecom Armenia. growth opportunities and new trends in ADSL/VDSL and voice services; As one of the leading the IPTV market. He also shared with Orange Armenia, which provides telecommunications companies, us his expectations for ZTE and outlook 3G+ services; UCom, which has Rostelecom Armenia provides for Rostelecom Armenia. an FTTH network and provides broadband internet access, VoIP and

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 10 vIP Voices

new generation IPTV services. From 2012 to 2013, the company made large-scale investments in network development and expansion. In particular, major investments were made in fiber-to-the-home (GPON) network in a number of cities in Armenia. Starting from 2014, the company provides services in 20 cities of Armenia including Yerevan. The network of Rostelecom Armenia is solely based on fiber-optic cable The press conference for Rostelecom's official IPTV commercialization (FOC) infrastructure covering 80% of the territory of RA and spreading for over 3000 km. It is connected to region’s main services. IPTV services are provided A: Rostelecom’s IPTV services have terrestrial cable networks and by two of them Rostelecom and always been very innovative and largest traffic exchanges. It has Ucom. There are also around 10 customer oriented; that’s the reason interconnection with Georgia. small IPTV providers in the regions Rostelecom Armenia is considered In 2014 Rostelecom has built of Armenia. In case of Rostelecom, the fastest growing telecom company 40 GB/s network covering all the services are available in 20 cities in Armenia. municipalities of Yerevan and of Armenia including capital We face a variety of challenges providing high-speed internet city Yerevan. related to current trends and regional connection to all customers. Ucom is the leading IPTV specificity. Our marketing strategy is The state institutions of Armenia, provider, but Rostelecom is based on two main factors: customer international organizations, expanding its market share needs and international innovation corporations, and local financial aggressively and is considered as trends. These core issues are drivers institutions are all corporate clients one of the leaders in IPTV market of Rostelecom success in Armenia. of Rostelecom Armenia. as well. Some other providers have With ZTE’s new IPTV platform, we started IPTV pilot projects, but they will introduce new unprecedented Q: How is the competition in the only cover very small areas and have services and applications in the field of IPTV? up to 1% market share. Armenian market. We aim to make the TV set an interactive smart box A: Competition in this field is Q: What major challenges do you through which the customer can diverse, and there are five leading face in the IPTV market? What is access TV live channels, VoD, Apps companies providing internet your market strategy? and internet.

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opportunities in Armenia? Q: What new trends do you see in the IPTV market? A: Main drivers of Rostelecom expansion in Armenia are A: IPTV local market trends are in investments in innovations, common with international trends development of intelligence and now cable changes to IP and countrywide, and integration of trends go to TSTV, TVOD and other society in political and economic life solutions. Anyway, these changes through smart and IP solutions. and developments will also be We are sure that IPTV will have affected by solvency in the country great success as the old technologies and investments will be done in like cable TV will lose their positions consideration with the local thus leaving the space for new market trends. technology. We believe that within The press conference for Rostelecom's official IPTV commercialization the next five years we will double Q: What are your expectations IPTV users every year. for the future partnership between Rostelecom Armenia Q: What Rostelecom Armenia’s Q: You are planning to launch a and ZTE? services are most in demand? new IPTV platform with ZTE. How will this new platform differ from A: Future strategic partnership A: Armenian customers are very the existing one? between Rostelecom and ZTE demanding, and their demands will continue in direction of on IPTV and internet services A: Rostelecom’s IPTV platform IPTV expansion, implementation are similar to those in developed will be smarter than the existing of additional services and core countries. platform and will have some new and cooperation for the benefit of They need high speed stable and trendy tools, such as apps, YouTube, Armenian customers. high quality internet services and TVOD, TSTV, and VOD. With all IPTV designed for advanced users. its innovative solutions, the new Q: How will Rostelecom Armenia Our customers are very sensitive IPTV platform will become more develop over the next five years? to IPTV quality of service. Every accessible in Armenia, especially in malfunction in the network or regional areas. A: Rostelecom Armenia will expand platform results in dissatisfaction We are sure that cooperation with both qualitative and quantitative and customer complaints. We have ZTE Corporation will be mutually key services and indicators. We will the highest quality IPTV service in beneficial for both companies and expand our presence in regional the country in order to meet customer Rostelecom’s customers in Armenia areas, develop new product lines, expectations. will be provided the best and and continue investing in innovative “smartest” IPTV in the region technologies in local telecom market. Q: Where do you see the growth very soon.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 12 vIP Voices

DirecTV: Combining Pay-TV with Internet Services to Win More Market Share Reporters: Liu Yang and Zhang Ying

Alessandro Defilippi Elias, head of wireless network of DirecTV in Peru

irecTV is an American direct Q: How would you describe A: We are deploying our sites and broadcast satellite broadcaster Peru's pay-TV market? hoping to put our first site into Din El Segundo, California. operation soon. We are hoping to have It provides television and audio A: Peru’s TV market is still growing. our first customer around August. services to subscribers. Recently, Because Peru is a developing Probably by the end of this year, we ZTE Technologies interviewed country, most of the services are will have 200 sites on there. And by Alessandro Defilippi Elias, head of still developing. So there are many the end of 2016, we will have 400 in wireless network of DirecTV in Peru. opportunities for DirecTV and other eNodeBs for service in Peru. He talked about DirecTV’s TD-LTE companies in this particular segment project, development strategies and in Peru. differentiated services in Peru. He also Q: Could you tell us your TD- shared with us his expectations for the LTE plan? What do you want to future cooperation between DirecTV Q: Could you tell us about the achieve with the current and ZTE. milestones of your project? TD-LTE project?

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A: Right now, we are deploying TD- A: For network optimization, the first monetary gain is combine services, in LTE network over band 40 of LTE. step is having a basic configuration this case, TV and internet. First we have internet services for new over the defined clusters. Once we customers and our DirecTV customers. have the defined clusters, maybe Q: Could you elaborate on What we want to achieve is mature we can use some features to control DirecTV’s differentiated services networks across the country. We hope interference. Our main problem is for both high-end and low-end to be not only in the capital but also in that we don’t have much spectrum, customers in Peru? the main cities of north and south Peru, so our capabilities of frequency probably by the end of the year. We reuse and configuration are limited. A: DirecTV in Peru is more considered will continue the second and the third Since resisting interference is a big a high-end service. However, we phase next year. So we are able to offer issue for us, we have to be very sure also have low-end customers. For the internet and pay-TV bundles to our about the sector configuration, carrier high-end customers, we have a really customers. Maybe in the near future, configuration and inter-cell distance good quality service with really good we will also offer voice services, of our sites, and we are trying to equipment for HD DVR to record HD telephone over the same network. accomplish optimization through programs, so our high definition TV some features that can help us mainly is the main difference between us and Q: What are the challenges control the interference. other companies. High-end usually for DirecTV to deploy TD-LTE entails higher cost, but our equipment network? Q: The pay-TV market is highly and services are of much higher quality untapped in the Latin American than those of the competition. A: One of the biggest challenges is region. What are DirecTV’s For low-end customers, we are the frequency. We are only using what development strategies for focusing on the pre-paid services. we have, and we don’t have that much market penetration? Low-end customers are pre-paid while frequency in Peru. So we are trying the high-end customers are post- to add more spectrums in order to A: Actually, the idea is to combine paid. Both of them have good channel provide good services. That would be pay-TV and internet services; quality and a good service quality. the biggest challenge. that’s why we have LTE network However, the payment method is the Our second challenge is deployment. By giving a bundle to big difference between high-end and infrastructure. We are trying to build customers, offering both internet low-end customers. networks as fast as possible. The and TV as one service, we can still towers will be our equipment. keep growing without any problems. So the main challenges for us Now, all the tendencies are directed Q: What differentiates your TV right now are the spectrum and towards having both services, instead service from other operators’ infrastructure. of only one service of either pay-TV TV services? or the internet. Q: Network optimization is a As you say, the TV market is still A: I think the difference is the quality key part of TD-LTE network untapped in Latin America, so we of HD signals, the standardization of construction. What steps are have a lot of room to grow. The signals, and the DVR equipment we you taking to enable network penetration is still in the low end use. Our products and services are optimization? of services, but we think the way to really high-end.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 14 vIP Voices

Q: How would you assess ZTE’s solutions and services? What are your expectations for future cooperation between DirecTV and ZTE?

A: ZTE right now is our major partner. ZTE has 100% of our access network and 100% of our microwave network. ZTE is a really important partner for us. We hope to have a long-term relationship because up to now, we have been working pretty well on this. Q: DirecTV has its own audience A: Actually, I don’t know the way We hope that ZTE’s experience can network and sports networks. how mobile operators operate, but for help us have an optimized network. How can these networks help internet services, it is a really good We are sure that we can partner in the to increase the number of cooperation between both services, future while ZTE keeps developing subscribers? because DirecTV is a major pay- new products to help us build our TV company, right? All the content network the way we need and to give A: As I mentioned before, the sports for programs, shows and sports, we quality services for our customers. network is a huge benefit for DirecTV are ready to have them. We are able customers. We will grow not by having to deploy quality transfer network Q: What is your vision for more channels or different quality by internet or only assign intranet DirecTV over the next few years? programs but through our services. services. We will be able to connect The main service is not only quality our customers to our database or A: The main objective of DirecTV now (HD TV) but a combination of this and core networks, where we have all the is getting more market share in Peru internet. We will try to have an OTT program information. Therefore, our for pay-TV services and for internet. service for online streaming channel. customers can stream the information We are focusing on growth to have or video-on-demand service whenever more customers in the next few years Q: What do you think about the they want. I think it is a really good by giving both TV quality services and relationship between pay-TV opportunity to bundle TV content quality internet service. operators and mobile operators? using the internet connection.

15 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 Tech Forum

Service Quality Management in PTN and IP RAN

By Liu Aihua

backhaul networks have evolved from traditional TDM to packet-switched L2 VPN and then to hybrid L2-L3 VPNs. The mainstream technologies include PTN and IP RAN. With the evolution of network architecture, end-to-end service bearer paths have often been divided between multiple VPNs. This creates new challenges for network O&M (Fig. 1). First, an operator bearer network lacks end-to-end service quality monitoring and related visual O&M. Second, existing O&M techniques can hardly reflect the real service quality. Third, the division of bearer services between multiple VPNs seriously affects fault detection and location. All this gives rise to the development of service quality management (SQM).

Liu Aihua, chief engineer of ZTE Major operators are viewing SQM with increasing wireline products importance and are attempting to improve service quality and O&M. As early as in 2014, China Mobile started researching SQM and focused on an index system and monitoring solutions for LTE service quality. China Telecom also raised SQM requirements for key accounts in 2014 that would support service performance measurement. With ervice quality is key to operators the rapid growth of pan-IP based services and the demands remaining competitive. The for network convergence, SQM is expected to be the basic Seffect of service bearer networks requirement for service quality monitoring and O&M on on service quality is the first issue an operator networks in the future. operator needs to consider in network Considering IP-based service requirements and hybrid O&M. As LTE services develop L2/L3 VPN architecture, an SQM solution can select rapidly, service bearer networks have monitoring technologies at L3 or above. The monitoring undergone great changes. Mobile technologies at L3 are preferred for bearer networks.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 16 tech Forum

Standard technologies include L3 Ping (RFC 792/RFC 4443), perspective, active monitoring is most BFD (RFC 5880), OWAMP/TWAMP (RFC 4656/RFC 5357), applicable to widespread standard RFC 2544/Y.1564, and service performance sampling deployments, while passive monitoring statistics. The L3 Ping provides simple connectivity is used as a supplement for specific detection; BFD provides universal connectivity detection; application scenarios. OWAMP/TWAMP provides connectivity, delay and jitter, An SQM solution can be deployed and packet loss detection; RFC 2544/Y.1564 provides inside or outside the bearer devices. throughput, delay and jitter, and packet loss detection; and Deploying SQM functions inside service performance sampling statistics provides statistical the bearer devices means service analysis of traffic flow and even business content. quality monitoring technologies at Technically, SQM can be divided into three categories: L3 are built in the bearer equipment active monitoring, passive monitoring, and combined to comprehensively monitor the active and passive monitoring. Now most monitoring quality of both the bearer network and technologies are active, including Ping, BFD, OWAMP/ services. For external SQM functions, TWAMP and RFC 2544/Y.1564. Service performance an additional SQM monitoring device sampling statistics belongs to passive monitoring. Active needs to be deployed outside the bearer monitoring technologies are independent of traffic flow and network. Although this simplifies the can simulate traffic flow for quality monitoring. However, requirements for bearer devices, the there may be a deviation between the monitored results and deployment is complicated and costly, actual traffic. Passive monitoring technologies depend on and integrated quality monitoring of traffic flow, and test results are reasonably accurate except both bearer networks and services is not that they are restricted by traffic flow. Combined active and possible. Therefore, deploying SQM passive monitoring technologies can integrate active and functions inside the bearer devices is passive monitoring but lack a standard. From the technical preferred by operators.

Access Node Convergence L2 Convergence Node Hub Node Core Node L2 L2/L3 L3 eNB BSC/RNC

Access/Convergence Core Layer NodeB MME Layer S-GW IP/MPLS

S-GW MME eNB

L2 L2 VPN L3 VPN L3 LTE

End-to-End Mobile Bearer Services

Figure 1. Hybrid L2/L3 VPN for mobile backhaul.

17 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 Tech Forum

PTN PTN Service Quality PTN Service Quality O&M Analysis Module Measurement Module

PTN Service PTN Service PTN Service Collection Data Collection Data Collection Data L2 VPN L3 VPN

sGW/MME Passive Monitoring Sites

L2 /L3 Bridging Point Active Monitoring

Active Monitoring

Figure 2. ZTE’s integrated SQM solution.

Through monitoring technologies quality indicators, while the traditional O&M monitors at the L3 or above, the SQM solution network-based quality indicators. In other words, SQM directly monitors service quality and provides service-based KPIs whereas traditional O&M establishes a service-based quality provides quality indicators based on network operation. The indicator monitoring system. relationship between service quality indicators and operation For IP-based services between LTE quality indicators can be built gradually to optimize network eNBs and xGWs, the solution monitors quality according to service quality requirements. This connectivity, delay, jitter, and packet facilitates O&M and optimizes network for better services. loss of IP traffic flow in real time, and In ZTE’s integrated SQM solution, SQM functions are analyzes content of the IP traffic at the embedded in bearer devices for comprehensive quality application layer, including the SCTP management within the network management system. The protocol and eNB traffic. By monitoring SQM functions can also be combined with an advanced these service-based quality indicators, traffic analysis platform to provide integrated service-based the solution can display service quality traffic analysis tools. Both the bearer network management visually on the network management system in real time. When a fault system and traffic analysis platform provide multi-layer, occurs or performance deteriorates, multi-domain hierarchical quality management and analysis an alarm is immediately generated to help operators build advanced networks. ZTE’s bearer and sent to maintenance personnel for devices support a wealth of SQM functions, including active troubleshooting. Ping, TWAMP, RFC 2544/Y.1564, and HTTP/TCP/UDP/ The SQM solution can work with FTP connectivity measurement, as well as passive service the traditional network O&M system performance statistics and SCTP protocol analysis. ZTE has to provide a highly efficient, integrated been working with China Mobile to trial the SQM solution. O&M. SQM monitors service-based

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 18 special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

Any to Any MPLS for Mobile Backhaul By Cui Yanyun

ith the wide application of network upgrades are providing users ● Smart network architecture. The mobile data services and the with improved network performance evolution of mobile networks Wemergence of new services, and QoS, they are also creating many toward 4G makes a different LTE especially mobile video services, challenges in mobile backhaul networks. network architecture from 2G/3G mobile network traffic has increased one. Specifically, part of the control dramatically. Key Requirements for a Mobile and routing functions previously Major operators worldwide have Backhaul Network in the LTE Era implemented by the BSC/RNC are been upgrading their wireless telecom integrated into the eNodeB to make networks over the past decade from 2G To accommodate LTE, the next- a flatter network capable of smart to 3G to LTE, to meet the demand of generation mobile backhaul network routing. Higher network bandwidths higher bandwidths. While continuous must meet the following requirements: will also be provided with both

19 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 special Topic

uplink and downlink bit rate at above A well-established LTE network ● Low transmission delays. LTE 150 Mbps. 1 GE and even 10 GE requires a long-term process and will services require lower delay access devices will become common. not come overnight. Usually, there than legacy 2G and 3G services. ● Super-large scale with densely- is only a small number of users at According to 3GPP2 and NGMN, the deployed LTE eNodeBs. Either the early stage, and the LTE EPC end-to-end delay of S1 interface in the rapid development of LTE LTE should be less than 25 ms, with core network is deployed in one technologies, urgent demand an ideal value of less than 5 ms, and region and shared by users in this for higher user bandwidths, or the end-to-end delay of X2 interface and other regions through transport exponentially growing number in LTE should be between 50 ms and networks. However, the increasing of eNodeBs requires operators to 100 ms, with an ideal value of less deploy more access nodes on the number of users and rising demand than 10 ms. transport network to handle huge for user capacity urge operators to ● Compatible and converged transport accesses to eNodeBs and carry large consider deploying the EPC to be capability. Many operators have to service traffic. closer to users, which means from a deploy and operate mobile networks ● Smooth and seamless service centralized EPC to distributed EPCs with different network systems migration to the LTE network. in multiple regions. during LTE evolution. Therefore,

User Side Access Layer Aggregation Layer IP Core Layer Service Side

UPE3 SPE3 UPE1 SPE1 NPE1(ABR) NPE3(ABR) 2G/3G/LTE RAN CE

UPE2 IGP Domain 1 IGP Domain 2 IGP Domain 3

VPN SPE2 NPE2(ABR) NPE4(ABR) VPN UPE4 SPE4

Service Delivery Point Service Delivery Point Single Converged Any to Any MPLS Network Service Delivery

End to End VPN/PW Service Plane IGP+LDP IGP+LDP IGP+LDP Transport Plane BGP-LU NHS change BGP-LU NHS change BGP-LU

Figure 1. Any to Any MPLS architecture.

a next-generation mobile backhaul ● Intelligent O&M In the traditional an intelligent O&M system with network must support multiple "black box" O&M mode, network clear service paths, visual service types of existing transport links, performance is separated from QoS. resources, and abundant real-time such as copper, fiber, and radio The network management system and smart QoS monitoring methods (mainly MW). Not only should it focuses on network performance and will be indispensable to a future is not aware of QoS and how network mobile backhaul network. provide TDM/ATM access for all resources are allocated. An evolved legacy 2G/3G services to preserve backhaul will allow the network to ZTE’s Any to Any MPLS Solution investments in the existing backhaul carry more diversified 3G and LTE networks, it must also be highly services and make network O&M After years of studying the mobile scalable for future use. more complex as well. Therefore, backhaul network, ZTE proposed the

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 20 special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

ZTE's Any to Any MPLS IPRAN solution represents industry- leading technical strengths. We are convinced that it will help global operators create a strong future in the LTE era.

Any to Any MPLS solution for the next- on FRC3107) function so that the LSPs. Specifically, BGP-LU and generation mobile backhaul network. network can process services only on the corresponding next-hop-self This solution relies on a seamless MPLS the end nodes at the network border are modified to learn the loopback architecture to support all applications and make the rest of the network a address of the remote end. on the existing mobile backhaul network. transport tunnel without control over ● Route filtering. The UPE receives It has the following features: and exchange with the service plane. many BGP VPN routes advertised ● Any media. Supports all access It is based on the following ideas: by the SPE and other remote nodes. media including fiber, cable, and ● Routing domain division. The It also receives labeled BGP unicast microwave. network is divided into multiple IPv4 routes as well. Therefore, the ● Any topology. Applies to all network small routing domains to accelerate SPE and NPE can be configured with topologies, such as a circular, route convergence and reduce the the prefix filtering function to filter horseshoe-shaped, or dual-uplink workload of devices within each unnecessary BGP VPN routes and network. routing domain. labeled BGP IPv4 routes in order to ● Any service. Supports all 2G, 3G, ● Layered route reflector (RR) design. avoid needless route diffusion and and 4G services; satisfies FMC On the service layer and transport lower the routing workload of evolution requirements; and provides layer, the existing devices can be the UPE. access in special scenarios, such as used as inline RRs or special devices triple play users in the fixed network, can be used as external RRs to Advantages of Any to Any wholesale, and carrier of carrier. reduce the number of BGP sessions MPLS Solution ● Any location. Allows users to access in the network and provide step-by- the network from any location and step reflection and an end-to-end Any to Any MPLS solution has the communicate with other users in VPN/PW service. When a service following advantages: any location. accesses the network, configurations ● Complete decoupling of the transport ● Any scale. Carries services on all need to be done only on two end plane and service plane. The previous small, medium, and large networks. nodes at the border. node paste, connection and label ● Any environment. Applies in ● Hierarchical LSP design. An LDP- switching among intermediate nodes all harsh environments such as based LSP is configured for each are not used any more. Service nodes thunderstorms, lightning, strong routing domain for internal use, and at the network edge are configured wind, sandstorms, and snowstorms. services within the routing domain to provide end-to-end services with Unlike previous solutions, Any to are distributed directly through the rest of the network serving as a Any MPLS solution (Fig.1) separates IGP+LDP. Services involving transport tunnel. the transport plane from the service multiple routing domains are ● Flexible service deployment. The plane. It uses the BGP-LU (based distributed through hierarchical Any to Any MPLS solution uses

21 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 special Topic

design, commissioning, diagnosis, troubleshooting, and optimization, achieve one-click distribution, locate faults rapidly, identify services 50 ms. intelligently, and analyze and control ● High scalability. Routing domain traffic automatically. division is used to logically divide a prefix filtering to eradicate the large, single MPLS-based network Summary defects of the previous solutions and into smaller isolated networks. carry multiple services through a This is more suitable for scale- With the evolution of LTE, new unified technology. out scenarios and theoretically can backhaul networks will be built and ● Rapid convergence and protection. support super-large networks in old ones will be replaced all over the This solution uses routing domain the future. world. ZTE’s Any to Any MPLS solution division and rides on IGP FC, ● Easy O&M. This solution supports represents industry-leading technical LDP FRR, BGP-PIC, and other a full range of O&M tools and strengths. We are convinced that it will technologies to provide rapid specialized ZXDNA traffic analysis help global operators create a brilliant switchover and protection within tools, to provide network planning, future in the LTE era.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 22 special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

Introducing SDN into IP RAN

By Feng Zhijian

SDN-Based IP RAN Solution logical network and simplifies IP RAN structure. ince all three major Chinese With separate control and operators obtained their 4G licenses forwarding, central control logic, IP RAN SDN Architecture in 2015, mobile internet has grown and network virtualization, SDN has S In an IP RAN, most devices are at rapidly in China. Data-oriented wireless become a crucial technology to solve the services and IP-based mobile bearer problems associated with IP RAN. the access and convergence layers that networks are irreversible trends. IP RAN, With the separate control and have wide coverage areas including which is a combination of IP and transport forwarding architecture of SDN, IP complex optical routes and fibers. The network technologies, is an important RAN can strip complicated protocol O&M workload is greatest in these areas direction for 4G LTE mobile backhaul. processing and routing calculation and involves network adjustment and from the forwarding layer into an SDN service cutover. An SDN can first be Challenges for IP RAN Development controller. This reduces network O&M introduced in these areas to ease O&M complexity and shortens the fault pressure (Fig. 1). An SDN control plane IP RAN has been deployed for many handling time as well. may coexist with the existing network years, but with the vigorous development of A centrally deployed SDN controller management plane for a certain period 4G networks, it is facing new challenges: can provide IP RAN with an end-to-end of time. The hierarchical relationships ● An IP RAN uses IP/MPLS. This makes view of services for unified control. This and differences among the forwarding the network more flexible but may simplifies network deployment, service plane, the SDN control plane, and the increase complexity. provisioning, and fault monitoring management plane are as follows: ● An IP RAN is large and has numerous and handling, and improves operation ● The forwarding devices are released protocols. This may put stress efficiency. The SDN controller also from IP signaling attachment, and on network deployment, service controls the forwarding behavior of IP an SDN agent module is added for provisioning, O&M, and fault handling. RAN in a centralized manner in order to interacting with the SDN controller. ● An IP RAN requires network realize highly flexible networking and The forwarding plane no longer cares equipment to calculate routing, discover optimally control traffic flow. This helps about how forwarding paths are topology, and generate the path. The standardize network equipment and can generated between network devices, but same requirements even apply to access effectively lower network capex. only cares about hard effects such as routers. The high cost of software and The SDN architecture enables a traffic forwarding, port efficiency, fast hardware development leads to a high virtual IP RAN that can virtualize all switching, and clock transfer. network construction cost. network elements controlled by the ● The SDN control plane is used for Therefore, it is necessary to introduce a same SDN controller into a single logic service control based on an OpenFlow new technical solution to cope with the device. This significantly reduces the extension. It discovers topology, challenges faced by IP RAN. number of network elements in the delivers service configuration, and

23 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 special Topic

helps standardize its southbound and northbound interfaces and also drives the long-term evolution of IP RAN. ● The external SDN controller fully utilizes servers and has strong service processing capability. With the cloud-based IT system, the controller can also be deployed on a virtualized cloud platform. This makes possible low cost deployment, elastic resource provision, and wide area network coverage.

ZTE’s IP RAN SDN Solution calculates the PW/LSP path. to build a separate SDN controller has ● The management plane will exist for the following advantages: Responding to needs and challenges a long time and focus on modular ● The SDN controller decouples the of IP RAN in the 4G LTE era, ZTE has functions such as NE management forwarding equipment. Network launched its IP RAN SDN solution. and flow detection. It interacts with devices primarily focus on flow This solution uses SDN virtualization the forwarding plane through the forwarding, while the controller in which massive remote devices are southbound interface, and interacts with only focuses on network topology virtualized into one router for better the NMS and third-party applications calculation and resource scheduling. management. This concentrates the through the northbound interface. The SDN controller issues commands access layer of IP RAN into a single through its southbound interface, and device, simplifies IP RAN configuration, Deploying a Separate SDN the forwarding equipment analyzes and improves automatic network Controller in IP RAN the commands and executes the deployment, operation and management. forwarding behaviors. The IP RAN SDN solution uses With an hierarchical SDN ● The separate SDN controller provides OpenFlow-based southbound interfaces architecture, it is necessary to set up network programming and service as well as an external, separate PC a separate SDN controller outside the capabilities through its northbound server as its SDN controller. The IP RAN for unified management and interface. It can open IP RAN solution fully considers the need of control of IP RAN convergence and capabilities to boost network value. smooth evolution from existing IP access routers. Using a single PC server ● The separately deployed SDN controller RAN equipment to SDN forwarding equipment, and manages to fulfill the need at the lowest possible cost. Network Management Managemant As the development of SDN is not Third-part Apps Plane Platform long, adaptation to existing services is the key to SDN commercialization. ZTE SDN Controller Control has cooperated with domestic operators Plane in developing the IP RAN SDN solution and has invited their network O&M

CSG and planning experts to research related BTS Core Forwarding Plane ASG Device applications and improve availability of

BTS CSG BSC/RNC/ the solution. ZTE is a market leader in IP MME/SGW Core RAN and will work with both upstream ASG Device and downstream enterprises to help BTS CSG operators evolve their IP RANs towards SDN. Figure 1. IP RAN SDN architecture.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 24 special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

Intelligent Backhaul Management and Optimization

By Zheng Pan

ZTE has also launched a series of worksheets, schedules services, and service tools to assist NetNumen™ U31 generates related service configuration (BN) to intelligently manage service data. The data is then transported to the s mobile data services develop, deployment, monitor traffic, and inspect PTN for service configuration via the operator networks are carrying engineering projects. These tools include configuration interface between the PTN A2G, 3G, LTE, WLAN, private PTN automatic service activation automatic service activation system and line, and enterprise services. These system, ZXTIM400 and ZXDNA. the NetNumen™ U31 server. services demand more in terms of With these tools, bearer services can be network QoS and protection mechanism. deployed efficiently, hidden network Flexible Scalability They also create new challenges risks can be detected, and the network for network resource monitoring, can be optimized to guarantee safe The PTN automatic service analysis and optimization. Therefore, operation. These tools help NetNumen™ activation system comprises service maintaining, managing and optimizing U31 (BN) implement intelligent network worksheet resolution, start-up/execution, networks in an intelligent manner have management ranging from service input/output, field description/worksheet become a pressing concern of operators. deployment to network O&M and inspection rules, system management, ZTE has launched NetNumen™ U31 optimization. and pre-configured service generation. (BN), a network management system, Through resolution by these modules, to improve network management. This PTN Automatic Service service configuration data can be product features a distributed, Activation System generated for a service worksheet. This multi-process, and modular design modular structure makes it easy for and can manage bearer devices such The PTN automatic service system functions to be improved and as SDH, MSTP, CTN, WDM/OTN, IP activation system intelligently resolves upgraded in the future. routers, and IP switches in a centralized service worksheets distributed by the way. These bearer devices cover the integrated resource management system Complete Security Management core, convergence, and access layers to generate configuration data for related Mechanism of a bearer network. NetNumen™ U31 services. The data is then delivered via (BN) is used to manage configuration, NetNumen™ U31 (BN) to PTN devices When a service worksheet distributed faults, performance, maintenance, for automatic service configuration. The by the integrated resource management paths, security, system, and reports PTN automatic service activation system system fails, the PTN automatic service to meet operational needs. It also has greatly improves service deployment activation system can handle the failed management functions at both the NE and lowers labor costs. worksheet. It records information about and network layers to greatly enhance the failed worksheet and is automatically system security and reliability as well as Covering All Service Scenarios activated to support rollback handling. network service capabilities. In a TMN When the service activation fails, the structure, NetNumen™ U31 (BN) lies at The PTN automatic service activation system can automatically roll back to the NE management layer and network system fully supports 2G, TD, TD-LTE, the configured service and ensure its management layer. and private line services. It resolves correctness.

25 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 special Topic

ZXTIM 400 can be evaluated intuitively by scoring and rating the test results. ZXTIM 400 ZXTIM 400, an intelligent inspection can provide suggestions and solutions tool, can automatically inspect, evaluate, to address network anomalies and and optimize MSTP/PTN/IPRAN hidden risks. Its high-quality intelligent networks. It analyzes network running inspection and network optimization can status, static data, and hidden network also help operators find and eliminate risks, and provides expert advice to hidden network threats and improve the handle network exceptions. This helps operation security and efficiency. operators implement regular network inspection and optimization. ZXTIM ZXDNA 400 greatly simplifies the inspection alarm event and set an alarm analysis process, improves inspection efficiency, ZXDNA is used for deep network policy for the specific KPIs of a resource. and reduces labor costs. analysis that can comprehensively ZXDNA can also provide an appropriate monitor network traffic by recording graphic for the alarm to help an operator Thorough and Intelligent Evaluation the bandwidth, delay, jitter, and packet find network problems, determine the loss of ports, ring networks, links, cause of the problem, prevent network ZXTIM 400 can thoroughly inspect tunnels, pseudo-lines, and services. congestion, and provide the basis for more than 40 MSTP network functions After analyzing the records, ZXDNA bandwidth optimization. Alarm levels and 130 PTN/IPRAN network functions determines network running status and and thresholds can be defined with covering all MSTP/PTN/IPRAN the trend for development, discovers different colors. When an alarm occurs, hardware statuses, protection, clock bandwidth bottlenecks, overloaded it can be reported via short messages synchronization, optical power and devices, and resource deterioration, or email. service configuration correctness. More plans network expansion, and takes than 20 PTN functional items are used appropriate measures to eliminate Rich Graphics to optimize network resource, security, potential risks. It provides data for QoS, and O&M. network resource optimization and ZXDNA comes with rich graphics structural adjustment. such as trend graph, pie graph, sky Fast and Efficient Inspection chart, and bar chart. It also has complete Powerful Data Analysis Capability resource indicators, such as traffic flow, It costs about 0.3 to 0.5 second to flow velocity and bandwidth utilization. inspect one item of a network element. ZXDNA uses independent data The graphics can be customized or If there are 1000 network elements each collectors and calculators to bring data configured. with 50 test items, the total inspection together by different granularities based When combined with service tools, duration may be as short as four to on the time axis for long-term storage NetNumen™ U31 (BN) provides a seven hours, depending on a computer’s and fast retrieval. ZXDNA analyzes brand-new intelligent management and hardware. ZXTIM 400 can truly improve traffic flow, hot spots, rankings and optimization solution for bearer networks. network inspection efficiency. trends for almost all network resources The solution covers the whole process and outputs complete indicators and rich of service deployment, project O&M, Diverse Test Result Outputs graphics for expansion configuration network optimization for bearer networks, as required. and greatly increases the efficiency of ZXTIM 400 supports test result service provision and O&M. It also outputs in various formats such as Real-Time Network Alarming provides data for network expansion and HTML and EXCEL. The outputs optimization. All this offers a reliable are rich in content and can be easily ZXDNA provides special alarm guarantee for business growth in the viewed. Overall network conditions analysis. Operators can customize an new situation.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 26 special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

Packet-Based Backhaul for Small Cells

By Zhang Yongjian, Zou Kaipu, and Ma Xin

pressurizes operators in the total cost of ownership (TCO). ● High dependence on environment. femtocells according to their coverage. Small cells can be used at various Small cells can be used both application scenarios. Outdoors, they indoors and outdoors. Indoors, small are mostly deployed on streets, light n the internet era, the wireless and cells serve households, offices, and poles, and walls. It is complex to backhaul networks of operators must enterprises using EPON or GPON install and maintain the required Ihave large bandwidth, be quickly (mainstream access technologies) and backhaul devices. Moreover, citizens deployed, be capable of fast service packet-based backhaul technologies advocate green life; they are unlikely provisioning, and have convenient O&M (supplementary technologies). Outdoors, to accept noise and radiation of nearby in order to provide good experience for small cells serve populous urban areas telecom devices. end users on mobile applications. by connecting to the backhaul and An outdoor environment is complex Traditional macro eNodeBs have microwave networks of macro eNodeBs and changing. The adaptability large capacity and wide coverage but are through optical fibers or cables. of backhaul devices to adverse not suitable for deploying LTE services. environments and power shortage Especially in populous urban areas, the Challenges Brought by Small Cells to affects operation stability and installation environment is complex, Backhaul Networks deployment convenience of networks. the cost is high and the maintenance is Therefore, environmental factors, such difficult. To address these issues, small The large-scale deployment of small as the power source, temperature and cells have been introduced to operators cells has created significant challenges to humidity, must be considered when and have developed rapidly in recent operators in constructing corresponding installing backhaul devices. In addition, years. Statistics from Mobile Experts backhaul networks. Although small cells small cells deployment is even more indicate that the global shipments of resemble traditional macro eNodeBs in difficult and expensive due to issues of small cells are about two million in backhaul requirements, they still bring site selection and leasing. 2014. It is estimated that this figure many new challenges to backhaul ● Diversified access services. Indoor will quadruple, reaching eight million networks. small cells carry frequent services. The by 2019. ● Large scale of small cells. Small Cell service carrying quality affects user Small cells are compact, functional, Forum predicts that a small cell has a satisfaction. A solution will have its hard and cost-effective. They can be easily four to seven times larger scale than power tested by deploying backhaul deployed and maintained. They are a macro eNodeB. The consequential networks outdoors, and likewise, will classified as microcells, picocells, and larger investment on backhaul networks have its soft power tested by deploying

27 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 special Topic

backhaul networks indoors. need to ensure precise, reliable time packet-based backhaul solution for An indoor backhaul solution handles signal transmission. small cells. not only small cell services but also ● Service vulnerability. In most cases, This solution interconnects internet, video and key account services. deployed in public environments, such ZTE’s specific small access devices Therefore, it demands large bandwidth as office buildings, stadiums, shopping to small cell base stations to meet all on the backhaul device interfaces. malls, airports, and hotels, small cells requirements of small cells on backhaul Diversified interfaces need to carry carry services more vulnerable to be networks. In the aggregation and core different services at the same time. intercepted, wiretapped, and tampered layers, ZTE’s packet-based devices It is fundamental to prioritize compared with macro eNodeBs. are used to build integral, capacious, services and ensure key indexes of Therefore, backhaul solutions are flexible and reliable end-to-end backhaul delay variation. required to ensure high security and networks for customers. ● Clock synchronization difficulty. reliability in service transmission. ZTE’s packet-based backhaul Great challenges will be brought to solution has the following advantages time signal transmission for small Packet-Based Backhaul Solution for (Fig. 1): cell services. In indoor scenarios, Small Cells ● Easy installation and maintenance. signals will be interfered by walls, it is Small cell base stations do not take up impossible to synchronize time signals To help operators to overcome the much space and connect to the access by GPS. Small cells backhaul solutions above challenges, ZTE has proposed a devices with width of 320 mm and

Pioocell

Pioocell Micocell Micocell Micocell Femtocell

Easy Installation High-Precision High Adaptability to High Reliability and Multiservice and Maintenance Synchronization Environment Security Access

Figure 1. Packet-based backhaul for small cells.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 28 special Topic: Mobile Backhaul

The packet-based backhaul solution for small cells ensures security and reliability for user services, simplifies implementation, and achieves unified

management for end-to-end services. congestion control, and access rate control, to ensure QoS for users of different levels. The solution provides protection technologies based on services, height of 1 U. account requirements. networks, interfaces, boards, and The devices support IP/MPLS and The ZXCTN 6000 provides not devices to ensure service stability MPLS-TP carrier technologies. only FE/GE and E1 interfaces but between small cell base stations The compact devices with smart also STM-N, microwave, and xDSL and aGWs. configurations are easily installed and interfaces to carry Ethernet, TDM, and ● Future-oriented smooth evolution. minimize space occupation. ATM services. Moreover, as the first In the future, networks will evolve All backhaul devices are managed by outdoor device that supports 10GE toward intelligent networking, ZTE NetNumen U31. This backhaul interfaces, the ZXCTN 6000 adapts virtualized network resources, solution provides graphical end- the packet-based backhaul solution to simplified management and to-end management over service more scenarios and creates a potential maintenance, and open application configurations, alarms, and performance platform for bandwidth upgrades of interfaces. monitoring. It also simplifies service customer networks. SDN technology is the key to achieve subscription and O&M. ● High-precision synchronization. the above goals. ZTE has designed the ● High adaptability to environment. ZXCTN 6000 supports in-band ZXCTN products based on the SDN Access devices of small cell backhaul synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) and architecture to build end-to-end SDN networks need to meet all the 1588v2 technologies as well as out- standard networks for customers. requirements of indoor and outdoor band 2 Mbits/Hz and 1PPS+PoD environments to minimize onsite technologies to synchronize network Summary restrictions. frequencies and phases for most In this solution, access devices can be customers. The packet-based backhaul solution mounted on poles and walls, installed In addition, ZTE developed the for small cells ensures security and in light boxes and cabinets, or fixed on SyncE+1588v2 solution with an reliability for user services, simplifies platforms. IP65 protection adapts the industry-leading precision of time implementation, and achieves unified interfaces to all extreme environment synchronization. This provides a management for end-to-end services to conditions. The POE function enables comprehensive synchronization solution ease network deployment and improve the devices to supply power for small for traversing third-party networks. service performance. This solution is cells if necessary. ● High reliability and security. The compatible with backhaul solutions of ● Multiservice access. Carrying mobile packet-based backhaul solution macro eNodeBs, and reduces investment services of small cells, the backhaul isolates services using the VPN to and maintenance costs for customers. In networks need to meet the requirements guarantee confidentiality for customer addition, the prospective product design of mobile eNodeB FE/GE interfaces, services and supports service-based based on the SDN architecture builds a and may provide E1/STM-N interfaces QoS mechanisms, such as traffic future-oriented network platform to meet fixed network access and key classification, priority mapping, for customers.

29 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 solution

POTN: Making a More Intelligent and Flexible Network

By Li Lin and Deng Feifei

megabytes per second. Moreover, OLT uplink requires high bandwidth bearers. With the advent of 4G, Ethernet The bandwidth of the access layer packet optical transport private line and home broadband (GE/10GE) and the core convergence network (POTN) is a future- services have been ushered into the age layer (10GE/40GE) of the original PTN proof, integrated transmission of big data. Operators are now facing network in developed cities cannot A the following challenges: bandwidth meet requirements in the big data era. technology combining packet and OTN technologies. It enhances the deficiency, network layer optimization, Operators are urgent to upgrade or performance of legacy networks, breaks and resource shortage. reform their transport networks in order down the barriers between multi-layer to provide higher bandwidth. networks, reduces network construction Bandwidth Deficiency and O&M costs, and provides Network Layer Optimization intelligent and flexible integrated The bandwidth required for 3G base service bearers. With the boom in data stations is tens of megabytes per second, The existing packet + OTN services, POTN is entering large-scale and that for 4G base stations is can be architecture is restricted in terms of commercialization. hundreds of megabytes per second. The fast service provisioning, network bandwidth of VIP customer private protection, and O&M. Therefore, POTN Challenges Faced by Legacy lines has been upgraded from two to ten has become the focus of the industry, as Networks megabytes to hundreds or thousands of it aims to simplify network layers and

Universal Switching Interfaces Comprehensive Features

E1/STM-N L1 OTN MPLS-TP

FE/GE/10GE/10GE/100GE ETH MPLS L2 VPN L3VPN

IP ODUK OTU2/3/4 Synchronization SDN

Switching Cost (Wider is more)

MSTP IP Routing Packet Switching Electrical Ethernet MPLS-TP PTN Convergence POTN Domain SONET/SDH/OTN Circuit Switching

Lambda Optical OTN Domain WDM Converged Transport Network

Figure 1. POTN architecture.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 30 Solution

develop convergent products. transmission performance on the line as packet and OTUk side, simplifies the network structure, ● completes unified cell Resource Shortage and saves network construction and exchanges of all packet and O&M costs. Thereby, POTN has ODUk sub-wavelength services As the traditional packet + OTN become a hot transport network ● implements unblocked intersection of architecture has been extended to the technology in the big data era (Fig. 1). services between line cards lower layer, various problems have POTN has the following advantages. ● supports hybrid transmission emerged, including high investment of any proportion of packet and cost, large equipment room space, fast High Bandwidth OTUk services. resource consumption, and difficult The hybrid board on the line side service scheduling. POTN, which With the large-scale deployment of the POTN, which transmits colored simplifies network layers and optimizes of 4G, access bandwidth is being NxOTUk optical interface signals, transport network resources, is therefore increased, and data traffic is growing combines packet and OTN technologies. introduced. To address the problem of exponentially. Operators have strong Packet services access the universal fiber resource shortage that operators demands for high bandwidth. Currently, switch through a packet interface board, are facing, POTN combines packet and the capacity of POTN on the line and CBR data and traditional STM OTN technologies, which leverages the side has reached 100 GB, and can be services implement ODU mapping large capacity of OTN and saves fiber expanded to 400 GB with specific directly before they are transmitted to resource. technologies. In the future, with the universal switch. Packet services technology innovation, POTN will have and ODUk sub-wavelength services Intelligent and Flexible POTNs greater interface abilities to improve can be dispatched at the line card on the network bearing capabilities and meet same hybrid line side, which enables ICT enterprises, including ZTE, are demands for high bandwidth. exchanges of any proportion of packet promoting transport and bearer network and OTU services (Fig. 2). The PIC technologies. POTN is a new packet Unified Intersected Scheduling module multiplexes signals to OTUk transmission technology developed in colored optical signals and then outputs recent years. By combining packet and The unified cell switching matrix is the signals. Different services can be OTN technologies, POTN increases the kernel of the forwarding plane for transmitted by different ODUflexes so the ability to bear multiple services, the POTN. The matrix: that the ODUflexes are isolated from enhances interface capacity and ● provides various service interfaces, such each other. With the POTN technology,

NNI NNI Mapping

Hybrid Hybrid PW/LSP NxOTUk NxOTUk ODUflex PKT P PKT F F P CBR I ODUflex I I I C OTUk C C PW/LSP ODU C ODU ODUflex

Universal Switch Flexible Bandwidth

OTN

STM-N/GE Rigid CBR GE/10GE F F ODU PKT I I Mapper POTN C C Statistical Multiplex

Figure 2. Unified switching matrix and hybrid line card.

31 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 solution

CBR and STM services can be directly mapped to rigid pipelines of the OTN and statistical multiplexing system and controller, a collaborative elastic pipelines that are based on layer is added for unified collaboration, packet services. therefore achieving the SDN evolution OTN, it will be implemented in the core By combining packet transmission of the entire PTN network. aggregation layer. and OTN channel scheduling With the centralized control, the POTN interprets a virtualized capabilities, POTN achieves a three- SDN controller can gain the global transport network solution in the SDN dimensional transport pipeline network topology and status, which era. POTN can be used for trunk bearer, scheduling system. This can reduce facilitates global optimization, metropolitan mobile backhaul services, network congestion and improve and provide end-to-end network metropolitan OLT uplink home multi-service bearing capacity and deployment, security, and detection. broadband services, and metropolitan service quality. Moreover, the SDN controller can private line and network services. centralize control in multi-layer In December 2013, ZTE officially Multi-layer Network Architecture networks, and implement collaboration launched the first POTN smooth Convergence and optimization of multi-layer and evolution solution. In August 2014, the multi-domain networks. In addition, POTN-based ZXCTN 6500 completed By using the SDN-oriented control after being managed and integrated by tests during the concentrated purchase architecture, POTN achieves separation the centralized SDN controller, network of China Mobile and was commercially of control, forwarding and application. resources can be virtualized. That is, It also: the coarse granularity POTN resources trialed by Jiangsu Mobile, Shanxi ● provides open northbound interfaces to are virtualized into on-demand network Mobile, Hunan Mobile, and Jiangxi the external devices fragmentations, so as to provide Mobile. In December 2014, POTN ● enhances network intelligence with services to upper-layer applications was put into commercial use by the centralized network management through standardized interfaces. Suzhou Mobile. In 2014, the POTN- system and controller based ZXONE 9700 ranked first in the ● simplifies multi-layer network O&M Network Positioning and concentrated purchase of China Telecom ● solves problems with devices Application Scenarios for national backbone networks, docking and coordination between accounting for 40% of the market multiple vendors. POTN is an end-to-end solution share. Major operators have begun the For hundreds of thousands of pieces for the entire network. It can be scale deployments of POTN, marking of PTN equipment, the evolution can widely used in the core, aggregation, maturity of the POTN technology. be implemented through centralized and access layers of bearer networks. During the 2015 Mobile World Congress network management and control. For With increasingly high bandwidth of newly built equipment, controllers the aggregation layer and inadequate Shanghai, POTN has gained widespread are added for centralized control over equipment room, POTN will be first concern in the industry, and has become standard interfaces. At the upper layer used in the metropolitan aggregation an inevitable trend of the transport of the centralized network management layer. For cities without a metropolitan network evolution.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 32 Success Stories

AIS Selects Hybrid IP RAN for Full-Service Development By Hu Junjie Requirements

According to its market positioning and future development trends, AIS is seeking a way out for mobile backhaul Challenges networks and finally focuses on the following points: In the 2G era, AIS had to lease ● multiservice bearer capabilities. frequency bands from state-owned As an emerging mobile operator in operators for wireless services. When Thailand, AIS lacks rich fixed line upgrading from traditional 2G to 3G resources. However, the transition IS, the largest mobile operator services, the original underlying SDH from mobile operator to full-service in Thailand, has built 15,400 devices could not adapt to new 3G operator is inevitable for AIS. In the Abase stations and has a service models because of rigid pipes, future, IP RAN will carry high-value, subscriber base of 29.3 million (52% narrow bandwidth, and low forwarding multiservice voice and data traffic. of the market). Formerly controlled by rates. During the network upgrade, ● highly reliable networks. AIS is a Shin Corporation, AIS started operating AIS was even forced to roll out time- leader in Thailand’s mobile market, the first analog network in Thailand based 2G access charges and traffic- and its network quality is the first in 1990. Since it was listed on the based 3G access charges to make up priority in terms of improving the Thai Stock Exchange in 1991, AIS has for defects in the 3G mobile backhaul. company’s reputation. Therefore, undergone 20 years of development. However, with the exponential increase AIS must try to improve network After Singapore Telecom International in 3G subscribers, AIS has had to KPIs, ensure high priority services (STI) Pte Ltd., the parent company of build a large-capacity mobile backhaul for key accounts, and meet the SingTel acquired the shares of AIS from network that is easy to maintain in order carrier-class switching requirements Thaksin’s family, SingTel has become to secure its leading position and first- in the event of any bearer the largest shareholder of AIS, and the class user experience in Thailand. In network failure. business operations of AIS have become response to this need, AIS has been ● smooth evolution. Opex saving, more international. busy preparing a technical team. spare parts inventory reduction, and

33 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 success Stories

equipment investment protection are on transmission or dynamic IP/MPLS NetNumen™ U31 uses SDH-like the common goals for operators, who that is compatible with MAN. ZTE’s service management, which helps need to adapt to rapid technological innovative hybrid IP RAN solution AIS transmission team smoothly development. incorporates MPLS-TP’s static tunnels upgrade its MSTP to IP RAN. The ● efficient time transfer capabilities. and PW stability as well as IP/MPLS’s IP RAN NMS allows AIS to easily There are clear requirements for dynamic BGP flexibility. This represents manage 2G, 3G, LTE, and Wi-Fi clock performance. Although GPS a new era for future mobile backhaul traffic and monitor the traffic on is a primary choice, GPS coverage evolution. The solution has the following a real-time basis. It also supports has not yet available in some advantages: warehouse operations for easy data scenarios such as subways and ● field-proven L2VPN and L3VPN query, collection and analysis. skyscrapers because labor costs and (HoVPN). The popular L2VPN + ● smooth evolution to LTE. The hybrid equipment room rentals are rising. L3VPN solution has been deployed IP RAN has a flat architecture and Therefore, operators are pressing for for IP RAN worldwide, and nearly takes into account in the initial 3G clock transfer over mobile backhaul 100,000 HoVPN devices have been networks. deployed on global mobile backhaul network design the evolution to LTE. networks. These can meet the needs It also uses seamless migration to Proposals of mainstream customers for both protect services from damage. AIS narrowband and broadband access. obtained an LTE license in 2015, and Considering the real needs of AIS, The solution helps AIS not only the evolution of its bearer network ZTE has established a bearer network learn mature O&M experience from only involves a basic bandwidth team to come up with innovative overseas but also transform itself to a upgrade, in other words, easy bearer products and solutions. full-service operator. upgrade and reconstruction at the Innovations cover the original pure ● flexible MS-PW and DNI-PW. The wireless side. PTN architecture, IP RAN service solution is optimal for L2VPN With the efficient engineering of product, and finally the world’s first services required by key accounts. after-sales teams and rapid deployment hybrid IP RAN bearer solution. This It allows traditional SDH TDM of equipment and services, ZTE has solution combines PTN’s stability, services to be smoothly swapped to quickly launched the hybrid IP RAN easy maintenance, and closeness to IP RAN. The solution has distinct solution for AIS in Thailand. The traditional transmission and O&M advantages in terms of fault isolation solution has brought superior user with IP RAN’s flexibility, efficiency because it can differentiate experience and high-speed service and self-healing capabilities and can intra-net faults from inter-net faults. processing capabilities, laying a solid protect AIS’s continued investment in This makes bearer networks more foundation for booming development multiservice networks. AIS chose ZTE’s channelized and simplified. of mobile apps. AIS has attached more hybrid IP RAN solution for its flexible ● stable fault protection. The solution deployment and reliable, field-proven has the stability of static MPLS-TP importance to service development commercial multiservice core devices. tunnels and creates a unique opportunities created by the solution Since the IP technology has been MPLS-TP fault propagation for and has established a wholly owned introduced into mobile backhaul dynamic BGP convergence failure. It subsidiary to develop key accounts, networks, major global operators have uses a detection technology to ensure urban Wi-Fi, and dedicated line been concerned with the choice of carrier-class switching protection for services. With the help of ZTE, AIS is PTN and IP RAN: whether to choose each service in the network. making solid steps towards being a static PTN management that focuses ● unified network management. ZTE’s full-service operator.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 34 Success Stories

SLK Builds Information Highway

By Yuan Zhibing

owned subsidiary, a mobile service covering more than 2000 indoor and ri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is the player operating both GSM outdoor sites and over two and a half national ICT solutions provider and WCDMA networks), SLT has years of construction. Of all SLT’s Sand leading broadband and become an all-service operator in Sri landmark projects for fixed broadband backbone infrastructure services Lanka that provides fixed, mobile, and construction, this one has the highest provider in Sri Lanka. SLT has a user data services. contract amount, the largest number base of more than six million and has As early as 2011, SLT started a of devices and sites, and the largest a 90% share of the fixed line market in national network modernization project number of fixed broadband access users. Sri Lanka. By the end of 2014, SLT had called i-Sri Lanka which was designed It is also a milestone project for the attracted nearly 1.15 million fixed line to provide high-speed broadband Sri Lankan government to achieve its users. SLT began developing CDMA services to the whole country, improve national broadband plan. WLL users in 2006, and its WLL user national informatization construction, SLT had to weed out many aging base grew to 550,000 at the end of 2014. and contribute to the country’s PSTN devices in service for more than SLT has also expanded its broadband economic growth. 10 years that had high maintenance costs market and so far has about 500,000 In July 2011, STL and ZTE and failed to offer higher bandwidth. ADSL broadband users. Since its signed an exclusive contract for a Therefore, SLT invited bids for MSAN acquisition of Mobitel (SLT’s wholly 600,000-line MSAN Phase-4 project, Phase-5 construction (650,000 lines in

35 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 success Stories

total) in June 2013. ZTE secured a 2/3 ZTE’s multiservice access in the northern Indian Ocean and share of the bid in January 2014. node (MSAN) solution oriented to separated from India by the Palk Strait. During the year of project PSTN/NGN/IMS can meet operator The climate of Sri Lanka is typically implementation, ZTE impressed SLT demands for integrated broadband and tropical. Its hot, humid, and rainy for its fast delivery, excellent equipment narrowband network construction. environment poses great challenges to performance, and rapid response and The solution incorporates advanced IP, the deployment of the MSAN access again won 70% share of the MSAN voice, xDSL and xPON technologies platform. ZTE has customized moisture Phase-5 bid for capacity expansion. and can help SLT build an integrated and waterproof, heat-resistant outdoor As emerging IP internet services service access platform that provides a closures to help SLT successfully deploy have developed rapidly, cheap IP phones variety of broadband and narrowband MSAN outdoors. have penetrated traditional TDM. The access modes, such as ADSL, ADSL2, convenient mobility of 2G and 3G ADSL2+, VDSL2, SHDSL, POTS, Reducing O&M Costs networks and their great varieties of ISDN, DDN, xPON and Ethernet. services are also posing huge challenges ZTE’s MSAN solution not only for traditional fixed line services. It Integrated Fiber and Copper provides an integrated fiber and copper costs much to maintain aging traditional Access Platform for Smooth access platform but also enables TDM switches and several service Evolution to FTTx effective NE management via a unified access platforms, and new services NMS. Its line detection system can are difficult to be implemented on the ZTE’s MSAN solution provides accurately locate network faults and traditional TDM platforms. However, an integrated fiber and copper access reduce O&M costs. users are increasingly demanding platform that allows smooth evolution to high-speed internet access. All this FTTx so that SLT can deploy MSAN in Green and Energy Efficient is giving rise to a revolution in the its next-generation optical network. This Innovations traditional fixed-line telecom industry complies with SLT’s need for smooth and many operators are turning to IP- network evolution and also protects ZTE’s MSAN solution uses various based integrated bearer access and existing network investment. green innovations, including smart high-speed broadband services. SLT feeder, higher density ASIC chips, and is no exception. SLT has to have an Tailor-Made Outdoor Closures for speed adjustable fans. These innovations integrated service access platform that Special Climate make each port consume 30% less can carry both traditional and high- power on average than others in the speed broadband services. Sri Lanka is an island located industry. The SLT annual report for 2014 showed that the power consumption of Customer Base Growth—Broadband (No.) its MSAN project continued to decrease

540,000 year by year. The report also showed that SLT’s 15.7% 450,000 operating profit for 2014 rose by 8.5% year on year, and its broadband user 360,000 base grew by 15.7% year on year to reach 500,000 (Fig. 1). ZTE has been 270,000 highly praised by SLT for its efficient demand response, stable equipment 180,000 operation, prompt logistical delivery, fast

90,000 networking capability, and satisfactory after-sales service. During the MSAN project, ZTE has become SLT’s 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 most valuable and trusted partner for Source: SLT Annual Report for 2014 integrated service access solutions. Figure 1. SLT customer base growth in 2014.

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 36 Press Clipping

China to Get ‘Four Times Faster’ Pre5G Internet in 2016 amid Premier’s Push for Tech Development

16 July, 2015 Source: South China Morning Post

undreds of millions of Chinese mobile phone users will have Haccess to much faster internet as soon as the first half of next year, thanks to a key technology development with strong support from the central government to significantly improve internet speeds. Maggie Cui, vice president in charge of wireless operation at ZTE, told the South China Morning Post that ZTE has been working with China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile phone operator, to test so-called “pre5G” connections, which could be more than four times faster than current 4G mobile internet. “There is still some way to go before we can have a global recognized 5G standard but I think we can apply some mature advanced technology to existing 4G network before we officially enter the 5G era,” Cui said on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai. If successful, China could take the lead in pre5G and later 5G technology development as top Chinese leaders including premier Li Keqiang have shown their frustration over slow Maggie Cui, vice president in charge of wireless operation at ZTE internet speeds that they believe could hurt national economic growth and

37 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES OCT 2015 press Clipping

with telecoms firms in Germany and Australia to jointly push for “pre5G” and eventually 5G technology development. ZTE’s tie-up with China Mobile on “pre5G” technology is an exclusive deal for now but Cui said the firm will not ZTE is also working with telecoms firms rule out the possibility of working with the other two major state-owned mobile in Germany and Australia to jointly network operators in the future. Such a joint effort between ZTE and push for “pre5G” and eventually 5G China Mobile has won support from the technology development. government, said Cui, partly because it meets premier Li’s “Internet Plus” strategy to push for faster integration of traditional sectors and new digital services so that the government can meet its goal for industrial upgrade and economic restructuring. industrial restructuring. ZTE has touted its “pre5G” technology “In the long run, if China can master “China is the world’s biggest mobile as providing faster speeds on 4G the ‘pre5G’ technology well, it also lays phone market, but internet speeds are networks. It sees this as an intermediate the foundation in the future for China to ranked worse than 80th in the world. step between 4G and 5G, which the stay on top of 5G technology on the world Our information infrastructure is global wireless industry is hoping to have stage,” said Cui. backward,” Li said during a cabinet up and running by 2020. The company Mobile phone users will not need to meeting in May, according to the official has said it will spend around US$220 do anything to take advantage of the new Xinhua news agency. million globally on 5G and other mobile “pre5G” network once it is implemented, Li said state-owned mobile network communication technologies between she said, adding that China Mobile could service providers should aim to increase 2015 and 2018. also expect higher data traffic from speeds for urban users by 40%. This week, ZTE signed a deal with the upgrade. Following Li’s complaints, the nation’s South Korean telecoms provider KT Corp China Mobile chairman Xi Guohua big three state-owned mobile network to form a strategic partnership to jointly agreed. “The faster the network is, the operators―China Mobile, China Unicom research the commercialization of 5G more traffic users will use,” he said during and China Telecom―all announced technology. This deal followed ZTE’s a keynote speech at MWC Shanghai. new plans to cut mobile data fees and to agreement last week with Japanese firm Users of 3G and 4G smartphones in increase mobile internet speed. However, SoftBank to bring its “pre5G” technology China are on pace to make up two-thirds local internet users have raised concerns to Japan. of the country’s mobile connections by about whether the telecoms giants were Domestically, ZTE and China Mobile the end of this year, according to a recent really taking the government’s push for have completed their first test-run for industry study. faster internet speed seriously. “pre5G” network and China Mobile could Smartphones will account for 913 “Clearly, many users feel their demand choose some top-tier cities where demand million, or 68 per cent, of the estimated for faster internet has gone beyond what for faster internet speed is high to launch 1.3 billion mobile connections in the existing 4G network can offer. In the “pre5G” service first, said Cui. mainland China, industry association many top-tier cities where you have far “For example, in Shanghai’s Lujiazui GSMA said this week. more users gathering in one specific area, demand of users there for fast mobile In June, China Mobile said it location and they all get on the internet, internet must be much higher than in other expected to reach 300 million 4G our existing 4G network could easily meet second-tier or third-tier cities,” she said. subscribers by the end of this year. its peak,” Cui explained. Internationally, ZTE is also working

OCT 2015 ZTE TECHNOLOGIES 38 Press Clipping