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SCMP Reporter

New technology can support more non-voice services for mobile companies
Mobile telecommunications operators are increasingly deploying new 'softswitch' technology to transform their traditional networks to internet-based platforms.
The move shortens the time needed for the introduction  of new multimedia services for 3G or even 4G networks,  according to Ronald Raffensperger, the director of core network marketing at Huawei Technologies.
The Shenzhen-based telecommunications vendor has  shipped more than 1 billion licences for its all-internet protocol-based mobile  softswitch products since it entered the market in 2003.
China Mobile, Vodafone Group, Telefonica and operators from about 100 countries are among Huawei's customers.
The  softswitch, which replaces the circuit switch network infrastructure, allows operators to use internet-based networks to efficiently carry  voice and data over diverse routes and shared facilities.
Huawei, which competes with foreign equipment vendors such as Nokia Siemens Network, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, is the leader in the mobile softswitch server market with a 43.7 per cent share  in 2007, or 405 million licences.
Nokia Siemens and Ericsson ranked second and third respectively, according to industry research firm In-Stat.
The global demand for the  equipment was expected to grow 3.8 per cent this year  to 1.05  billion licences. Shipments will shrink from 2011 as the market becomes saturated.
Mr Raffensperger said China Mobile, the country's biggest mobile operator, was aggressively transforming its mobile network to the IP platform to meet demand for the coming 3G mobile service.
'The softswitch platform can be deployed in 2G, 3G and even 4G networks in the future,' he said.
'The platform is technology-neutral and can operate to support an all-data packet service, rather than just a voice-centric one.  China Mobile had spent a lot on this since 2004.'
After the completion of the softswitch deployment, China Mobile saw  operating cost reductions. For example, the average power consumption of a mobile switch centre was reduced  63 per cent, while operating expense savings of 20 per cent were realised.
These reductions allowed China Mobile to penetrate the vast rural market, which resulted in significant  growth. By using  a 2G and 3G-shared IP-based core network, China Mobile had completed an important phase of network control and service transmission in 3G infrastructure.
'Previously, under traditional analogue technology, network deployment composed of several hierarchies including local, regional and national switching centres. For an all-IP network, calls can run together on different layers of the network to make the transmission faster.'
Mr Raffensperger said the all-IP network infrastructure could handle all voice calls using two to four mobile softswitch centres, compared with more than 100 switching centres in the analogue network infrastructure.
The softswitch platform aids provision  of more  non-voice services such as ring-back tones and a video-calling service. Fixed-line operators can implement a video-calling ring-back tone, which enables phone users to look at the caller's assigned video when connecting phone calls.
'The all-IP platform also enables  quicker development and deployment of IP-based multimedia services beyond voice and internet data,' Mr Raffensperger said.
'After China Mobile completed the migration, the next growth will be in India, Indonesia and Malaysia.  While most of the operators in western Europe have already completed the migration, the growth will also come to eastern Europe,' he said.



Operators take the softswitch route