Quortus has added LTE EPC support to its SoftCore software mobile core product. SoftCore, as its name suggests, is a software iteration of core network functionality.
Quortus’ pitch is that whereas operators previously looking to augment their core networks would have to use proprietary hardware they can now opt to load Quortus’ technology on to commodity hardware without negatively impacting performance.
Potential use cases for this include Tier 2 operators and the possibility of a hosted core model for smaller operators and MVNOs.
However, the deployment of core network functionality at the edge of networks may also support metrocell and small cell rollouts By keeping a lot of the decision making and signal flows away from centralised core elements, backhaul costs can be lowered and signalling flows can be reduced, as cell handover, traffic signalling and circuit switch fall back requests can be managed at the edge instead of traversing to the core.
There’s also a services element to this edge based intelligence. Core functionality could be used to provide enterprise services such as mobile PBX-type serivces, as well as supporting h caching of applications that benefit from localised information – such as mapping.
“With LTE deployments gathering pace, data volumes are set to ramp up and place significant strain on the mobile network core,” said Andy Odgers, CEO Quortus. “The answer lies in creating an altogether smarter network with distributed core intelligence rather than centralised in the traditional core. SoftCore solves this problem by putting full core functionality in a compact software application that allows core network deployments to be done anywhere at a fraction of the cost.”
SoftCore’s Evolved Packet Core includes the Mobility Management Entity (for eNodeB mobility control), the Home Subscriber Server (for local user management) and the Packet Gateway (through which IP packet data is placed directly on to the LAN/WAN).
