Wireless Carrier Benefits from NGN Core

Client Background:
Operating in over 50 US markets, this wireless carrier provides innovative unlimited services targeted at the urban youth niche market

Service Type:
 •IP NGN Design and Implementation
 •Project Management
 •Managed Services

Customer Since:
 •2002

Results:
 •One of the first-ever nationwide converged services networks
 •Future-ready for subscriber growth and new services
 •Lowered operating expenses by more than 85%

Objective: Offer High-quality, Low-cost Services that Wireless Giants Cannot Match

As a new-comer in a crowded wireless marketplace, this young wireless provider knew it needed something more than a “me-too” approach to service delivery if it was going to grow at the rate investors hoped and the wireless provider’s executives knew was possible. The revolutionary wireless company decided to win market share with the value of unlimited anytime call and text message services at a low, flat rate. The company targeted the niche urban youth market for these service plans.

Challenge: Offering Low-cost Service Plans While Still Making a Profit

Delivering the latest services to subscribers on unlimited calling plans at low, flat rates proved to be a challenge on a circuit-switched ATM network that was expensive to operate and relied on PSTN for long distance and 800-number calls into service centers. Operational costs and toll charges were eating into profits. Additionally, new service offerings were limited and slow to market. The company’s Data Network Manager knew a network overhaul was needed. “We knew there must be more efficient methods of transporting network traffic, we just weren’t sure what it was or how to get there,” said the Data Network Manager.

Because the carrier did not have the manpower or expertise on its IT staff to handle this network project in house, it turned to Network Insight to help design and build a network core capable of carrying high volumes of IP voice and data traffic efficiently with little-to-no latency.

Network Insight also realized that building a new core was only half the battle; since the company had an existing ATM network with current customers, a smooth migration to the new network was equally imperative for success. “We’ve seen service providers build cutting- edge networks but neglect the migration aspect,” said Erin Melton Network Insight Project Manager. “Without a well-planned migration, a service provider will lose existing subscribers and potentially gain a tarnished reputation which will negate the advantages of the new network.”

Solution: Seamlessly Migrate Existing Users to New NGN Core Superhighway with Converged Voice and Data Traffic

"We knew there must be more efficient methods of transporting network traffic, we just weren’t sure what it was or how to get there. Network Insight envisioned the right network design for our needs."

-Data Network Manager
National Wireless Carrier

Network Insight and the wireless provider’s IT team came up with a novel idea for early 2002. The team implemented a full-IP NGN core, converging the voice and data networks onto one uniform IP protocol network, that would lower operational and capital expenditures and speed time-to-market of new services. This NGN core also eliminated the need for the PSTN due to capabilities of NGN devices such as a softswitch and IP-to-IP gateways that switch call traffic and connect directly to the Internet or other VoIP providers. The provider was able to re-route 800-number calls, bypassing the PSTN, which yielded huge cost savings by doing away with toll charges associated with the PSTN.

To support the traffic volumes anticipated by the carrier, increased throughput and processing speeds of core routers were ensured with a strategically placed Gigabit Ethernet Backbone or “Superhighway”.

When it came time to migrate to the new network, Network Insight’s engineering and project management teams developed a successful timetable and circuit provisioning plan for each point of connectivity in the new Superhighway.

Result: Benefits of IP NGN Architecture

The result was one of the first-ever nationwide IP Next Generation Networks where the latest IP services can be easily added and quickly delivered to subscribers: including VoIP and EVDO. The new design took the wireless provider from a collapsed-core network, with multi-functioning routers, to a more scalable and efficient 3-tier Next Generation Network. Latency was minimized by reducing the number of ‘hops’ required for traffic to move from site-to-site. Bandwidth capacity was increased to an 0C12 network with OC48 future capabilities. By eliminating domestic toll charges, the wireless provider decreased operating costs by almost 85%. Savings were even larger when international toll charges to Mexico were bypassed.

The new network is so efficient and reliable that the carrier decided to even migrate its own corporate traffic over to the Superhighway, allowing for internal video conferencing and point-to-point connections. To date, this is the only mobile network operator to converge its corporate and subscriber networks, widening the efficiency gap even more which further helps stay ahead of the competition.

Today this carrier, very successfully, delivers on its revolutionary business plan of offering simple and affordable wireless solutions to urban youth. With millions of customers, this growing wireless provider has a presence in over 50 markets with more planned in the near future.

Network Insight: Pioneers in IP NGN Network Design and Deployment

Network Insight is a pioneer in building the IP NGN core and complementary network infrastructure for service providers to offer the latest service offerings to end users. Through years of experience, Network Insight has developed a unique series of professional services designed to migrate, or build new, a complete IP Next Generation Network running advanced IP services. Regardless of the current state of your network - Network Insight can help you meet your IP network goals.

Download a PDF of the case study (106 K)