Acme Packet recently announced it will collaborate with Accuris Networks (News - Alert) to launch a Wi-Fi Mobile Interworking Solution for network operators.

This innovative solution will allow mobile operators to extend network capacity and network coverage to Wi-Fi, and offer carrier-grade security and value-added services (VAS) to customers even when not connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Accuris Networks specializes in roaming interworking, device management and convergence solutions.

"Acme Packet's (News - Alert) partnership with Accuris Networks enables us to deliver enhanced capabilities for service providers that are enhancing their Wi-Fi networks to become true, fully integrated, extensions of the mobile network,” said Seamus Hourihan, senior vice president, corporate strategy, Acme Packet. “Service providers can now use Wi-Fi with the full confidence of secure integration with their 3G and 4G networks."

Through this partnership, the Net-Net Security Gateway (News - Alert) from Acme Packet and the AccuROAM platform from Accuris Network will together provide secure voice and data services combined with end user authentication as customers move between Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G networks.

Currently in a trial period with tier one carriers in North and South America, the solution will be demonstrated at the 2012 Enterprise Ireland Pavilion at International CTIA (News - Alert), scheduled for May 8 and May 10.

The solution is the first of its kind in offering a means for operators to completely extend current packet data services, along with all integration aspects to Wi-Fi and LTE (News - Alert). The solution is based on standards, and comes with a guarantee for service access and fluent migration for accessing Wi-Fi and LTE networks.

“Mobile operators are facing significant challenges; they need to meet the demand for mobile broadband access, yet continue to increase revenues,” said Aidan Dillon, CTO for Accuris Networks.  “With Acme Packet's Net-Net SG, SD and SMX products working together with our AccuROAM platform, we can now offer a valuable solution that extends existing data, voice and messaging services onto multiple access technologies networks.

The solution’s cellular to Wi-Fi/LTE interworking gateway provides a number of tools which operators may use to access additional bandwidth. The solution can be integrated with existing policy, charging and provisioning systems to offer upheld delivery on LTE and Wi-Fi.

“Full carrier-grade integration of our solutions into existing cellular networks means that carriers can successfully offload to Wi-Fi, not just for authentication and data but for all the services users currently use such as charging, policy, voice, messaging and roaming," Dillon added.

The Wi-Fi offload and roaming services can be accessed from client-based smartphones and client-less Wi-Fi access points as well. In order to protect confidentiality of the service and subscriber data, it carries secure authentication and data traffic transport features.