Wifi Revolution

Sumitomo Electric Networks Inc. has chosen the Starent Access Service Network Gateway (News - Alert) (ASN) and Home Agent as part of their mobile WiMAX solution. The access independent ST16 Intelligent Mobile Gateway with ASN and home agent services will be delivered to Suminet as the access component of their end-to-end mobile WiMAX offering.

An initial field trial with a mobile WiMAX operator in Japan is already in the works. The gateway concentrates subscriber traffic from base stations, and provides mobility services to mobile IP-aware and simple IP subscriber access devices. It also processes subscriber control and bearer data traffic.

The ASN Gateway connects to a home agent, which serves as an anchoring point for subscriber sessions as subscribers move through the network. The Starent ST16 platform enables both services to be integrated on the same chassis for deployment flexibility and low operational expenditures. They may also be distributed on separate nodes if mobility between different access technologies is needed.

Japanese operators have begun mobile WiMAX trials, and several operators have already applied for field trial licenses. Suminet has a number of key customer relationships in place, which will be the targets for their end-to-end mobile WiMAX network solution.

“Suminet is committed to delivering our customers a superior solution for Mobile WiMAX,” said Takashi Suzuki, director of Suminet. “Starent was a logical choice for us as they are the market and technology leader in mobile core solutions.”

”Mobile WiMAX is a compelling next-generation broadband solution that should further enhance subscribers’ ability to access multimedia services on the go,” said Ashraf Dahod, president and CEO of Starent Networks. “We are very pleased to be working with a significant partner in Suminet to address the Japanese market and to enhance subscriber capabilities with our industry leading ST16 platform.”

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Laura Stotler writes about IP Communications and related topics for TMCnet. She has covered VoIP and related technologies for seven years, contributing to Internet Telephony magazine and TMCnet, and as a freelance writer. To see more articles, please visit: Laura Stotler’s columnist page.

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