Flat IP architecture provides a way to identify devices using symbolic names, unlike the
hierarchical
A hierarchy (from Greek: , from , 'president of sacred rites') is an arrangement of items (objects, names, values, categories, etc.) that are represented as being "above", "below", or "at the same level as" one another. Hierarchy is an important ...
architecture such as that used in "normal"
IP address
An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label such as that is connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.. Updated by . An IP address serves two main functions: network interface ident ...
es. This form of system is of more interest to mobile
broadband
In telecommunications, broadband is wide bandwidth data transmission which transports multiple signals at a wide range of frequencies and Internet traffic types, that enables messages to be sent simultaneously, used in fast internet connections. ...
network operators.
Flat IP architecture
To meet customer demand for
real-time data Real-time data (RTD) is information that is delivered immediately after collection. There is no delay in the timeliness of the information provided. Real-time data is often used for navigation or tracking. Such data is usually processed using real- ...
applications delivered over mobile broadband networks, wireless operators are turning to flat IP network architectures.
;The key benefits of flat IP architectures are:
*lower costs
*reduced system latency
*decoupled radio access and core network evolution
;Key players in recognizing these advantages are:
*Mobile Networks
*3rd Generation Partnership Project (
3GPP)
*3GPP2 standards organizations
*
WiMAX
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a family of wireless broadband communication standards based on the IEEE 802.16 set of standards, which provide physical layer (PHY) and media access control (MAC) options.
The WiMAX ...
Forum.
;Key considerations of Flat IP Architectures for Mobile Networks include:
Advanced base stations that integrate radio control, header compression, encryption, call admission control, and policy enforcement with IP/
Ethernet
Ethernet () is a family of wired computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 198 ...
interfaces.
Base station routers will provide simpler, lower-latency 3GPP/2 networks. Key emerging players are:
Alcatel-Lucent
Alcatel–Lucent S.A. () was a French–American global telecommunications equipment company, headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. It was formed in 2006 by the merger of France-based Alcatel and U.S.-based Lucent, the latter being a su ...
,
Airvana
Airvana was acquired by CommScope in 2015. Prior to that, the company was an independent provider of small cells and femtocells based on fourth generation ( 4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and third-generation (3G) CDMA2000 EV-DO mobile broadband ...
, and Ubiquisys.
For WCDMA networks, the Direct Tunnel Architecture is emerging as the most viable evolution path. Currently, all major vendors support Direct Tunnel, where the SGSN is bypassed on the user plane. Even further advancement is Nokia-Siemens's Internet High-Speed Packet Access (
HSPA
HSPA may refer to:
* High Speed Packet Access, a mobile broadband technology
* Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association
Education
* High School Proficiency Assessment
* Humphrey School of Public Affairs
The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Aff ...
architecture which also removes the RNC from the data path, thereby simplifying the architecture and reducing latencies even further.
The WiMax Access Services Network was the first standardized IP-centric mobile network architecture establishing principles now being adopted across the industry. Eventually, HSPA and LTE networks have been chosen by most operators as their preferred network technology.
See also
* 3GPP Long Term Evolution
In telecommunications, long-term evolution (LTE) is a standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals, based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA standards. It improves on those standards' capacity and speed by usi ...
* All IP
The next-generation network (NGN) is a body of key architectural changes in telecommunication core and access networks. The general idea behind the NGN is that one network transports all information and services (voice, data, and all sorts of med ...
References
External links
TcpIpGuideElectroSmartAlcatel LucentiPhone IMEI CheckerUbiquisysAirvanaEricsson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flat Ip
Mobile telecommunications standards
3GPP standards