30-07-2012, 02:54 PM
Wi-Fi Seamless Offload
[attachment=29539]
Introduction
The number of wireless subscribers accessing mobile data services continues to increase. Third Generation, or 3G, has been adopted and gained traction rapidly due to a variety of developments, including the:
• Wide-spread availability of mobile broadband services using USB modems and data cards at affordable prices
• Increasing penetration of 3G-enabled smartphones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry phones and Android phones
• Plethora of smartphone applications
• Flat rate plans
• Widespread deployment and coverage of 3G data networks
These developments will continue to drive the increase of mobile data traffic volume. However, they could also create challenges for 3G operators in supporting traffic growth, particularly when licensed spectrum is limited.
In order to cope with this traffic growth, operators can use traditional mechanisms to expand network capacity. But these often entail high cost investments. Since data service value is detached from the traffic volume, it creates pressure on the deployment costs. The operator challenge is in developing pricing models that maximize revenue per MB and deploying networks that minimize cost per MB. In this environment, intelligent resource management provides a cost-effective way to support the data traffic growth by optimizing network use, balancing the network load, lowering network congestion, and delaying CAPEX investments.
Since WLAN is widely available at home and various hotspots, and is also in a number of 3G devices, a mechanism that offloads data traffic from 3G to Wi-Fi is very compelling to operators that want to minimize data costs and make better use of their assets.
This paper is focused on a solution called 3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload, which enables seamless handover of data traffic between 3G and Wi-Fi, as well as the possibility to move selective IP traffic (i.e., HTTP, video, VoIP, etc.) while supporting simultaneous 3G and Wi-Fi access.
Mobile data traffic consumption continues to increase rapidly. Wi-Fi capacity can become a seamless extension of 3G.
3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload
The Role of WLAN
Since WLAN is widely available at home and through various hotspots, and is also in a number of 3G devices (i.e., smartphones, laptops, netbooks) that typically consume a large portion of resources, a mechanism that offloads data traffic from 3G to Wi-Fi is very compelling to operators that want to minimize the data cost and make better use of their assets.
The basic idea is whenever a WLAN access point is available, some or all of the traffic is routed through the WLAN access point, thus offloading the cellular access.
Mobile operators should be able to control which traffic is routed over WLAN and which one is kept on 3G. For example, some IP flows (e.g., related to VoIP or other operators’ services) can be maintained over 3G to leverage its QoS capabilities, while IP flows related to “best-effort” Internet traffic can be offloaded to WLAN.
3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload Pathway
A simple mechanism to offload data traffic from 3G to Wi-Fi is already available today using an application-based approach to switch beween both radios.
However, this solution has limitations, and in order to improve the overall capabilities of such an approach, 3GPP has introduced a Wi-Fi mobility framework in Release 8 to enable seamless handover between 3G and WLAN.
Looking forward, to futher improve the flexiblity of the offlload solution, 3GPP has defined a work item in Release 10 to introduce IP Flow Mobility and enable seamless movement of selected IP traffic while supporting simultaneous 3G and Wi-Fi accesses. The offload mechanisms are based on operator-controlled configurations and traffic characteristics. Figure 1 illustrates the pathway toward 3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload.
[attachment=29539]
Introduction
The number of wireless subscribers accessing mobile data services continues to increase. Third Generation, or 3G, has been adopted and gained traction rapidly due to a variety of developments, including the:
• Wide-spread availability of mobile broadband services using USB modems and data cards at affordable prices
• Increasing penetration of 3G-enabled smartphones such as the iPhone, BlackBerry phones and Android phones
• Plethora of smartphone applications
• Flat rate plans
• Widespread deployment and coverage of 3G data networks
These developments will continue to drive the increase of mobile data traffic volume. However, they could also create challenges for 3G operators in supporting traffic growth, particularly when licensed spectrum is limited.
In order to cope with this traffic growth, operators can use traditional mechanisms to expand network capacity. But these often entail high cost investments. Since data service value is detached from the traffic volume, it creates pressure on the deployment costs. The operator challenge is in developing pricing models that maximize revenue per MB and deploying networks that minimize cost per MB. In this environment, intelligent resource management provides a cost-effective way to support the data traffic growth by optimizing network use, balancing the network load, lowering network congestion, and delaying CAPEX investments.
Since WLAN is widely available at home and various hotspots, and is also in a number of 3G devices, a mechanism that offloads data traffic from 3G to Wi-Fi is very compelling to operators that want to minimize data costs and make better use of their assets.
This paper is focused on a solution called 3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload, which enables seamless handover of data traffic between 3G and Wi-Fi, as well as the possibility to move selective IP traffic (i.e., HTTP, video, VoIP, etc.) while supporting simultaneous 3G and Wi-Fi access.
Mobile data traffic consumption continues to increase rapidly. Wi-Fi capacity can become a seamless extension of 3G.
3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload
The Role of WLAN
Since WLAN is widely available at home and through various hotspots, and is also in a number of 3G devices (i.e., smartphones, laptops, netbooks) that typically consume a large portion of resources, a mechanism that offloads data traffic from 3G to Wi-Fi is very compelling to operators that want to minimize the data cost and make better use of their assets.
The basic idea is whenever a WLAN access point is available, some or all of the traffic is routed through the WLAN access point, thus offloading the cellular access.
Mobile operators should be able to control which traffic is routed over WLAN and which one is kept on 3G. For example, some IP flows (e.g., related to VoIP or other operators’ services) can be maintained over 3G to leverage its QoS capabilities, while IP flows related to “best-effort” Internet traffic can be offloaded to WLAN.
3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload Pathway
A simple mechanism to offload data traffic from 3G to Wi-Fi is already available today using an application-based approach to switch beween both radios.
However, this solution has limitations, and in order to improve the overall capabilities of such an approach, 3GPP has introduced a Wi-Fi mobility framework in Release 8 to enable seamless handover between 3G and WLAN.
Looking forward, to futher improve the flexiblity of the offlload solution, 3GPP has defined a work item in Release 10 to introduce IP Flow Mobility and enable seamless movement of selected IP traffic while supporting simultaneous 3G and Wi-Fi accesses. The offload mechanisms are based on operator-controlled configurations and traffic characteristics. Figure 1 illustrates the pathway toward 3G/Wi-Fi Seamless Offload.