Assurance and management gets more complicated
Although intended to reduce complexity and cost by offering operators an all-IP network architecture, LTE and Evolved Packet Core (EPC) networks will bring with them increased challenges in monitoring and managing network and service performance, according to one expert in monitoring and management.
The number of system elements required is much reduced in an LTE-EPC architecture, but the elements themselves are more complex – combining as they do elements that were previously separate. For example, the E-Node B combines both the MSC and BTS functionality from the 3G network.
LTE-EPC introduces a range of new interfaces between the elements themselves, and also between the new elements and legacy networks, as well as out to other networks. Mobile operators, of course, have no experience of these new interfaces and protocols.
Operators are faced with the need to continue their monitoring of existing networks, as well as be able to provide assurance across LTE networks. Ideally, they would do this within one environment.
But these challenges are not simple to resolve. Tektronix has used Mobile World Congress to launch an LTE and Evolved Packet Core (EPC) monitoring and intelligent management system based upon its Iris suite of products, which includes the GeoProbe G10, a10GE probe, three analyser applications and a common platform that provides a single, integrated framework for current and future applications.
Keith Cobler, Marketing Manager, Network Intelligence Solutions, Tektronix, told Mobile Europe that he thinks that Tektronix has taken a lead on the market with this solution set. “I think there are some players who may address one element of what we can provide, but I’m pretty sure we are the only one with the complete package.”