Solution Overview

Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi: Offload Mobile Data and Create New Services
What You Will Learn
Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi offers service providers a comprehensive, secure solution for deployment of Wi-Fi networks that complement fixed or cellular networks. It also provides a cost-effective option for reducing mobile data traffic congestion by offloading traffic through the Wi-Fi network. Mobile operators can offload traffic to Wi-Fi systems to reduce traffic congestion on the main network and to inexpensively increase network capacity in specific locations. Wireline and cable providers can also use Wi-Fi networks to offer offload services and gain revenue from new categories of applications, at both indoor and outdoor locations. The Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi solution provides a unified architecture that is a natural extension of existing fixed and mobile networks. The solution provides centralized management and control of the Wi-Fi network for all uses, including residential, community, and business uses, and services at hot zones and other public venues such as sports stadiums and shopping malls.

Challenge
Service providers are seeing an upsurge of data traffic across their networks by users who increasingly expect ready access to online services that consume large amounts of data, without being limited to a fixed location. The rapid increase in 3G wireless broadband services, combined with the proliferation of dual-mode 3G and Wi-Fi smartphones, affordably priced data plans, and new online services, have stimulated data traffic by fixed and wireless users. The Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Data Traffic Forecast for 2009-2015 predicts mobile data traffic volumes in 2015 will grow to 26 times what they were in 2010. Sixty-six percent of this traffic will be mobile video, with its high bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) demands. This means that traffic is growing faster than revenue, with enormous pressures on the network from over-the-top (OTT) video providers. To address this, Cisco is working with service providers globally to explore new revenue opportunities to monetize the network, while also optimizing the network to more cost effectively and efficiently deliver existing and new services. Another factor in the mobile market is that the spectrum available to carry the huge increase in data traffic remains a relatively fixed asset globally. Efficiency can be applied to the main network to increase capacity, but even this increase will not provide sufficient capacity for the expected growth. The solution to this problem is found in hierarchical networks - adding smaller cells to manage traffic growth. Carrier-grade Wi-Fi offers a cost-effective, small-cell solution to address these challenges and provides advantages both for optimization and monetization. Carrier-grade Wi-Fi is the next big step in Wi-Fi, providing a Wi-Fi network run by the operator, helping to ensure a transparent customer experience. This experience includes easy login and roaming, interference mitigation, reliable coverage with ample capacity and throughput, and security. Operators also need a solution that is designed to support millions of users, handles exponential traffic growth, and integrates with their current network infrastructure to provide a cost-effective solution for offloading mobile data traffic.

2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Page 1 of 5

Solution Overview

Operational and Business Benefits of Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi

The Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi solution addresses all of these needs. It provides a unified architecture that is a natural extension of existing fixed and mobile networks. Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi provides centralized management and control of the Wi-Fi network. It also integrates with the mobile packet core so that operators can determine which traffic can be offloaded directly to the Internet and which can go through the mobile packet core for ubiquitous 3G and Wi-Fi services and single-user authentication. The Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi solution offers these benefits:

Addresses mobile network congestion, reduces capital expenditures (CapEx), and increases capacity by using the unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum for data offload

Offers new services that take advantage of Wi-Fi, both indoors and outdoors Provides a mobile experience with a consistent policy framework for Wi-Fi and cellular use Delivers a transparent device authentication and roaming experience Handles centralized configuration and management, integrated antennas, and easy installation Reduces the complexity and cost of managing and deploying a Wi-Fi network Increases revenue through subscriber retention and increased market share Delivers low-density deployments without compromising performance, through the power and versatility of Cisco Aironet 1550 Series access points

Solution
Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi is an integrated end-to-end system that securely and dynamically provisions subscriber access and value-added services across wireless broadband networks. The Cisco architecture blends the benefits of the intelligent Wi-Fi access network with the advantages of an intelligent packet gateway and IP core for a truly differentiated solution (Figure 1).

2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Page 2 of 5

Solution Overview

Figure 1.

Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi Architecture

The Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi architecture creates a spectrum-aware, self-healing, and self-optimizing wireless network that mitigates the effect of wireless interference and offers new levels of security, performance protection, and policy enforcement. The Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi network is designed for scalable and reliable multidevice and multinetwork application delivery, including mobile voice, video surveillance, 3G and 4G data offload, and public and private Wi-Fi access. Four essential features of the Cisco solution make it truly carrier-grade.

Unified architecture: All successful commercial mobility networks are based on the concept of centralized control of the radio access network (RAN), and the Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi solution is no exception. With a wireless LAN (WLAN) controller at its core, the Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi architecture offers scalability, network-wide resource management, real-time handoff management, a single security and interoperability point, and comprehensive management and monitoring. This allows operators to maximize coverage and capacity throughout the network while reducing operational expenditures (OpEx).

Seamless roaming: The Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi architecture blends the benefits of a unified architecture with proxy-mobile IP to deliver transparent micromobility within Wi-Fi and network-based macromobility between Wi-Fi and cellular networks, for easy authentication and roaming.

2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Page 3 of 5

Solution Overview

Intelligent packet gateway: The comprehensive Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi architecture blends the benefits of a Wi-Fi access network and intelligent radio access control with the advantages of an intelligent packet gateway and IP core for a truly differentiated solution. The intelligent packet gateway offers centralized access and control to manage subscribers, deliver 3G and 4G offload, and create revenue-generating services that can be billed appropriately.

Intelligent access radio: Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi uses the Cisco Aironet 1550 Series access point, a next-generation carrier-grade 802.11n wireless platform with Cisco CleanAir Technology - integrated siliconlevel spectrum intelligence that detects, classifies, and mitigates RF interference. The Cisco Aironet 1550 access point also incorporates Video Stream[[product name? didnt find]], a mechanism to deliver high-quality video over a wireless network, Cisco ClientLink technology for improved network throughput and coverage, and radio resource management (RRM) for automated channel selection and power-setting management of access points.

Use Cases for Monetization of New Services

With carrier-grade Wi-Fi becoming a reality and solutions becoming available for security, roaming, authentication, and control, more and more service providers are turning to Wi-Fi to complement their mobile and fixed networks. Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi allows cable operators to differentiate themselves and avoid customer turnover by offering subscribers a free Wi-Fi service option that targets transportation corridors (for example, highways, trains, and buses) and city centers. Subscribers can stay connected, even through VPNs. Cable operators can also partner with mobile operators to offload mobile data traffic on the Wi-Fi network. Wireline and mobile operators are offering Wi-Fi access to subscribers at large public venues, and gaining a double advantage. At sports stadiums, for example, operators offer Wi-Fi services to fans and benefit from the ability to offload the data traffic from a large concentration of smartphone users. They also provide premium services using presence to determine where users are located. For fans in high-priced seats and boxes, the services may include instant replay on their mobile devices or special offers for food or clothing in the stadium. For all fans, discounts on nearby restaurants, playback of game footage, contest giveaways, and other promotions may be made available. And with next-generation location-based hot-zone services, service providers can further monetize network services by inserting local advertising offers.

Why Cisco?
Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi is the premier carrier-grade, high-performance architecture that allows service providers to employ Wi-Fi for next-generation mobile data offload and personalized mobile services. As network traffic grows exponentially, the Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi solution allows service providers to optimize their networks by offering a cost-effective method of offloading large amounts of mobile data traffic. The solution also offers a platform for delivering a variety of new services with a growing number of Wi-Fi applications that take unique advantage of intelligent Wi-Fi network attributes, such as location, presence, and mobile devices.

For More Information

Cisco Service Provider Wi-Fi http://www.cisco.com/go/spwifi.

2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Page 4 of 5

Solution Overview

Printed in USA

C22-642482-00

02/11

2011 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information.

Page 5 of 5