WHITE PAPER

Monitoring LTE Networks

A new paradigm for monitoring mobile broadband networks and services.

This paper examines challenges and requirements for monitoring LTE networks.

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Tekelec has more than 20 office worldwide serving customers in more than 100 countries. Addresses, phone and fax numbers are listed on the Tekelec website at www.tekelec.com/offices. This document is for informational purposes only, and Tekelec reserves the right to change any aspect of the products, features or functionality described in this document without notice. Please contact Tekelec for additional information and updates. solutions and examples are provided for illustration only. Actual implementation of these solutions may vary based on individual needs and circumstances. 2010 Tekelec. All rights reserved. The EAgLE and Tekelec logos are registered trademarks of Tekelec. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. TkLC-WP-027-nA-01-2010

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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................4 Whats Driving the growth? ........................................................................4 The Downside of success ............................................................................6 Evolving 3g networks .................................................................................6 What is LTE? ...............................................................................................7 Evolved Terrestrial Radio Access network (E-UTRAn) ...................................7 Multiple-Input Multiple-output (MIMo) ......................................................8 Evolved Packet Core (EPC)...........................................................................8 new LTE Interfaces ......................................................................................10 Implementing LTE and High-Bandwidth Applications: The Challenges..........11 LTE Monitoring system Requirements ..........................................................13 About Tekelecs Performance Intellgence Center..........................................16 summary ....................................................................................................17 About Tekelec .............................................................................................17 Appendix: Acronyms Used in This Document ..............................................18

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Introduction
Mobile data traffic is skyrocketing, fueled by the dramatic uptake of advanced applications like e-mail, Web browsing, video, multimedia messaging and content downloads. A look at industry statistics tells the story. There were 61.9 million mobile broadband subscribers in the Us in 2008 a 70 percent increase over 2007 (Informa Telecoms and Media). Latin America has seen international Internet traffic to and from the region grow by 120 percent more than twice the global average (JCn network, 4/2009). Central and Eastern European operators will see the proportion of revenue generated by data services increase by more than half from 19.4 percent in 2008 to 30.4 percent by 2013 (Informa). And, there is no slowdown in sight. Informa predicts a staggering growth rate in mobile data traffic of 1,000 percent between 2007 and 2012.

Whats Driving the Growth?

Technological advances and new pricing models have converged to create the perfect incubator for mobile data consumption. High-speed networks optimized for Internet protocol (IP) transport, flat-rate billing plans, a new breed of smart devices, and compelling new applications like Facebook, YouTube and Flickr, are driving the accelerated adoption of mobile broadband services.

Informa predicts a staggering growth rate in mobile data traffic of 1,000 percent between 2007 and 2012.

High-speed Packet Access (HSPA):

By bringing broadband speed to mobile networks, HsPA has enabled mobile operators to provide an Internet experience comparable to fixed-line asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADsL) and, in doing so, has dramatically boosted mobile data consumption. A 3.5g protocol family for mobile data transmission, HsPA, which includes high-speed downlink packet access (HsDPA) and high-speed uplink packet access (HsUPA), is an evolution of wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA). With theoretical data transmission speeds of 8-10 megabits per second (Mbps) in downlink and 6 Mbps in the uplink, HsPA has the capacity to power data-intensive applications, enabling subscribers to communicate, access information and enjoy entertainment while on the move. HsPA+, an evolution of HsPA, will drive further growth in mobile broadband services by increasing data transmission speed on the downlink to approximately 42 Mbps and 22 Mbps on the uplink.

Flat-rate Billing Plans:

The move to flat-rate tariff plans for mobile data usage has proven to be a significant driver for mass adoption of the service and has unlocked the value of the mobile Internet for consumers. The pricing model has aligned the mobile broadband experience with fixed broadband to which consumers have become accustomed. Mobile operators are finding that flat-rate pricing is having the same effect in their market that it did for fixed broadband. Usage is increasing significantly, and, as subscribers enjoy the convenience of the mobile experience, the value or stickiness of the service also

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increases. Unfettered from complex billing and worries about tracking how many bytes they have consumed, subscribers can freely roam the Internet or download music and videos from their handsets.

Smarter Devices:
A new wave of devices iPhones, BlackBerries, Android (google) phones, netbooks, 3g UsB dongles and 3.5g data cards are redefining how users communicate and access the mobile Internet. By 2011, mobile Internet users are expected to outnumber fixed Internet subscribers (Infonetics, 2008). The digital measurement company, Com score, says that from January 2008 to January 2009, consumers use of mobile devices for accessing news and information from the Internet more than doubled. smartphones, and in particular the iPhone, have revolutionized mobile telecommunications by giving users a single device for communication and entertainment. These all-in-one voice and data portals are one of the fastest growing segments in the device market, and their sales are expected to eventually overtake that of personal computers. According to ABI Research, more than 171 million smartphones were shipped in 2008, and the devices will represent 31 percent of the global handset market by 2012. The new generation of mobile devices is driving a surge in data traffic. one highend phone like the iPhone or BlackBerry produces more data traffic than 30 basicfeature mobile phones, and a laptop air card can generate more data traffic than 450 basic-feature mobile phones (Mobile Marketer, 2/2009). orange Uk reported that mobile data users downloaded 386,000 gigabytes (gB) in 2008. The carrier saw data consumption by dongles surge by 4,125 percent during that same period, and mobile data usage via handsets increased by 108 percent.

By 2011, mobile Internet users are expected to outnumber fixed Internet subscribers (Infonetics, 2008).

Attractive Data Services:

Just over a decade ago, subscribers relied on their mobile devices primarily for simple voice communication. A new wave of mobile applications has enabled personal, interactive and ubiquitous contact, which has transformed the way in which people communicate. Mobile services are playing a more prominent role in day-to-day life as subscribers increasingly rely on them for on-the-go entertainment, social networking, commerce, information and education. Mobility gives users the freedom to engage on their own terms wherever and whenever they choose. The advent of mobile data services has ushered in a new era of communication; the days of being tethered to a personal computer at home or in the office are gone. subscribers appetites for mobile applications show no sign of slowing down. In December of 2008, Apple reported that more than 200 million applications had been downloaded. By July of 2009, that number reached 1.5 billion with the most popular iPhone apps experiencing download rates of 10,000 times per day. In February of this

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year, orange Uk reported that an average of 380,988 full tracks were downloaded each month from the orange Music store; mobile video grew 38 percent quarter over quarter with a total of 2.33 million videos downloaded between December 2008 and February 2009.

The Downside of Success

The rapid and widespread success of mobile data services should be good news for global operators, but there is a downside to the success. Escalating data traffic is straining the capacity of existing mobile networks and driving up network costs. The situation is compounded by the fact that increases in data traffic are not translating into comparable revenue growth (Figure 1). The flat-rate plans that have largely driven the increased use of mobile applications, by nature, limit the average revenue per user (ARPU). As a result, operators face increasing pressure on profitability. To remain competitive, they must increase network capacity while lowering the cost per bit for delivering data services.

Traffic & Revenue Challenge

Traffic Volume

Pyramid Research anticipates the number of LTE subscriptions worldwide will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAgR) of 404 percent from 2010 to 2014 and reach 136 million by the end of 2014.
Voice Dominant

Traffic

Mobile operator revenue & traffic de-coupled

Network Cost (existing technologies)

Revenue Profitability Network Cost (LTE/SAE)

Revenues Data Dominant

Time

Voice Dominated

Data Dominated

Time

Figure 1. Traffic and Revenue Challenge (Source: UMTS Forum MBB LTE White Paper, February-2009)

Evolving 3G Networks
To meet this challenge, global operators are looking for an upgrade path for their current universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTs) 3g networks one that will enable the delivery of more bandwidth and services at a lower cost. Recent deployment figures indicate that many operators are choosing long term evolution (LTE) as their course for network evolution. According to a gsA report in April 2009, 31 network operators have now committed to deploy 3gPP LTE systems. Pyramid Research anticipates the number of LTE subscriptions worldwide will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAgR) of 404 percent from 2010 to 2014 and reach 136 million by the end of 2014.

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What is LTE?
LTE, defined by the 3rd generation Partnership Project (3gPP) in Release 8 standards, is an evolution of UMTs mobile technology. It is designed to increase bandwidth, lower network operation costs and improve network performance for time-sensitive services such as mobile TV, web browsing, IP voice, and video (Figure 2).

Cost/MB

Peak Throughput

Latency

50% >>50%

Fa or ct of

10

-3 2

3G

3.5G

LTE

3.5G

LTE

3.5G

LTE

Figure 2. LTE Benefits Operators and End Users

LTE introduces a new radio access technology evolved terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAn) and a flat, Internet protocol (IP)-based architecture evolved packet core (EPC). The following sections provide a technical perspective on LTE networks.

Evolved Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)

The E-UTRAn, which is optimized for IP traffic, is based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (oFDM) technology. It enables multiple channels to operate within close frequency levels without impacting the integrity of the data transmitted in any one channel. The technology delivers peak data rates of 100 Mbps in the downlink and 50 Mbps in the uplink. E-UTRAn provides flexible bandwidth usage in the 1.25 megahertz (MHz) to 20 MHz range and spectral efficiency that is two to four times greater than 3gPP release 6 (HsPA). Improving spectral efficiency lowers the cost per bit by enabling operators to deliver greater throughput in the same frequency band. For example, assuming that the cost of a base station remains the same, a five-fold increase in spectral efficiency translates into roughly a five-fold decrease in the cost per bit carried.

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2008
HSPA DL: 14.4 Mbps UL: 5.76 Mbps In 5 MHz

2009
Rel 7 HSPA+ DL: 28 Mbps UL: 11.5 Mbps In 5 MHz

2010
Rel 8 HSPA+ DL: 42 Mbps UL: 11.5 Mbps In 5 MHz LTE DL: 326 Mbps UL: 86 Mbps In 20 MHz

2011

2012

2013

HSPA

LTE (Rel 9)

LTE Advanced (Rel 10)

LTE

Figure 3. LTE Evolution (Source: 3G Americas)

The E-UTRAn contains a single network element, the evolved node B (enode B). Reducing the number of nodes involved in a connection improves scalability, performance, and cost efficiency. The enode B handles the functions performed by the node B and radio network controller (RnC) in UMTs networks, including encryption and header compression for the user plane.

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO)

LTE employs MIMo antenna technology to boost system performance. By utilizing multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver, MIMo enables the transmission of independent data streams on the same frequency in different directions. The technology substantially increases peak data rates, yields higher spectrum efficiency and reduces outages.

Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

EPC provides an end-to-end IP core network and creates a converged framework for delivering packet-based, real-time and non-real-time services. Previous mobile architectures relied on two distinct domains: circuit-switched for voice and packetswitched for data. With EPC, voice becomes just one of many IP-based network applications. EPC separates the control and data planes to improve performance and creates a simpler, flatter architecture by moving a number of functions from the network core to the network edge. EPC represents a significant departure from legacy networks and introduces several new network elements: Mobility Management Entity (MME): The key control node for the access network, the MME handles signaling in the control plane and replaces the functions of the serving gateway in 3g networks. Manages user equipment (UE) access to the network by interacting with the home subscriber server (Hss) to authenticate users;

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Performs bearer management control functions to set up and deactivate the bearer path used by the UE; Manages mobility states to support roaming, tracking and paging; Provides the control plane function to enable seamless mobility between LTE and 2g/3g access networks; and, supports lawful signaling interception. Serving Gateway (SGW): The sgW acts as the termination point between the radio access network (E-UTRAn) and the core network. Forwards and routes data packets to and from enode B and the packet data network gateway; Performs accounting and monitoring of user data; serves as a local mobility anchor point for inter-enode B handovers and roaming between two 3gPP networks; and, Replicates user traffic in the case of lawful interception. Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN-GW): The PDn-gW serves as the point of entry and exit for UE data traffic. serves as the interface between the LTE network and packet data networks such as the Internet or session initiation protocol (sIP)-based Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMs) fixed and mobile networks; Performs policy enforcement by applying operator-defined rules for resource allocation and usage; Manages allocation of IP addresses; supports packet filtering for each user; Provides charging support; and, Acts as the mobility anchor between 3gPP and non-3gPP technology access systems. Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF): Allows/rejects media requests; Creates and updates packet data protocol (PDP) context; Controls resource allocation; and, Provides charging rules based on service data flow to the PDn-gW for flow-based charging.

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S6a (Diameter)

S1-MME

MME

PCRF
Gx Rx

Control Plane
S11

User/Data Plane

eNodeB

X2

eNodeB
X2

S1-U

Serving Gateway

S5

PDN Gateway

SGi

PDN/Internet

eNodeB

Figure 4. LTE Network

New LTE Interfaces

LTE introduces many new interfaces into the network. Control Plane: s1-MME: Reference point for the control plane protocol between E-UTRAn and mobility management entity. s6a: Diameter interface between the mobility management entity and the home subscriber server that enables transfer of subscription and authentication data. gx: Interface between policy charging rules function and packet data network gateway that provides transfer of quality of service (Qos) policy and charging rules. Rx: Interface between the policy charging rules function and IMs proxy call session control function (P-CsCF). User/Data Plane: X2: Interconnection between enode B elements. s1-U: Interface between the enode B (E-UTRAn) and serving gateway. s5: Provides user plane tunneling and tunnel management between the serving gateway and packet data network gateway. s11: Interface between the serving gateway and the mobility management entity. sgi: Interface between the packet data network gateway and the packet data network.

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Implementing LTE and High-Bandwidth Applications: The Challenges

Network Security:
The proliferation of increasingly intelligent mobile devices poses a particular security threat to operators and mobile users. subscribers are becoming more and more dependent on their mobile devices as a primary communication tool, creating an ideal opening for cyber criminals to access sensitive personal and corporate data. And, security loopholes in hand-held devices that support operating systems such as symbian, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Android and Apple create opportunities for abuse. Most smartphones lack adequate anti-spam, anti-virus, Web filtering and other security software, making them susceptible to the same viruses and malware that have plagued the PC industry for years. There currently are more than 400 known mobile viruses. The Cabir virus, which debuted in 2005, has infected phones in more than 30 countries. In late 2008, the curse of silence bug, which enables an attacker to shut down messaging capabilities, struck smartphones running the symbian operating system. As viral attacks grow and an increasing number of subscribers and business customers become susceptible, mobile security will become a key business concern and differentiator for operators. While it is clear that operators

Complex Hybrid Networks:

While it is clear that operators will eventually move to all-IP networks like LTE, the reality is that multi-technology, hybrid networks will coexist well into the foreseeable future. operators will have to interwork a multitude of technologies, protocols and network resources for many years to come. LTE deployments likely will be rolled out in phases with high data traffic areas served first. As operators begin to transition their networks, subscribers will demand uninterrupted coverage; seamless mobility between legacy 2g/3g and LTE networks will be critical for successful deployment. Interworking diverse networks will require operators to support a variety of technologies each with its own protocols and interfaces as well as interconnections between multiple domains.

will eventually move to all-IP networks like LTE, the reality is that multi-technology, hybrid networks will coexist well into the foreseeable future.

Quality of Service (QoS):

LTE creates a multi-service, converged environment that requires a fundamental shift in focus. operators need to move beyond basic network monitoring and troubleshooting tools to advanced systems capable of overseeing end-to-end network connectivity and service interaction. Quality of service is a key differentiator in this service/subscriber focused business model, and is often the single most critical factor that separates one operator from another in the subscribers mind. It is essential that operators ensure voice quality, deliver uninterrupted subscriber sessions and meet the stringent requirements of service level agreements (sLAs).

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The shift from delivering low-bandwidth voice services to advanced data applications dramatically heightens the complexity of network management. The task of determining which subscribers are using the network and what services they are accessing is infinitely more complicated than in the circuit-switched world. IP customers have many more device choices with which they can initiate a session and a plethora of service options. Creating a seamless, multimedia experience requires the interworking of a staggering array of personal devices, access technologies and network resources. With LTE, operators have to change their approach when it comes to service assurance and Qos. They must monitor and manage the end-to-end network, a host of applications and all of the associated resources. That approach requires new metrics and collection methods.

Quality of Experience (QoE):

Qos in the circuit-switched world is largely taken for granted. operators have had decades to develop and perfect their diagnostic systems. But, as operators move to IP networks and services transported over radio access networks (RAns), service quality can be elusive and hard to achieve. numerous factors can degrade a sessions connection quality a delay in packet delivery (latency), missing data (loss of packets), data arriving out of order or jitter. Imperfections in the transmission media, particularly in the RAn, can result in pulse degradation or loss, leading to throughput degradation and delays that negatively impact the customers QoE. Qos can be ensured by a variety of techniques such as prioritizing packets, buffering and placing strict tolerances on end-to-end delay and jitter. While Qos can indicate how well a packet is preserved in transport, it does not represent what the customer hears and sees the quality of experience. As an example, subscribers browsing the Web over the mobile Internet expect to access hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) pages easily and download content quickly. Relevant QoE measurements for file transfer protocol (FTP) downloads include the ease of copying files with no drops and the actual throughput transfer rate. For services like video conferencing to be successful, they must mimic real life. This requires the synchronization of audio and video to create an experience that closely resembles a face-to-face conversation. QoE is most critical for mobile TV applications, which are more sensitive to IP impairments than voice services. Packet delay or loss can produce a range of degradations in the service experience. It is not simply a matter of determining what bits are lost; where those bits reside in the video frame sequence is just as important. For example, even a low packet loss can produce severe degradation if the reference or I-frame is impacted as that degradation is propagated to subsequent frames.

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Increasing Data Loads:

There is a data surge underway in telecom networks, and the volumes that operators are seeing today are just the tip of the iceberg. With the advent of LTE, subscribers will demand data-intensive services like mobile TV, video streaming and Web 2.0 applications as routinely as they used to request voice service. As mobile data traffic swells, operators face a growing challenge how to cost effectively provide monitoring and performance management for their entire network? The traditional 2g method of monitoring 100 percent of the user- and control-plane traffic will no longer be a practical or cost-effective approach because of the tremendous investment in resources and equipment required. Due to the higher volume of data generated by each IP-based service transaction, LTE requires a new monitoring paradigm one that gives operators a detailed view of high-value traffic and adapts dynamically to changing traffic conditions.

LTE Monitoring System Requirements

End-to-end Call Trace Capability:
The ability to perform a call or session trace network-wide across multiple interfaces/ protocols is critical. operators must have the ability to test multiple network technologies, route calls efficiently and effectively, and monitor all traffic passing through their networks. Complete, real-time visibility and historical data are essential to effective network management as well as service and revenue assurance. As networks converge, it is critical to have end-to-end transaction visibility to pinpoint anomalies and understand the customer experience.

Real-time Troubleshooting:
Troubleshooting in real time is essential to supervising transactions between domains and monitoring protocols as they traverse and convert across gateways. It enables operators to test and assure interoperability as new services and network elements are deployed. A real-time system provides the ability to identify failures between gateways, trace registrations in the IP domain and track authentication. solutions with real-time tracing capability enable operators to determine why subscribers cannot access e-mail, identify the cause of download failures, and isolate problems with traditional intelligent network (In) services like calling name and number portability.

Real-time Subscriber and Service Data:

The key to profitability in delivering multimedia services across converged networks is having access to data that allows the carrier to understand the quality of the subscriber experience. To maintain customer satisfaction and ensure the successful delivery of new services, providers need tools that track service availability, reliability and delivery. Equipped with real-time data, operators can identify the source of service disruptions

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before customer complaints arise and revenue is lost. They can trace transactions, verify service delivery and identify the source of failed transactions. Real-time statistics for each subscriber are critical to understanding service efficiency and the customer experience. This service usage data also permits providers to identify the most popular services, enabling the creation of new, targeted marketing programs that increase revenue.

Configurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

With configurable control- and user-plane-based kPIs, operators can customize performance indicators to match their unique network requirements. Control-plane measurements are based on an independent source network signaling so data is consistently uniform regardless of the network element or vendor. The system is synchronized by a single clock source, so all data across the network is naturally synchronized. since the solution is not in the critical path, measurement changes are easily implemented. Using kPIs, operators can solve a host of business challenges. By analyzing Qos and usage patterns, they can determine profitability based on income rather than usage costs. The generation of day-to-day and week-to-week reports enables providers to analyze traffic and identify take-rate trends. Highly targeted marketing plans that increase profitability can be developed by examining usage patterns by region, IP service, mobile type, and access point name (APn). The analysis of origination data enables the early detection of fraud and potential revenue leakage.

Intelligent Data Management (IDM):

Intelligent data management (IDM) is a dynamic approach to monitoring that enables operators to monitor just the type and level of data that are important to their business. Like traditional monitoring systems, IDM captures 100 percent of the control-plane traffic. What makes the method unique is that it provides configurable options for collecting user-plane data; operators can configure data collection levels based on their specific requirements. For example, as a first step, an operator could gather network statistics on just a sampled set of data. Later, the operator may want to grow this sample by getting high-level statistics on all the user-plane data to provide Qos information. Rather than gathering detailed data on all services, operators can focus with deep analysis only on their most bandwidth-intensive services like video streaming or mobile TV. They could use the same approach to monitor their high-margin VIP customers or to determine how well newly deployed smartphones are working and interacting with the network. By choosing the type and quantity of data they collect, operators have the flexibility to scale their monitoring systems and data collection incrementally, adding equipment and resources only when needed. In summary, the goal of dynamic monitoring is to enable mobile operators to focus on the highestvalue traffic, controlling 80 percent of their revenue while actually monitoring a small percentage of the total traffic volume.

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Figure 5. IDM Provides a Variety of Levels of Analysis

Feature
single-system solution

Benefits
Holistic view of the customer experience and Qos Consistently uniform data, regardless of the network element or vendor network-wide, control-plane and user-plane data and accurate performance indicators network-wide view of control-plane and user-plane messages, corresponding to a subscriber call or session supervises transactions between domains and monitors protocols as they traverse and convert across gateways Proactively detects any network performance problem Detects service degradation before it affects the customer Data critical to understanding subscriber QoE Tracks service availability, integrity and retainability to maintain customer satisfaction Critical usage data with which providers can identify the most popular services and create new, targeted marketing programs that increase revenue Allows operators to customize network performance and QoE indicators to match their unique network and services requirements Captures 100 percent of the control-plane traffic and provides configurable options for collecting user-plane data Enables operators to choose the type and quantity of userplane data they collect so they can focus on higher-value traffic and scale their monitoring system incrementally

End-to-End Call Trace Capability

Real-Time surveillance Real-Time subscriber and service Data

Configurable, signaling-Based kPIs and QoE kPIs Related to IP-Based services Intelligent Data Management (IDM)

Table 1. LTE Monitoring System Requirements

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About Tekelecs Performance Intelligence Center

Tekelecs Performance Intelligence Center (PIC) provides operators with complete visibility to everything going on within their network. Tekelecs solution supports all of the requirements for monitoring LTE networks: kPIs; multi-protocol and multitechnology support; real-time and historical data gathering; drill-down capabilities; end-to-end network visibility and call/session tracing; and configurable user-data filtering, sampling and reporting. The PIC system processes and archives call detail records (CDRs), transaction detail records (TDRs) and IP detail records (IPDRs) from the network that can be used to generate service packages for optimizing a variety of services. These include prepaid, roaming, short message service (sMs), security, traffic management, voice over IP (VoIP) and IP applications, including HTTP, WAP, FTP, e-mail, multimedia messaging service (MMs), streaming, remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUs), Diameter, and domain name system (Dns). Tekelecs kPI service packages provide data usage in the form of reports and customized dashboards, accessible by any authorized user through standard browsers. PIC provides real-time data and reporting as well as alarming capabilities to ensure proactive responses to network issues. operators are able to quickly isolate and respond to network problems, cutting troubleshooting time significantly. Tekelecs PIC is vendor agnostic. It accesses the network and provides decode and tracing capabilities within the signaling system 7 (ss7) as well as IP domains. operators no longer need to purchase several monitoring systems; PIC supports both traditional networks as well as IP-based networks on a single platform. PIC currently supports monitoring and troubleshooting of more than 150 protocols (including national variants) within fixed, mobile (2g, 2.5g, 3g and 3.5g [LTE]), IP-based VoIP and IMs networks. The protocols supported by IAs fall under the following families: ss7 Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and sIgTRAn (ss7 over IP) general Packet Radio service (gPRs) Universal Mobile Telecommunications system (UMTs) Long Term Evolution (LTE) VoIP IMs IP: HTTP, WAP, FTP, RADIUs, Diameter, domain name system (Dns), short message peer-to-peer (sMPP), etc. PIC provides the tools operators need to capture network traffic data and convert it into useful business intelligence for troubleshooting and managing traffic, roamers, services and revenues. With its powerful and configurable filtering, PIC sorts through the data to create comprehensive dashboards and reports for all departments (marketing,

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operations, planning, etc.) within the service provider. PIC includes a comprehensive array of performance management and kPI-based service management capabilities that provide reliable real-time or historical information based on network, service and application traffic. PIC can be deployed with probes or without probes when integrated with Tekelecs industry-leading EAgLE signaling platform providing operators with significant cost savings, more efficient operations and a reduced footprint. Initially developed to support the monitoring of ss7-based protocols, PIC has evolved into a multi-protocol, multi-technology monitoring solution, with current and planned support for VoIP, IMs, IPTV, quadruple play, LTE and WiMAX networks and services. PIC has already been deployed by more than 175 operators to support at least one network type; in many cases it is being used to monitor two or three different networks for a single carrier.

Summary
As operators deploy LTE networks, monitoring and performance management will have a direct impact on competitiveness and profitability. network-wide visibility is essential to protect revenues and ensure application interaction, service delivery and quality of experience. A real-time network view enables operators to understand and track performance and subscriber behavior. The ability to trace a single transaction, call or session end-to-end across different domains is fundamental to understanding and troubleshooting the interaction of network elements. As data traffic increases, operators need the capability to choose the type and quantity of data they collect so they can scale their monitoring systems and data collection incrementally. Legacy monitoring systems are not designed with the flexibility and scalability to provide a complete network view with the data, reports and alarms required to proactively manage multi-technology, multi-protocol networks. LTE networks require a configurable, network-wide monitoring solution that can provide a holistic view of the entire network one that supports both existing as well emerging technologies and protocols.

About Tekelec
Tekelec enables billions of people and devices to talk, text and access the Web. our portfolio delivers a unique layer of intelligence allowing service providers to both manage and monetize the exponential growth in data traffic and applications. Tekelec has more than 25 offices around the world serving customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.tekelec.com.

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Appendix: Acronyms Used in This Document

3gPP ARPU ADsL CAgR CDR Dns enode B EPC 3rd generation Partnership Project Average Revenue Per User Asymmetric Digital subscriber Line Compound Annual growth Rate Call Detail Record Domain name system Evolved node B Evolved Packet Core

E-UTRAn Evolved Terrestrial Radio Access network FTP gB gPRs HsDPA HsPA HsUPA Hss IDM IMs IP IPDR kPI LTE MBPs MHZ MIMo MME MMs oFDM PCRF File Transfer Protocol gigabytes general Packet Radio service High-speed Downlink Packet Access High-speed Packet Access High-speed Uplink Packet Access Home subscriber server Intelligent Data Management Internet Protocol Multimedia subsystem Internet Protocol IP Detail Record key Performance Indicator Long Term Evolution Megabits Per second Megahertz Multiple-Input Multiple-output Mobility Management Entity Multimedia Messaging service orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Policy and Charging Rules Function

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P-CsCF PDn PDn-gW PDP PIC QoE Qos RADIUs RAn RnC sgW sIgTRAn sIP sLA sMPP sMs ss7 TDM TDR UE UMTs VoIP

Proxy Call session Control Function Packet Data network Packet Data network gateway Packet Data Protocol Performance Intelligence Center Quality of Experience Quality of service Remote Authentication Dial In User service Radio Access network Radio network Controller serving gateway ss7 over IP session Initiation Protocol service Level Agreement short Message Peer-to-Peer short Message service signaling system 7 Time Division Multiplexing Transaction Detail Record User Equipment Universal Mobile Telecommunications system Voice over IP

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