Telstra Deploys Ericsson's Blade-based Softswitch

Ericsson has delivered the world's first mobile softswitch using blade technology, to Telstra, which has already activated the new MSC Server Blade Cluster in its commercial NextG network.


The Mobile Switching Center (MSC) Server is the main node in a mobile core network used to control the switching of voice traffic. Ericsson said its new MSC Server Blade Cluster allows network capacity to be increased by more than half a million subscribers by simply inserting a new blade (electronics board) in the MSC Server cabinet. The architecture enables a number of MSC-S servers to act as one "Mega MSC Server," providing very high capacity and unsurpassed network level redundancy for mobile core networks. A fully operational pool allows changeover during planned and unplanned outages.


Telstra is providing voice-switching capacity for all its mobile subscribers via a single national mobile core network where the MSC Servers are deployed in a combined GSM and WCDMA MSC pool. By 2010, Telstra intends to have replaced the current 18 regional MSC Servers by one MSC Server Blade Cluster pool deployed at two sites in eastern Australia. This rationalization will reduce equipment floor space by 85 percent, cut energy use by 75 percent and proportionately reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


Telstra Executive Director for Wireless Mike Wright says: "By deploying the MSC Server Blade Cluster, we continue to invest in our Next G network to enhance its capacity and robustness. Ericsson's mobile softswitch allows us to streamline our core network while increasing voice capacity as we add subscribers. This simplification of our operations will make it easier and faster for us to operate, maintain and expand the core network."http://www.ericsson.com