NEC Debuts its ATCA-based Evolved Packet Core for LTE

NEC Corporation unveiled an ATCA-based Evolved Packet Core (EPC) system for controlling user sessions across LTE base stations.


The platform incorporates Mobility Management Entity (MME) and Serving-GW)/PDN-GW functionality into 5U AdvancedTCA, chassis that fits a standard 19-inch rack. MME manages the location and paging process of LTE systems. Serving-GW processes users' voice and data packets for 2G/3G and LTE systems, while the PDN-GW functionality manages the interface between EPC and external networks (Internet and IMS etc.).


NEC said its compact EPC system is capable of simultaneously accommodating nearly 300,000 subscribers while controlling more than 1,000 LTE base stations. The system can support LTE trials and small scale LTE commercial services. When the number of subscribers increases, large scale network expansion can easily be implemented by adding more blades.


"We have seen caution surrounding LTE in today's market, but NEC is fully committed to providing cost effective LTE solutions that cause minimal disruption," said Dr Shahram Niri, Director of Global LTE/SAE Strategy & Solutions, NEC Europe. "Our new EPC aims to provide a flexible platform that offers operators a smooth, simple and seamless evolution from their existing networks at the lowest total cost of ownership possible. NEC was the first end to end solution vendor offering EPC in Japan and is contributing to the early momentum of LTE by providing radio access, core and terminal elements of LTE networks. As a consequence we have learned many valuable lessons that allow us to meet operators' needs. NEC's new EPC enables a variety of options, such as centralized or distributed deployment, as well as different degrees of EPC node integration (MME, S-GW and P-GW) from a compact all in one package," he added.
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