Convergence Gateways
The Airvana Universal Access Gateway (UAG) is a fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) gateway that enables operators to provide services anywhere there is Internet connectivity. By leveraging the Internet as a ubiquitous and low-cost access network, operators can dramatically increase revenue opportunities while decreasing infrastructure costs. The UAG resides between the operator's core network and the Internet, typically offering services to subscribers with Wi-Fi-enabled cell phones or femtocell access points.
The underlying FMC air interface can consist of a femtocell, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or other source. The FMC access network is typically the Internet via DSL, cable, or fiber connections to the home or office, and is fundamentally different from the traditional Radio Access Network (RAN) which is already secure and has built-in mobility mechanisms.
Consequently, FMC requires a new type of access gateway that secures user traffic, protects the operator network, provides micro-mobility and macro-mobility, enables differentiated Quality of Service (QoS), and creates detailed subscriber accounting records. The Airvana UAG is a carrier-class system, purpose-built to deliver all these secure functions and more, with "five-nines" reliability and unparalleled session and bandwidth scalability.
The UAG fits into FMC "underlay" networks as an element in a number of different network architectures. These architectures have been defined within various standards bodies and industry associations. The principle underlying all of the architectures, and driving the requirement for the UAG, is that a generic IP network-often the public Internet-is used to connect underlay network elements such as femtocells or dual-mode devices to the operator's core network.
Airvana UAG in a Fixed-Mobile Convergence Network
