Converging Networks Need Common Platforms

AdvancedTCA platforms can save time and effort as networks evolve

By Mathias Renner

The convergence of networks is gaining momentum in the wire-line area and even more quickly in wireless. Bandwidth requirements for IP (Internet provider) services are steadily increasing, and subscriber services can now be more readily available on Internet protocol networks than via public switched telephone network. The use of a common platform design can facilitate the convergence of these networks while keeping costs down.

The growing demand for Internet access at higher speeds and with more features is forcing changes in networking and telecommunications. Telco operators are asking both Telecom Equipment Manufacturers (TEMs) and Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) to provide new types of equipment at ever increasing densities and lower costs. This challenges equipment vendors to identify and serve markets more accurately, and gain differentiation from their competition. All of those mandates require higher investments. Both types of players in the value chain-operators and TEMs/NEPs-have learned to focus on their own differentiating factors while turning to outsourcing to achieve goals within budget parameters.

One potential element for outsourcing is the hardware underlying the equipment the providers supply to customers. By outsourcing the hardware, providers can focus on their system design and the applications software that turns that equipment into a solution for the Telco operator. The availability of a common platform for this hardware and its foundation software will make that outsourcing more cost effective for the equipment providers, while also helping to assure equipment interoperability for the operators.

Industry defines the standards

The AdvancedTCA (Telecom Compute Architecture) is an open standard initiative with major support from leading TEMs, defining just such a common hardware and platform for converged-network elements, one that will provide sufficient performance headroom for the next decade. AdvancedTCA (ATCA) was defined by the PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG), with major contributions from leading TEMs to ensure that the platforms designed actually meet requirements. Today, a veritable “ecosystem” of vendors providing components is emerging. Additionally, PICMG is conducting interoperability workshops, on an ongoing basis, to prove compatibility to the system integrators and TEMs/NEPs.

ATCA is a packet-based, switched architecture that supports the migration towards converged networks by offering a high availability (HA) modular computing architecture. The full specification, as well as further abstracts about ATCA, is available at PICMG (www.pigmg.org).

The specification defines a fully redundant system architecture including a shelf management controller and remote access to each system component and board through an intelligent platform management interface (IPMI). The redundancy concept also includes redundant 2N switches, a Dual-Star base Channel, a Dual-Star fabric channel, and other fabric options for future use.

The node boards or blades are 8U in height, with 14 slots able to fit in a 19-inch rack. Node boards are hot swappable and the open standard secures interoperability of boards and systems, even those from different vendors. Power input is -48V DC, as required in a central office environment. (see Figure 1)


Figure 1: The AdvancedTCA specification defines a common set of physical and functional requirements for boards and systems to be used as converged network elements.

While AdvancedTCA is an innovative technology standard, its commercial impact is what makes it so vital. Two elements enhance the impact of the standard. One element of course, is the convergence of networks that is requiring new equipment and new business paradigms (for example, all-IP and flexibility in deploying service). The other element resides in the cost savings that common platforms provide, by way of both economies of scale (volume) and reductions in the total cost of ownership, including operating expenses and capital equipment expenses.

ATCA will revolutionize the entire process of setting up a company by providing major reductions in the total cost of ownership (TCO). An independent analysis by the Yankee Group (Boston, MA) estimates a cost reduction of up to 35 percent for NEPs. (see Reference 1)

The analysis also concludes that an operator’s cost savings of 20 to 25 percent in operating expenses and up to 35 percent in capital expenses can be realized with the adoption of a standardized, modular architecture such as the ATCA Common Platform. The study examined the radio access portion of a WCDMA network. It assumed that all Radio Network Controller (RNC) elements and 30 percent of Node-B elements were capable of being implemented with standardized modular technology.

Standard platforms provide savings everywhere

The study also compared the characteristics of typical proprietary modular architectures with those of ATCA. The study’s TCO model indicated that by using standard modular platforms for these elements, an operator could expect to reap savings in power consumption, rental, and hardware spares of 24, 21, and 28 percent respectively, for the elements implemented with ATCA as compared to proprietary modular hardware. The study also indicated that technical labor and training cost savings of 27 percent and capital expenditure savings of 35 percent are achievable for ATCA based elements. These findings are applicable to ATCA in general, and also as part of the Intel Modular Communications Platform initiative.

In a study similar to the Yankee Group analysis, RHK, Inc. (South San Francisco, CA) concludes that current market conditions in the communications industry favor standardization. (see Reference 2)


Figure 2: Market analysis firm RHK expects that ATCA will see its widest adoption in wireless and edge applications.

The study says that carriers are contemplating the move to new, more cost effective architectures, and are therefore becoming increasingly interested in the benefits that can be garnered from standardized modular network element architectures. The study also concludes that ATCA has its largest momentum in the access and edge-network applications portions of the wireless market. (see Figure 2)

While ATCA defines redundant architectures and shelf management controllers for remote access, it leaves software support and additional features for the customer to implement. The Force ATCA Common Platform is an ATCA implementation that addresses these additional features using other open standards, such as those from Open Source Development Lab (www.osdl.org) and Service Availability Forum (www.saforum.org), and those software partners such as GoAhead Software (Bellevue, WA) and Solid Information Technology Corp. (Mountain View, CA) that apply the standards.

The Force Common Platform architecture is planned so that the same hardware and software platform can be deployed in any converged network application, whether it is a server, a C-Plane or a D-Plane application. Hence the internal logistics at the customer is simplified. Because the same platform is used in different parts and products of the organization, fewer differing components are needed, as well as less education and training required throughout the organization. The savings extend to everything from administration, to purchasing, engineering, sales, marketing and technical support.

Meeting the challenge

Clearly, there are multiple challenge to ATCA adoption. Most of the economic benefits of a common platform go to the operator, not to the equipment provider, while the risk for equipment providers is that standardization will lead to commoditization of system components. Opportunities abound as well, however. Equipment providers can leverage their networking system design expertise to turn the platform into a full system solution. By allowing vendors to add value during system implementation the ATCA can benefit the entire converged networking industry.

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Mathias Renner is the worldwide strategic marketing manager at Force Computers. The company is based in Fremont, CA, and is a Premier Member of the Intel® Communications Alliance.