ACADEMIA

Extreme Networks announced general availability of the E4G, an all Ethernet-based cell-site router for mobile backhaul deployments. The first product shipments of the E4G were delivered to Finnet Telecommunications Group company, SSP Yhtiot. SSP provides mobile backhaul services to all local mobile operators in its area in Finland.

Working through mobile infrastructure companies such as Ericsson and Motorola, Extreme Networks core Ethernet switches have been deployed in as many as 19 of the 20 largest mobile operators. Mobile backhaul deployments represent an adjacent market opportunity for Extreme that will allow mobile operators to migrate to faster 4G networks over time.

SSP is deploying Extreme Networks E4G routers at its cellular towers to deliver faster data, voice and video services to its mobile operator customers. At the heart of the SSP deployment is an all-IP Ethernet solution. With the Extreme Networks E4G solution, SSP can deliver mobile backhaul for services up significantly faster than 3G networks. The faster speeds are made possible by software enhancements such as the 1588 precision time protocol (PTP), in addition to ultra-dense Gigabit Ethernet ports.

"Mobile consumers have a growing demand for mobile data traffic, including multimedia entertainment and business communications, and to meet this need for our mobile operator customers, SSP requires an advanced and scalable Ethernet Mobile Backhaul solution from Extreme Networks," said Riku Paarni, Director, SSPNET Operators and Services at SSP. "By deploying E4G cell-site router, SSP can support the migration to the faster 4G speeds while also supporting legacy network infrastructures (T1/E1 TDM)."

Extreme Networks E4G MBH solution helps meet the evolving demands of mobile operators through resilient synchronous Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) backhaul that provides support for multiple generations of services. This fully scalable mobile backhaul architecture helps ease the migration from legacy 2G and 3G radios to next-generation 4G mobile services, LTE, offering boosted performance with line-rate Gigabit Ethernet and capabilities for 10 GbE and beyond.

"Mobile data traffic continues to grow rapidly and 4G networks will ultimately serve to underpin the daily communications of millions of global users," said David Ginsburg, CMO of Extreme Networks. "Extreme Networks is proud to work with SSP as it advances its network with our all-Ethernet cell-site routers."

Mobile service provider revenue growth is increasingly driven by mobile services, smartphones and tablet applications that need high-speed access to data-hungry applications.

Featuring a 1RU form factor, the Extreme Networks E4G-400 enables 4G mobile backhaul networks through three key capabilities - carrier-class resiliency, line-rate performance and synchronization. A scalable cell site aggregation router, the E4G enables mobile operators to manage and aggregate TDM and Ethernet services and their associated protocols onto a single, economical and efficient Ethernet mobile backhaul network.