The IP/MPLS Forum has approved the first technical specification under its MPLS in Mobile Backhaul Initiative (MMBI), which defines how MPLS can be used to backhaul traffic for mobile operators.
Mobile backhaul networks traditionally have used TDM- or ATM-based backhaul facilities to support revenue-generating services which are sensitive to delay and loss and require a high level of network availability. Today’s mobile backhaul networks must support these legacy services while also supporting the increasing demand for data services and bandwidth.
In order to meet these requirements, MMBI proposes a general framework for the use of MPLS technology to transport TDM, ATM, Ethernet and IP RAN backhaul traffic over converged access, aggregation and core networks.
The technical specification provides a specific framework and set of requirements for the use of MPLS in the mobile wireless access and aggregation networks across various RAN interfaces and technologies.
“The goal of the IP/MPLS Forum’s work on mobile backhaul is to provide guidelines on the architecture and technology choices for IP/MPLS-based RAN backhaul across legacy as well as IP and converged networks for LTE,” said David Sinicrope, vice chairman of the IP/MPLS Forum and senior manager at Redback Networks, in a statement. “With the introduction of this first technical specification, the framework now includes a reference architecture which can be implemented to deploy MPLS in the mobile backhaul network and meet the needs of operators for legacy as well as next-generation services.”
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