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14
UMA ToDAY
SPRING 2008
UnMATcHeD FMc inveSTMenT Pro-
TecTion
In addition to the advantages discussed above,
the 3GPP UMA standard has one tremendous advantage
over alternative RAN Gateway device-to-core network
connectivity interface proposals: investment protection.
Upon installing a UMA-based RAN Gateway to support
a femtocell deployment, an operator is immediately
capable of offering a number of additional fixed-mobile
convergence (FMC) services, including 2G femtocell
services, 2G and 3G dual-mode handset services, fixed
VoIP services, and softmobile services (Figure 6).
Alternative RAN Gateway interface proposals enable
only the delivery of Iu traffic to a 3G handset through a
3G femtocell. There is no need to be locked into a single
function, single purpose RAN Gateway when a UMA-
based RAN Gateway offers the flexibility to support 2G
femtocells, as well as 2G/3G dual-mode Wi-Fi handsets.
With a UMA-based RAN Gateway, an operator can easily
justify its deployment based on any one of a number of
FMC services (e.g. femtocell, DMH, terminal adaptor...).
However, once deployed, the operator can leverage the
infrastructure to offer a number of additional FMC services.
All other approaches being proposed for the RAN Gateway
"Iu over IP" interface are singularly focused on support for
a single application: 3G femtocells.
Within 3GPP, UMA is known as the Generic Access Net-
work (GAN) specification. This is an appropriate description
of UMA ­ a generic access network interface, not specific to
any one FMC service.
A UniverSAL APProAcH
UMA is the 3GPP
standard `universal' mobile access technology for operators
to leverage the cost and performance of IP and deliver all
circuit, packet and IMS applications to subscribers over
the public internet. As such, UMA is the ideal approach
upon which to base the RAN Gateway femtocell device-to-
core network connectivity standard.
UMA offers the fastest, easiest path to standardization,
which translates into time-to-market.
It has more than a three year lead in identifying and
addressing the practical challenges of delivering mobile
services over the internet. And, at the end of the day, UMA
offers unmatched investment protection for femtocell
applications as well as future services.
Mobile Core
Network
(Circuit, Packet,
IMS Services)
Mobile Core
Network
(Circuit, Packet,
IMS Services)
Wi-Fi
Access Point
Standard
Handsets
Public
Home
Office
Broadband
Access
UMTS
2G/3G
Femtocells
Dual-Mode
Handsets
Softmobiles
Terminal
Adaptors
UMA-based
RAN Gateway
Figure 6: UMA Supports Multiple Fixed-Mobile Convergence Services