MWC 2013: Ruckus unveils carrier-class smart Wi-Fi solutions

Ruckus Wireless has unveiled a wide range of new carrier-class Smart Wi-Fi products-key ingredients service providers can utilize to quickly and easily inject capacity into their networks.

The rapid growth of mobile data services, driven by smartphones, laptops, and tablets has accelerated data-traffic growth to the point where macro cellular networks are no longer sufficient to meet subscriber demand in many high-density indoor and outdoor settings. While new macro cellular technology, such as long-term evolution (LTE), is being introduced to address this capacity crunch, it will provide only partial relief, as traffic volumes continue to grow faster than operators can economically add capacity.

Consequently, mobile operators are rapidly adopting Wi-Fi as an additional radio access network (RAN) option to augment mobile capacity. At the same time, fixed line carriers and multiple system operators (MSOs) are also deploying Wi-Fi for public access to enhance their service offerings, reduce subscriber churn and enter new markets such as managed enterprise wireless LAN (WLAN) services.

With 600 MHz of harmonized unlicensed spectrum, Wi-Fi has become an essential and strategic element to carriers' densification strategies, and an ideal technology for service providers looking to support subscribers armed with multiple Wi-Fi enabled smart devices and bandwidth hungry apps.

The Ruckus SmartCell Architecture gives service providers a scalable, flexible and highly agile blueprint for implementing Smart Wi-Fi to address the data-driven transformation occurring across the industry.

 

Ruckus SmartCell Architecture delivers a wide range of options for Wi-Fi integration that best suit existing mobile operator, MSO, and fixed line infrastructures-addressing all aspects of a network deployment-radio access, network control, subscriber management and value added services.

The Ruckus SmartCell Architecture achieves this by focusing on five key integration concerns: simplifying and enhancing the user experience with Hotspot 2.0; standardizing and securing the wireless connection through the use of 802.1x and 802.11i; increasing the reach and reliability of the radio access network; integrating Wi-Fi with existing core systems at the network edge; and enabling advanced service functionality.

The products and technologies built upon the Ruckus SmartCell Architecture give service providers the key ingredients to easily weave Wi-Fi into the fabric of their existing networks with the goal of improving today's mobile experience and shielding users from having to know which radio access technology they are using. Ultimately, the Ruckus SmartCell Architecture enables a highly scalable system for service providers to allow the seamless transition of users between 3G/4G and Wi-Fi.