San Jose, California – January 16 2013 – Mobixell Networks, the world’s leading independent provider of Mobile Video Optimization and Web Acceleration Technologies, today announced that it has completed a successful field test of the world’s first data optimization solution to be integrated into existing LTE access hardware. This type of solution will mean that, as mobile operators deploy new LTE sites, the deployments can include resource-saving, quality-enhancing data caching and optimization without adding any additional hardware in the access network.
Worldwide, many LTE networks are still in the build-out phase. While Mobixell can integrate its technology into existing 2G and 3G access networks, they developed their first access-based optimization and caching solution specifically for LTE so that operators who are already deploying LTE access infrastructure could deploy user-experience enhancing data optimization without incurring extra hardware costs while upgrading the network.
Mobixell deployed their Radio Access Network (RAN)-based optimization solution in the LTE access network of a leading European mobile operator as a proof-of-concept field test. This solution includes Mobixell Seamless Access video optimization, which enables operators to optimize video both in realtime and offline with built-in video caching of popular content. It was developed in cooperation with a major telecom infrastructure vendor, and integrated directly into their eNodeB, the network element that interfaces directly with end user devices.
Many mobile operators are pushing to deploy LTE networks so that they can offer super-fast mobile broadband to their subscribers. While LTE is faster, it will not eliminate network congestion. “In fact, LTE is more likely to increase congestion on mobile networks,” explained Yehuda Elmaliach, CTO, Mobixell. “As mobile subscribers discover how fast they can stream video with LTE, they will want to consume more and more mobile bandwidth.” This expectation is supported by data from a major mobile operator who recently reported that the 12% of their subscriber base that has adopted LTE are already using 35% of the network’s bandwidth.
Mobile network traffic management is traditionally performed in the core network. There are, however, advantages to moving data optimization and caching out to the access network, closer to end user devices. Fewer backhaul resources are required for traffic management and detection of congestion at the cell site is more accurate. Accurate congestion detection is a critical component in ensuring that optimization resources are applied only to data that contributes to the degradation of network performance. By performing congestion analysis and optimization close to the end user’s devices, operators can more confidently deliver high-quality data services as a part of a satisfying customer experience. As LTE proliferates, and end user expectations for speed and performance increase, the importance of these advantages is multiplied.
Patrick Lopez, CEO of {Core Analysis}, a leading analyst in mobile OTT video, commented, “RAN-based video optimization is an interesting development by Mobixell in the wake of LTE rollouts. By bringing optimization and caching out to the access network, operators can better target a significant cause of data congestion and potentially degraded customer experience. These are problems that will continue to demand solutions even as LTE becomes commonplace.”
In addition to the solution that was deployed in field test, Mobixell also offers further network resource reduction with a private cloud-based platform. By offloading optimization processing to a private cloud, the RAN-based optimization solution can share resources with many eNodeB or core-based optimization and other network management functions.
For mobile operators, targeted optimization on the RAN will result in reduced optimization resources and more satisfied data customers. In addition, there is the possibility for additional revenue generation, with the operator able to ‘rent’ consistently optimized service to Content Delivery Networks, who place a high value on the quality of their content, which is delivered at an increasing pace on mobile networks.
