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Overview
Range Networks is a new breed of Network Equipment Provider. It is meeting the demand for low cost, easy to install GSM cellular networks for remote rural service, rapid deployment and private industrial networks on ships, oil rigs or in mines.
1 Signaling System #7 is a protocol that has dominated telephone system core networks since the 1980's. It is the
basis for ISDN and Intelligent Network technologies. The Mobile Application Part (MAP) is an extension added to SS7 in the 1990's to support functions required by cellular networks.
Published by Range Networks. Content may not be repurposed or reproduced without the express permission of Range Networks. April 2012
www.rangenetworks.com
The key ingredient that makes this change possible is OpenBTS, a software defined radio implementation of the GSM radio access network that presents normal GSM handsets as virtual SIP endpoints. In other words, through OpenBTS, any GSM handset appears as a SIP device, without the need for any special software on the phone. Significant cost savings from this approach are due to several factors: For small networks, the core network hardware can be reduced to a single commodity server, or core network applications can even be run on excess resources in the base stations themselves. For larger networks, the core network hardware is based on commodity servers and IP routing equipment. Because all of the cellular network software runs on Linux and connects with commonly used TCP/IP and UDP/IP protocols, the core network can even be virtualized and run in a ``cloud'' service, like Amazon's EC2. All of the proprietary software found in a conventional GSM network can replaced with opensource applications like Apache, SIP Express Router and MySQL, eliminating recurring licensing fees.
Because the new core network is based on IETF internet-age protocols, newly graduated engineers and software developers do not require additional training to deal with archaic SS7 technologies.
Beyond cost savings, the conversion of the network from legacy telco protocols to internet protocols gives the operator new opportunities to implement custom speech, text and USSD applications, using web service technologies like Apache and Ruby, or through cloud-based application platforms like Tropo or Twillio. These applications can even be installed in individual cell sites to provide locally-tailored service.
Published by Range Networks. Content may not be repurposed or reproduced without the express permission of Range Networks. April 2012
www.rangenetworks.com
Internet Gateway
IP
public IP network
Um SIP/IAX/IP SIP
SIP-I/SS7
DIAMETER SS7-MAP
OpenBTS
Messaging Server
SMPP SS7-MAP
PLMN
In this diagram, the outside networks are: Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) This is the conventional global wireline telephone network, based on SS7. Connections to this network are required to place and receive telephone calls. Public Land-Mobile Network (PLMN) This is the conventional global cellular network. The PLMN is similar to the PSTN, but includes features to support handset mobility (the ``MAP''). Connections to this network are required to support cellular roaming Public IP network This is the internet. This includes private, managed, bi-lateral connections between operators using Internet technology. Connections to this network are required to support data services like web browsing and email. Connections to this network can also be used to route telephone calls and text messaging to outside gateway operators with their own connections to the PSTN and PLMN.
Published by Range Networks. Content may not be repurposed or reproduced without the express permission of Range Networks. April 2012
www.rangenetworks.com
Internet Gateway
The purpose of the internet gateway is to bind IP addresses to GPRS data sessions on the handsets. Its function is the same as that of a GGSN, but it is implemented using much simpler Linux IP routing features.
2 3
Named after the ``U'' interface of ISDN, on which GSM is modeled Examples of such products include Asterisk, FreeSWITCH, yate and Cisco 5400 series gateways.}
Published by Range Networks. Content may not be repurposed or reproduced without the express permission of Range Networks. April 2012
www.rangenetworks.com
Network Integration
Connecting to the PSTN
Integration into the PSTN is the same as for any VoIP network via an SS7 or ISDN gateway function in the GS. For small carriers, this service can be purchased from a commercial VoIP carrier, in which case the GS is just a SIP switch.
Published by Range Networks. Content may not be repurposed or reproduced without the express permission of Range Networks. April 2012
www.rangenetworks.com
Published by Range Networks. Content may not be repurposed or reproduced without the express permission of Range Networks. April 2012
www.rangenetworks.com