aCore

Comprehensive LTE Core Network

The Scalable Evolved Packet Core

Integrated full EPC for small and medium size LTE Network Operation

a leading LTE Small and Compact RAN solution provider

www.airspan.com

aCore
aCore provides smooth network
connectivity of LTE User Equipment
and seamless mobility.

aCore EPC
eNodeB
mobile component
fixed component

Carrier Grade LTE Core Network Solution

The EPC provides enhanced service control, advanced

provisioning and ensures efficient use of network resources.
The EPC components provide the functionality of access
control, packet routing and transfer, mobility management,
security, radio resource and network management. The
aCore EPC is an integrated solution consisting of MME,
Serving GW, PDN GW, HSS and PCRF components, or any
combination of these, providing a single box fully functional
solution. Airspans aCore is a low-footprint LTE mobility

Airspans aCore system is the Long

Term Evolution (LTE) Evolved Packet
Core (EPC) enabling intelligent,
reliable, rich services and security for
the fourth generation operators.

The EPC is designed to provide an all-IP, flat

architecture which provides high throughput and
reduced latency. EPCs reduce costs and support
real-time media-rich services with enhanced
quality of experience while also providing
interworking with legacy 2G/3G networks
connected via SGSN. The EPC controls all of the
components of a 4G network including macro,
micro and pico base stations and the user devices
they communicate with.

platform supporting from 50 up to 200,000 simultaneous

attached subscribers (active and idle), and offers one of
the best performance-to-price ratios in the industry. aCore
supports fixed, mobile and nomadic subscribers.

aCore provides:
Support for multiple access network types and
interfaces
Seamless, flexible evolution from non-LTE networks
End-to-End Quality of Service (QoS)
Session and subscriber management
Security
Voice and data integrity
Accurate billing, accounting and reporting
Seamless mobility, roaming and handovers
Support for multimedia services
Proper packet routing and filtering
Connectivity to IMS for VoLTE services
Connectivity to SaMOG and ePDG for Wifi
offloading
Carrier Grade HA Solution

A Single Box EPC

aCore Differentiators

aCore is a state-of-the-art family of

products, enabling the comprehensive
management and operation of LTE
networks.

and mobile subscribers ranging from 50 to 200,000 in

aCore supports a wide range of networks

including very small, rural networks; large,
urban networks; specialized industrial
applications; or anything in between.

Multi-scenario deployment Support for static, nomadic

number.
Low-footprint, low power consumption, scalable LTE
Mobility Platform
Distributed Architecture Flexible licensing and low costs
allows distributed architecture according operator needs
Optimized CapEx Complete EPC network components in
a single Network Element (single binary). Components can
be enabled/disabled as per deployment needs.

aCore is a single component which

integrates a large number of capabilities
to fully manage the functionality of every
aspect of a mobile, wireless network. All
EPC modules can be located in a single box
or separated according to network operator
requirements.

Flexible Licensing model based on number of subscribers.

Multiple combinations to serve varied subscriber
ranges
Easily scalable low up-front capital investment;
upscale after building user base
Software-based upgrade model uses same hardware
to support higher number of subscribers

aCore enables system management

including fault management, configuration,
monitoring, performance and security. It is
an easily scalable, seamless EPC solution
to fit the needs of any LTE network
operator.

aCore distributed EPC Architecture

Easy Interoperability Exposes open standard interfaces

enabling quick interoperability with standards-based peer
vendor nodes.
Easy Manageability The signal in a box solution reduces
the complexity of the network layout and presents an easy
to manage device with CLI/SNMP/GUI/Web.

THE aCORE EPC CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING SUBCOMPONENTS:

HSS (Home Subscriber Server): is a central
database that contains user and subscription-related
information. HSS stores user parameters, information
to authenticate the subscriber and the services a
user is allowed. It also contains the subscriber profile
such as QoS profile, access restriction and roaming
capabilities. The HSS may include an Authentication
Center (AuC) which generates authentication vectors
and security keys.
SGW (Serving Gateway): routes and forwards user
data packets, while also acting as the mobility anchor
for the user plane during inter-eNodeB handovers
and as the anchor for mobility between LTE and other
3GPP technologies. It retains information about the
bearers when the UE (User Equipment) is in idle mode.
It manages and stores UE contexts, e.g. parameters
of the IP bearer service, network internal routing
information. It also performs replication of the user
traffic in case of lawful interception. Network may
include several Serving Gateways, each handling
different data bearers at different times.
PGW (PDN Gateway): provides connectivity from
the UE to external packet data networks by being
the point of exit and entry of traffic for the UE. The
PGW performs policy enforcement, packet filtering,

charging support, lawful interception and packet

screening. Another key role is to act as the anchor for
mobility between 3GPP and non-3GPP technologies
such as WiMAX and 3GPP2 (CDMA 1X and EvDO).
MME (Mobility Management Entity): The MME is
the key control-node for the LTE access-network that
processes signalling between the UE and the core
network. It manages establishment, maintenance and
release of bearers and the connection, authentication
(by interacting with the HSS) and security between
the UE and the network. The MME Performs mobility
management, like tracking UE location and handover,
and manages subscription profile and service
connectivity. It checks the authorization of the UE and
enforces UE roaming restrictions.
PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function):
performs QoS, access and charging related control.
The PCRF is policy based and authorizes bearer
and session establishment and modification. Only
one PCRF is assigned to all the connections of one
subscriber, has access to subscriber profiles stored in a
database, and provides the QoS authorization (for QoS
class and bit rates) that determines the data flow and
ensures it is in accordance with the users subscription
profile.

aCore Models
aCore 10xx - For small deployments up to 5k subscribers
Standard Server
Dual Power Supply
4 x 1 GB Interfaces
Redundancy support

aCore 20xx - For medium deployments of 6k-20k subscribers

Carrier Grade 2 Slots aTCA Chassis
NEBS-3 / ETSI Compliant
Long life support
Dual AC or DC power option
Redundancy support
10 GB Interface

aCore 30xx - For large deployments of >20k

Carrier Grade aTCA Shelf (6 or 14 Slots)
Data processing cards
N+1 Data processing card redundancy
One or two shelf manager, one or two switches
RTM for 1GbE, 10GbE and Telco clock support
NEBS-3 / ETSI compliant
Long life support
Two redundant DC power entry modules (PEM) - (-40V to -72V DC)
Telco alarms (fuse failure, reverse voltage indicator, etc)
4 x hot-swappable fans, front to rear cooling
10 GB Interface per blade

Interfaces

S1-MME (eNodeB and MME)

S1-U (eNodeB and S-GW)
S1-C (MME and eNodeB)
S5/S8 (S-GW toward P-GW)
S6a (MME and HSS)

S8 (S-GW in VPLMN and P-GW in HPLMN)

S10 (between MMEs)
S11 (MME and S-GW)
SGi (P-GW and packet data network)
Rx (PCRF towards AF)

Gx (PGW towards PCRF)

Gz (SGW/PGW towards CDF)
Gn (PGW [functioning as GGSN[ to SGSN)
S2a (PGW towards SaMOG)
S2b (PGW towards ePDG)

COMPONENT FEATURES (RELEASE 10 COMPLIANT)

MME Features
IPv4/IPv6/IPv4v6 PDN Type

Service Requests and S1 Release (exit and enter idle-mode)

Default & Dedicated bearer establishment

Tracking Area Update - no MME/SGW change, only SGW

change, MME & SGW Change [UE initiated]

Multiple sessions for each IMSI (Max 11 bearers per session)

Ciphering and Integrity Protection of NAS messages
UE Attach & Detach [UE initiated]
PDN Connectivity & Disconnect [UE initiated]
PGW & SGW selection
Handover - X2, S1, inter-SGW, inter-MME

Network initiated disconnect & detach [PGW initiated bearer

release, HSS initiated subscription withdrawal]
System and Subscriber Tracing
Lawful Intercept
EMS with web based local/remote management
CSFB Support

PGW and SGW Features

UTRAN/GERAN/GPRS Network Support

Lawful Intercept

Multiple session, Multiple bearer support

Default & Dedicated bearers

IPv4, IPv6, IPv4v6 UE address

SNMP v2/v3 Management

CSFB Support

Lightweight data path (common with SGW when collocated)

PGW Features

S-GW Features

Combined PGW+GGSN functionality

UE Initiated Bearer Resource Requests

Dynamic Policy - filters, screening and bit rate based on

allocation from PCRF

Online/Offline charging

Static/Dynamic policy support

SGW handover support

Offline Charging

Security: IPSEC through pre-shared keys on S11, S5/S8, Gz

UE and network initiated dedicated bearers

Operator configuration of charging support for home, visited

and roamed subscribers

Static/Dynamic IP addresses allocation from local configured

IP pools or external DHCP server (IPv4/IPv6)
Volume and Time based Online Charging (Rel 2)

Tracking Area Update support

Multiple Data path support with single control plane

System and Subscriber Tracing

Quota Time Management

PCRF Features

HSS Features

LTE & 3G deployment

Operator configuration of APN Profile, IMSI profile, IMSI data

Policy management

Pure LTE deployment (including IMS support)

IPv4/IPv6 signalling

EIR Support

UE IP address with IPv4 and IPv6

White list of roaming partners (PLMN-ID)

System and Subscriber Tracing

Location query of subscriber using dynamic update locations

Alarms

AKA based authentication (key generation and distribution)

Dynamic policy through AF

Persistent storage in secondary database

Multi operator support

Multiple operator support (using unique PLMN-ID)

Flexible policy control

Subscriber Bulk Configuration

LTE and GGSN policy control

Scalable Architecture

Open interface for customer specific additional policy control

System Tracing

Open interface for DPI based policy control

Management Interface

Policy rules delivery to PCEF

CLI

GBR and non-GBR bearers

C Based APIs

Default and Dedicated bearers

Web-Based Interface

Policy control for IMS media session

Evolving 4G Networks by Densification to 5G

For more information about Airspan, its products

and solutions, please visit our web site:
www.airspan.com
or email:

About Airspan

sales@airspan.com

With over 1000 customers in over

100 countries and as a top vendor
for carrier-class LTE RAN access
and backhaul solutions, Airspan is
recognized as a leader and pioneer in
LTE and OFDMA technologies.

Airspan has sales offices in the following countries

Australia

China

India

Indonesia

Israel

Japan

Philippines

Russia

Sri Lanka

United Kingdom

United States

Headquarters
777 Yamato Road,
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
USA
aCore 04/16

Providing an expansive product

portfolio, Airspan offers customers the
widest selection of LTE products in the
industry with an unsurpassed level of
technology to benefit their business
case. Airspan has solutions spanning
the 700 MHz to 6 GHz frequency bands.
Contact Airspan today!