Broadband Mobile Access Gateways Allow Mobility Among 3G, Wi-Fi, 4G

A new study by Network Strategy Partners (NSP) examines the role of broadband mobile access gateways in scaling 3G networks to support high performance and increased RF coverage while progressing toward 4G infrastructure. Specifically, the gateway’s role in interconnecting 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi hotspots, and WiMAX networks is examined.

According to the study (Mobile Broadband Access Gateways: Bridging the Gap Between 3G and 4G Networks), the gateways allow service providers to offer secure data services across Wi-Fi hotspots or 3G femtocell access tunnels. The gateways also pave the way for next generation 4G LTE and WiMAX networks.

“Service providers are being forced into making capital investments in 3G infrastructure to meet rapid demand growth that cannot be reused in 4G networks,” said NSP’s Peter Fetterolf, partner and author of the study.

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“Mobile broadband access gateways mitigate the risk of stranded 3G infrastructure by offloading traffic from 3G network infrastructure, providing mobility between 3G, Wi-Fi, and 4G, improving RF coverage, and increasing data rates. The gateways also are an important part of 4G standards-based infrastructure.”

The study found that the key gateway benefits include provision of seamless mobility between alternative radio networks and the Radio Access Network (RAN); reduction of need to upgrade 3G network capacity by offloading traffic to alternative networks; improvement in RF coverage (especially indoors) and an increase in end-user data rates and performance, which enhances the customer experience, enables new services and applications, and consequently reduces subscriber churn.