Cisco Leverages Starent

Cisco has expanded the ASR Series platforms with the introduction of the Cisco ASR 5000 as a result of the Starent acquisition. The addition of the ASR 5000 gives Cisco a comprehensive end-to-end Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture.

The Cisco ASR 5000 is purpose-built for the mobile network and is the centerpiece of the Cisco mobile Internet network architecture, allowing service providers to utilize Cisco networking expertise across any access, including 2G/3G/4G mobile networks.

Cisco’s end-to-end IP Mobile Multimedia Architecture consists of a comprehensive portfolio of products including the ASR5000, ASR 1000, ASR 9000, 7600, MWR, CRS-1, Unified Computing System and Nexus series. This portfolio of products spans mobile packet core, enhanced packet core, IP-RAN and Ethernet access, IP edge, IP core and data center solutions.

The Cisco ASR 5000 will be one of the products managed by the newly formed Cisco Mobile Internet Technology Group, led by Ashraf Dahod, the former president and CEO of Starent Networks.

Cisco also introduced a new Mobility Unified Reporting System for the Cisco ASR 5000, providing mobile operators with a comprehensive set of reporting and management tools.

Cisco will discuss and demonstrate its IP NGN architecture for the mobile Internet at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Feb. 15-18, in Barcelona, Spain.

Mobile Data Report

The results of the Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Global Mobile Data Forecast for 2009-2014 indicates that global mobile data traffic increased 160 percent over the past year to 90 petabytes per month, or the equivalent of 23 million DVDs.

During the five-year forecast period, global mobile data traffic is projected to increase by a factor of 39 and reach 3.6 exabytes per month by 2014.  The report also concludes that global mobile data traffic is growing 2.4 times faster than global fixed broadband data traffic.