[Satnews] Sevis Systems, Inc. (Sevis) announces the successful integration with 4G/LTE smart picocell manufacturer Ranberry to deliver an optimized satellite backhaul alternative for remote areas.
The combined Ranberry-Sevis solution allows mobile network operators (MNO) and satellite service providers to expand mobile broadband coverage in low-density sites via affordable 4G/LTE small cells optimized for satellite backhaul. Ranberry´s objective to deliver an optimized satellite backhaul alternative was driven by the misalignments that exist between the low CAPEX of Ranberry´s affordable small cells and the high OPEX of satellite bandwidth, often used when deploying small cells in remote or hard-to-reach locations that are underserved by terrestrial access. Sevis´ software-defined optimization and acceleration technology proved to be synergistic with Ranberry´s smart LTE picocells; leveraging Sevis´ drastic reduction in satellite bandwidth to make remote LTE affordable not only from a CAPEX perspective but also from a satellite OPEX perspective.
Ranberry and Sevis began conducting interoperability and performance testing in 2014. After a rigorous validation and integration process, the companies successfully achieved substantial bandwidth savings via voice and data optimization and improved mobile user experience via TCP acceleration, which overcomes the satellite latency by boosting the speed of TCP-based applications such as mobile web browsing, file/app downloads and HTTP video streaming.
The Ranberry solution is known for its unique ability to provide high grade radio access network (RAN) performance with minimum radio planning and human intervention. Such advantages can now be used in remote sites that are only reachable via satellite thanks to Sevis´ 4G/LTE deep-packet inspection capabilities: Sevis fully decodes the LTE traffic on the Ranberry small cell and applies TCP-Acceleration and optimization to the mobile user data.
The IP backhaul solution resulting from the integration of Ranberry and Sevis is transport network agnostic and can thus seamlessly integrate with any satellite transport system including TDMA/SCPC broadband VSAT systems, across both traditional FSS and high-throughput satellite (HTS) networks. Furthermore, being based on standard LTE, the solution is interoperable with core network equipment from all major mobile vendors.
The solution is based on Ranberry´s LTE picocell hardware and Sevis' scalable 7000-series optimization technology with a rich, software-defined feature set. In addition to offering a cost-effective wireless backhaul alternative, the solution can also enable hybrid service models such as traffic “offload/overflow” via satellite in locations with saturated terrestrial backhaul links. Furthermore, LTE small cells combined with optimized satellite backhaul can be used to bridge the digital divide, via expanded mobile connectivity, and as a way to lower the total cost of ownership in government-driven universal service obligation (USO) programs.
Executive Comment
Alexander Berenov, Business Development Director of Ranberry, said, “Ranberry is a proven solution for expanding the mobile footprint in locations where the population density and/or particular traffic needs do not justify use of costly macrocells. Ranberry´s indoor and outdoor 4G/LTE picocells coupled with Sevis optimization and acceleration is a powerful combination since it now seamlessly extends our advantages to remote areas, which can only be served via satellite backhaul. We are happy to have found the opportunity to work closely with Sevis, known for delivering high ROI solutions for major mobile network operators (MNO) and satellite players worldwide”.
Tim Peyla, VP of Business Development at Sevis Systems, said, “Clearly, there are enormous opportunities for satellite service providers and MNO´s to provide mobile broadband in remote and low density locations by deploying small cells with satellite backhaul. The Ranberry-Sevis combination aims at precisely addressing the need to offer an affordable small cell solution at both CAPEX and OPEX levels. We believe that the emergence of high throughput satellites (HTS), in combination with our optimization and acceleration technology will further facilitate use of LTE over satellite; so we are happy to have validated our solution with Ranberry and look forward to jointly empowering smart small cell deployments worldwide.”
