Cisco builds IP NGN mobile core for 3 Sweden

Cisco Systems is building a new mobile core network for Hi3G Access Sweden (3) based on IP Next Generation Network (NGN) technology, the US network vendor reports in a press release. The network, which is being implemented by Cisco partner Atea, will support the strong growth in mobile broadband traffic over the 3 network that has resulted from the launch of 3’s ‘Turbo 3G’ HSDPA service. According to the release, in the second quarter of 2007, 3, part-owned by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa, had 44% market share in the Swedish mobile broadband market. The Cisco mobile core IP network connects Turbo 3G users to the internet and 3’s broadband data services. To cope with significant increases in the number of subscribers using 3.5G applications, the network upgrade is designed to provide optimum network performance and capacity to maintain a continuous level of service quality for existing users, and to meet the increasing demand from new customers. ‘The number of users of mobile broadband is continuing to increase rapidly,’ said Peder Ramel, regional group chief executive officer of 3, adding that ‘we are keeping a step ahead by expanding the mobile core IP capacity to satisfy this demand and provide room for future growth and innovation. By investing in an IP NGN from Cisco, we can continue to offer world-class Turbo 3G services with the capacity to support multimedia applications such as music downloads and video streaming.’