Xplornet develops VoLTE with Cisco and Metaswitch virtualised architecture

Wireless broadband operator Xplornet, a recent entrant to Canada’s mobile market via its Xplore Mobile division in Manitoba, has chosen technology from Metaswitch and Cisco today for the build-out of its 4G LTE mobile network services in the province, based on a fully-virtualised private cloud solution enabling VoLTE. The joint solution includes Metaswitch Clearwater Core and Rhino Telecom Application Metaswitch, with Cisco Ultra Virtualized Packet Core running on Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS). Tim Dinesen, executive vice president of networks at Xplornet, said: ‘This is a cloud-native, scalable and redundant solution that will allow us to meet our customers’ expectations of a world-class mobile service … Bypassing the traditional hardware-centric approach significantly lowers both our CAPEX and OPEX.’ Kishen Mangat, vice president and general manager, Cisco Service Provider Mobility, added: ‘With a virtualised architecture, Xplornet can launch new services faster via automated, cloud-powered software that offers the scale to accommodate intense traffic demands … Working closely with Metaswitch, we can offer Xplornet a true cloud-native solution with the performance and agility they require to launch VoLTE and other advanced voice services.’