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NEC Launches World's First Virtualization Mobile Core Network Solution Bolstering NEC SDN Solutions' Lineup for the Telecom Carrier Market

*** For immediate use October 22, 2013


Tokyo, October 22, 2013 - NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) has begun sales to telecom carriers of the world's first (*1) commercial virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC), a virtualized mobile core network solution that achieves Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), network functions on a virtualization infrastructure running on a commercial-off-the-shelf server hardware with Intel Architecture(IA).

The solution will first be offered as one of NEC SDN Solutions' (*2) Network Functions Virtualization Solutions for the telecom carrier market unveiled in July this year. Evolved Packet Core (EPC), the mobile core network accommodating LTE and other mobile access networks, is composed of functions such as Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (S-GW) and PDN gateway (P-GW).

NEC vEPC succeeded in virtualizing all of the functions on an IA server while achieving Carrier Grade Service quality and capabilities. As a result, this solution provides for telecom carrier needs, including TCO optimization, dynamic and quick network capacity scaling and management, and rapid launch of new services that deliver new revenue sources. Moreover, the use of a virtualization infrastructure makes it possible to dynamically boost server resources according to network traffic volume and service trends. Furthermore, the use of IA servers significantly reduces equipment costs and procurement lead time when compared to existing dedicated hardware for mobile core network products.

NEC has delivered the vEPC as part of a communication infrastructure development project in Myanmar, with the system scheduled to launch commercial operation in December this year.

Key features of the new product are outlined below.

  1. Achieves efficient utilization and expandability of resources due to increased communication processing
    NEC's vEPC employs the NFV concept of achieving various network functions through a virtualization infrastructure running on an IA server. This enables scaling out from a single server and achieves efficient resource utilization.

  2. Achieves the high-performance and high-availability qualities that telecom carriers demand in a system, even in a virtualization environment
    By applying Intel's Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) and co-working with Intel for DPDK enhancement for virtualization, NEC's vEPC enables high-speed data plane processing in virtualization infrastructure on an IA server. Furthermore, the new vEPC enables the flexible configuration of system capacity between the control plane, which handles mobile service control based on its load status, and the user plane, which handles large amounts of data plane traffic on the same COTS IA server pool.

    Also, by installing NEC's carrier grade hypervisor into the virtualization infrastructure, the vEPC realizes Carrier Grade services with the real-time performance, service stability and reliability that telecom carriers demand.


  3. Achieves reduced TCO with the use of IA servers
    By installing EPC functionality through a virtualization infrastructure running on an IA server, capital expenditures (CAPEX) are significantly reduced. In addition, the use of COTS IA servers enables operators to select the hardware for vEPC to build optimum virtualization systems among various virtual network and service functions. Also, an auto-healing function (automatic restoration) that utilizes virtualization technology while maintaining the reliability of dedicated hardware based EPCs, allows this vEPC to support additional reliability features that reduce operational costs (OPEX), such as eliminating the need for rushed replacements in the event of a hardware failure.
In recent years, telecom carriers' networks have become increasingly complex, and to introduce new communications equipment based on traffic demand, tasks such as designing new networks and procuring dedicated hardware have required a great deal of time and money. The issue of sharply rising operational costs associated with additional capital expenditures has also emerged. This solution addresses these issues.

With the aim of realizing a safe, secure, efficient, fair and prosperous society, NEC will continue to develop technologies, products and servers, forge alliances with partners, actively propose solutions to customers, further strengthen its ICT-based SDN business, help create new value for customers and contribute to the development of advanced social infrastructure.


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(*1) As of October 22, based on NEC research.

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.  For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. (C)2013 NEC Corporation.

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