MUNICH, Germany, January 15 /PRNewswire/ --

- ADSL2+ Links Viable Alternative to Expensive Leased Lines

T-Mobile is ramping up its backhaul infrastructure in readiness for the
latest generation of mobile HSDPA data services. To do so, it is deploying
gateways from RAD Data Communications. The pilot phase in Germany has
concluded with successful tests, and expansion based on RAD's ACE-3000
gateways is now in full swing. These gateways give T-Mobile, the mobile
communication subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG, the added option of
connecting HSDPA-enabled NodeBs (3G base stations) via low-cost ADSL2+ lines
and drawing on the services of its sister company T-Com. Equipment from RAD
is also to be used in other T-Mobile networks later on.

"HSDPA needs more bandwidth. So T-Mobile wanted an economical solution to
expand what are known as the 'mobile backhaul' links between base stations
and radio network controllers (RNCs)," says Adolf Nadrowski, VP RAN Strategy
at T-Mobile Germany. "It made sense to do without expensive E1 leased lines
and, instead, access a very well-developed DSLAM infrastructure and T-Com's
transport networks and buy DSL backhaul as a service."

For UMTS and HSDPA backhaul, however, the 3rd Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP) has singled out ATM as the standard technology for the time
being. Ethernet-enabled mobile equipment is only gradually being introduced
as a platform for packet-switched transport infrastructures. That explains
why NodeB manufacturers still only supply their equipment with E1 interfaces,
and not the Ethernet interfaces that they would need to connect to DSL lines.
The same goes for RNCs, which still feature STM-1 interfaces and, therefore,
remain ATM devices.

"We rank as a pioneer in the field of pseudowire technology. This order
from T-Mobile thus comes as powerful confirmation that we are on the right
track," notes Volker Bendzuweit, Managing Director of RAD Data Communications
GmbH. "In the phase where conventional telecommunication technologies are
giving way to dedicated packet-switched infrastructures, there is vast
potential for strategies that use virtual lines to emulate services."

Pseudowire Technology

To enable ATM services (E1 UNI or STM-1 UNI) to be emulated over
packet-switched services (Ethernet/MPLS/IP), gateways in the ACE-3000 series
employs ATM PWE3 (pseudowire emulation edge-to-edge). The RAD gateways use
pseudowire technology between NodeBs (i.e. HSDPA base stations) and RNCs
(Radio Network Controllers) to emulate ATM tunnels through Ethernet networks.
By doing so, they enable backhaul resources to be allocated at low cost - and
facilitate delivery of the latest 3G services.

About RAD

Established in 1981, privately owned RAD Data Communications has achieved
international recognition as a major manufacturer of high quality access
equipment for data communications and telecommunications applications. These
solutions serve the data and voice access requirements of service providers,
incumbent and new carriers, and enterprise networks, by reducing
infrastructure investment costs while boosting competitiveness and
profitability. The company's installed base exceeds 10,000,000 units and
includes more than 150 carriers and operators around the world. These
customers are supported by 23 RAD offices and more than 300 channel partners
in 164 countries.

RAD is a member of the RAD Group of companies, a world leader in
networking and internetworking product solutions.

RAD Data Communications site: http://www.rad.com

Contact

    Bob Eliaz, RAD Data Communications
    +972-3-6458134
    bob@rad.com