ADTRAN And Accuris Networks Partner To Extend Cellular Service Continuity To The Wireless LAN

ADTRAN®, Inc., (NASDAQ:ADTN), a leading provider of cloud connectivity, enterprise communications and virtual mobility solutions, today announced a partnership with Accuris Networks, a leading provider of Wi-Fi offload and roaming inter-working solutions, to deliver a secure, flexible and scalable network virtualization architecture for cloud-based mobile offload and roaming. Accuris has joined ADTRAN’s Total Solution Alliance Program, partnering with ADTRAN to provide highly reliable, performance-enhanced network solutions that enable converged services with superior quality and availability.

Mobile offload solutions are enabling mobile operators to satisfy the growing demand for mobile data. The proliferation of smartphones and tablets has created congestion on 3G/4G/LTE mobile networks. Fortunately, these devices can also support a data session on Wi-Fi networks which opens the possibility of easing the burden on cellular networks. However, most Wi-Fi networks are not designed to meet the challenge of offload. Wi-Fi networks are commonly designed around independent access points that cannot support access point-to-access point mobility or they are built around hardware-based controllers that create backhaul challenges. In addition, user authentication is designed for nomadic public access using a laptop computer and not for a mobile user with a smartphone.

ADTRAN’s unique approach, based on the Bluesocket virtual Wireless LAN solution (vWLAN), allows for the data session to be distributed and managed locally in the access point. The control plane is both centralized and virtualized so that it can reside anywhere in the cloud. With user control and session authentication taking place remotely, the need for data session backhaul is eliminated. This gives mobile network operators the maximum degree of freedom to design an optimal offload network. ADTRAN’s cloud-based mobile offload solution saves operators the expense and engineering challenges of coping with backhaul. At the same time, vWLAN supports access point-to-access point mobility, access point-based security policies, and user differentiation necessary to support offload.

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