CDMA Carriers Offered Cost Effective 3G Packet Data Services

Bridgewater Systems and CommWorks are offering Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) carriers a cost-effective means to deliver third generation (3G) high-speed packet data services to their subscribers.

The companies today announced they have concluded testing of Bridgewater’s Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) products for user access to wireless data networks; and the Total Control® 1000 Packet Data Service Node (PDSN) from CommWorks ( see left ), the point of entry into the wireless packet data network for mobile subscribers. The Bridgewater Systems AAA Service Controller is now designated as CommWorks® Tested.

In the architecture of a 3G CDMA2000 1X network, a base station controller connects directly to the Total Control 1000 PDSN. The PDSN performs the traffic aggregation function similar to that handled by circuit switches in second-generation networks. The PDSN uses AAA servers, such as Bridgewater Systems’ AAA Service Controller, for subscriber authentication, user service permissions, call accounting information and traffic management for mobile data services.

“Our relationship with Bridgewater Systems is an example of CommWorks’ commitment to open systems and ‘best-in-class’ technology,” said John Bartucci, director, wireless product management, CommWorks. “Bridgewater’s AAA solution has been well received by customers deploying it in their packet data networks.”

“This agreement is an excellent example of two segment leaders working together to provide customers with the best solution available in the market,” said Derek Smyth, president and CEO of Bridgewater Systems. “The Bridgewater/CommWorks offering is ideal for wireless carriers that need an effective solution today and that want to support new and innovative billable service offerings in the future. ”

Bridgewater Systems AAA Service Controller offers wireless providers a number of advantages including support for all circuit switched and packet-based wireless technologies, including CDMA2000, GPRS and 802.11; proven scalability in the largest of networks with a flexible deployment model; simple provisioning that can save up to 40 percent on system administration costs; and easy integration with legacy systems via a wide range of application programming interfaces (APIs).

As one product offering in the suite of Bridgewater solutions, Bridgewater Systems AAA Service Controller can work alone, with other vendors competitive products, or in conjunction with the remainder of the Bridgewater product suite. Customers can incrementally deploy the functionality they need today – and in the future. The suite of Bridgewater products includes Revenue Formatter, Revenue Collector, IP Address Manager, Port Quota Controller, User Session Controller, Content Access Controller and the Session Terminator.