US : Catapult Communications announced that, under contract to NEC Corporation, the Company has developed a prototype protocol converter system that can provide interoperability among various generations of 3G network elements.

The protocol converter, which allows ATM-based 3G systems to be interconnected to IP-based next generation 3G systems even if there are differing higher level protocols involved, will facilitate NEC's development of next-generation 3G network equipment by allowing interconnection of otherwise incompatible units.

According to Glenn Stewart ( above ), Catapult's Chief Technical Officer, "This protocol converter system has many potential applications in the broader marketplace that we are currently exploring. It would allow UMTS operators to have multiple versions of network elements within the UTRAN interoperate seamlessly. The network elements may be 3GPP Release 99, Release 4, or Release 5, and they may use different transport protocols (IP or ATM). Protocol converter systems would allow developers and operators to test and deploy 3G products that otherwise would be incompatible with existing networks."

Mr. Stewart continued, "Catapult's prototype system employs an extremely fast mapping algorithm to relay user plane data transparently from one network element to the other while, in parallel, the control planes are intelligently transformed from R99, R4 or R5 as required. Currently there are no comparable products on the market. Although the prototype system was developed for NEC, Catapult retains ownership of the intellectual property it contains."

ABOUT CATAPULT

Catapult Communications is a leading supplier of advanced digital telecom test systems to global equipment manufacturers and service providers. The Catapult DCT2000(R) and MGTS(R) systems deliver superior high-end test solutions for hundreds of protocols and variants, spanning 3G, VoIP, GPRS, SS7, Intelligent Network, ATM, ISDN and other network environments. Catapult is headquartered at 160 South Whisman Road, Mountain View, CA. 94041. Tel: 650-960-1025. International offices are located in the U.K., Germany, France, Finland, Canada, Japan, China and Australia.