Connection to Access Networks

3GPP EPC encompasses provides a coherent support for the communication over multiple access networks of heterogenous radio technologies, transparent to the applications on both the mobile device and on the service provider side.

OpenEPC Rel. 3 supports fully as core network the LTE access technology through its eNodeB and MME functions and through the integration with the HSS and the S-GW. Additionally, OpenEPC supports the other 3GPP access technologies i.e. GPRS and UMTS - through its own implementation of SGSN and its integration with the core network.

For trusted and untrusted non-3GPP accesses, OpenEPC provides authentication and authorization through the AAA server, using EAP-AKA/EAP-AKA'. Specifically for WiFi, an interface to the RADIUS server was integrated.

The radio technologies are not part of the OpenEPC Rel. 3.

Since Rel. 1, OpenEPC is able to offer support as core network for the various wireless access networks. However, the project stems from the R&D domain and is still at its initial stages of integration with off-the-shelf radio access technologies which will follow in OpenEPC Rel. 4. Therefore, a complete integration with the real access technologies is not yet available except for the LTE access and trusted non-3GPP WiFi? access. On one hand this means that alternative solutions, like transparent tunneling over commercially-available access networks and emulations over WiFi?, are provided, which would significantly reduce the start-up costs of the testbeds setups.

On the other hand OpenEPC currently prioritizes access network integrations as part of future developments. As such, please contact us with your requirements on specific reference points with Radio Access Technologies and we will get back to you with predictable roadmaps and concrete offerings. Support for Femtocell technology as well as 3GPP deep integration with 2G/3G interfaces will be added in the next time interval as to enable a complete testbed including a vast majority of access networks.