Vasona Networks expands RAN deal with Telefonica UK in London

A pilot that Vasona Networks started with Telefonica UK just over a year ago has led to a full commercial deployment.

Designed to improve mobile data performance for customers, the deal involves the deployment of the Vasona SmartAIR 1000 edge application controller and SmartVision analysis suite to cover O2 customers on 3G and 4G networks in greater London.

Vasona describes the SmartAIR 1000 as a pioneering edge application controller that intelligently enables mobile operators to enhance subscriber quality of experience (QoE) without having to undertake expensive and complex upgrades of raw capacity.

Specifically, the SmartAIR solution leverages dynamic rate control with feedback (DRCF) traffic management technology, detecting congestion at the cell level and taking immediate action to minimize latency and avoid radio access network (RAN) packet loss. That way, the quality that the user experiences on the existing network improves, as well as improving the performance of new RAN investments.

The software suite also provides a dashboard, metadata and regular reports that show real-time and historical QoE performance across individual cells.

 Network diagram showing where Vasona's solutions fit into the mix.
 (Image source: Vasona 

Vasona's technology sits in between the RAN and the core. The company has said that it's close enough to the edge that it can understand exactly which cells are congested and where the traffic is going and close enough to the core that it's easy to manage.

"At every stage of our work with Vasona Networks, the company demonstrates the ability to drive network performance improvements during peak times of the day so that our customers get a consistent experience when using their mobile device," said Brendan O'Reilly, Telefónica O2 CTO, in a press release.

In 2014, Vasona scored its first announced customer win with regional wireless operator Cellcom, which agreed to deploy Vasona's SmartAir1000 edge application controller and SmartVision analysis suite across its footprint in Wisconsin and Michigan.

For more:
- see this release

Related articles:
Former Vodafone director of network engineering joins Vasona as CTO
Vasona inks congestion management pilot deal with Telefonica UK
Vasona's traffic–shaping technology deployed by Cellcom