Italian operator 3 Italia has appointed Ericsson to overhaul its mobile IP backbone network, with Cisco deploying and integrating technologies and services.
Cisco’s involvement comes as part of its agreement with Ericsson late last year to develop services for next-generation networks, citing collaboration on network architectures for 5G and internet of things (IoT) technologies, as well as solutions around routing, data centres, networking and cloud mobility.
The 3 Italia project will see Ericsson and Cisco deliver their latest router technology with a scalable platform that enables personalised services for both fixed and mobile users, Ericsson said at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The proposed revamp will also feature Cisco’s Firepower 9300 security appliance, which protects the mobile packet core against impaired performance and service stability.
Nunzio Mirtillo, Head of the Mediterranean Region at Ericsson, said: “By leveraging complementary capabilities from Ericsson and Cisco, we are paving the way for 5G, meeting increasing consumer and data traffic demands.”
Ericsson has managed 3 Italia’s network, supporting HSPA/HSPA+ and LTE connectivity, for more than a decade. The new mobile IP backbone network will expand its network capacity and data throughput, so 3 Italia can meet increasing demand for data traffic.