Plug In, Play OnConnect the pieces and build service agility across your global network

For satellite service providers, this means being able to turn on new services with speed and flexibility to meet the ever-increasing level of customer expectations. For telcos, it involves aligning satellite more closely with the core network in order to aggressively expand into new markets. And they are all looking for the ability to scale effortlessly to embrace growth.

Doing so requires more than simply boosting data rates and improving bandwidth efficiency. It involves enabling dynamic and flexible services that can be adjusted on demand across the entire global network.

At iDirect, we are providing you the building blocks that will enable you to transform your business. Advancements such as transparent IP transport, improved network architectures, optimized service fulfillment, and end-point intelligence help you step toward carrier-class quality while reducing operational costs.

This is a central part of our Intelligent Path Forward innovation strategy. The result is a more responsive network that improves customer satisfaction and boosts profits.

Competing in the global communications network today means being able to rapidly respond to every customer need.

At the heart of aligning satellite closer with the core network is the ability for all types of IP packet protocols to be routed anywhere necessary. This requires a seamless flow of traffic across all transport technologies.

The goal becomes for satellite to operate more like a mainstream access network—ensuring full visibility from one end to the other.

With the introduction of Layer2 over Satellite (L2oS), iDirect expands flexibility in how networks are being built. L2oS offers the option of emulating transparent Ethernet links to customer end points. This means that Ethernet traffic entering through the hub side of the network can exit on the remote side unchanged.

This helps simplify network deployment as changes can be made to traffic running over the L2oS network without reconfiguring the underlying VSAT network. It reduces the number of IP addresses that need to be setup and managed across the VSAT portion of the network, as well as the need for tunneling—all with the same iDirect quality of service.

Flexible IP Transport

L2oS Added Features

Hybrid Networks

Q-in-Q Tagging

Customer Tag Transparency

Advanced Header Compression

A robust header compression methodology called ROHCv2 minimizes Layer 2 header burden on a VSAT network, with the option to extend compression to Layer 3 and Layer 4 headers.

You can reserve the outer Q-in-Q tag, but provide the inner Q-in-Q tag to customers to manage.

Provides more than 16 million virtual network tag options for essentially unlimited scalability.

The option to operate hybrid networks where some traffic is run in Layer 2 bridging mode and others in Layer 3 routing mode, all over the same physical network separated by VLAN.

As you begin to adopt these new architectures, it is important to ensure the network infrastructure will support the type of service needed.

With iDirect Verified Designs we are actively identifying, testing and documenting every step of the network configuration, and helping match the right router and switching equipment with satellite equipment. This helps to ensure that the services and functionality set up on the satellite side can carry through on the terrestrial side.

As a Cisco Solution Technology Integrator (STI), we sell bundled network equipment globally for VSAT and have identified the best match between iDirect, Cisco and other network technologies to help build high-functioning, highly-available networks.

And this also helps from a total cost of ownership perspective. For example, when a customer calls in to troubleshoot an issue, we can reduce the time it takes to resolve that issue because we have the full picture of the network deployment involved.

iDirect Verified Designs offers the foundation to deliver carrier-class networking with the ability to scale with a high level of redundancy and availability.

The Right Configuration

End-Point IntelligenceIn order to capture premium value, you must be able to offer premium services. But this requires boosting end-point intelligence to deploy applications and expand functionality at the customer edge.

iDirect’s Embedded Computing (EC) series of remotes combine iDirect technology with “best in class” third-party applications to create a one-box solution built to support greater capabilities from a single remote site. And with a single-box solution, we help reduce the hardware and energy footprint, simplify installation and decrease points of failure.

You license supported applications that customize the remote to better meet specific service requirements. Today, iDirect offers four such applications:

SatHaulTM

SatHaulTM

Cisco 5921 Embedded Services Router

Extends Cisco IOS® software to the iDirect platform, bringing a router that would typically be placed into a separate box, together in a single-box solution.

Support of industry standard protocols for advanced end-point management across an iDirect L2oS-based network.

iDirect SatHaul™ Optimization

Improving the user experience and saving satellite bandwidth by backhauling 4G/LTE traffic over satellite.

Advanced features focused on acceleration, speed, and compression provide most effective 4G/LTE solution over satellite.

Sevis 2G/3G Optimization

Designed for mobile operators looking to connect remote and rural locations in a more cost-effective manner, and make the most efficient use of satellite bandwidth.

Optimizes 2G and 3G IP traffic from any mobile infrastructure vendors.

XipLink XVOptimization

Improves throughput and efficiency of traffic in enterprise networks.

Embedded XipOS overcomes the challenges of TCP across any wireless data link.

Optimized Service FulfillmentThe next step in the process is to ensure optimized service fulfillment that makes it possible to streamline management across the entire network.

Today, VSAT networks tend to operate in isolation from terrestrial network and business systems. This decreases visibility across the network and often leaves fulfillment processes at risk of error-prone manual process. The solution is to build interfaces that link all these disparate applications.

As part of iDirect Pulse®, our next-generation Network Management System (NMS), we provide a full-featured, RESTful based Web service API. An operator can use the API to design scripts that automate common processes. For example, deploying remotes and changing configurations.

When a satellite NMS can talk to a company’s OSS/BSS, it applies a more direct approach of linking key business processes. APIs allow for the full integration of enterprise operations by connecting the NMS with such integral business applications as billing, inventory, ticket tracking, and SLA management.

In addition, the API facilitates network orchestration. With networking orchestration, the entire service chain from iDirect’s satellite remotes and hubs through the terrestrial networking routers and switches, can automatically configure to support whatever new requirements may arise. This means when a new customer is added, or a service VLAN brought online, the time to stand-up the service can be greatly reduced.

Network Orchestration: Align the entire networking service chain to speed new service deployment

OSS/BSS Integration: Tightly integrate data exchange between IT systems and business operations

Scripting: Automate configuration of VSAT systems with standardized scripts

Pulse API Uses:

Opportunity at the EdgeWhen service enablement becomes easier, services are able to be turned on faster in order to satisfy the demand for greater bandwidth. And that means being ready to maximize every customer opportunity with sophisticated, managed services that reach to the very edge of the network.

Ethernet ServicesDeploy dedicated Layer 2 virtual

networks (VPWS or VPSL)

BGP for EnterpriseUse the core Internet routing

protocol across a VSAT network

Disaster Recovery BackupRouting for effective backup

in the case of a disaster

Cellular BackhaulSupport for 3GPP evolved packet core and evolved packet system

networks

Layer 3 VPN over Layer 2Building routed virtual networks

on top of the VSAT foundation

Mission-Critical Radio Backhaul

Support First Responder P25 or Tetra radio backhaul

Multi-Tenancy SupportOffer managed services with true multi-tenant capability

MPLS IntegrationSupport integration with MPLS edge networking to facilitate

VPN extension

Manage Business GrowthAs new opportunities emerge, it’s time to think about what new growth will mean for your operation. That means having the right technology strategy to scale operations at minimal cost.

It starts with high-output virtualized hub infrastructure that can scale up and down with demand. We call it the Intelligent Gateway (iGW) and it consists of a high-performance compute/storage platform with a standardized OS/hypervisor and compute capabilities. It features virtualized Protocol Processors, allowing for a reduction in the hub footprint and lowering IT management costs.

The Intelligent Gateway is also able to support various other hub-side applications, such as running optimization software or network management within a virtualized environment. In all, a virtualized infrastructure allows for easier service enablement and the ability to add more capabilities to the network.

It continues through to network management, where operations must be able to deploy and skillfully control large networks that span the globe.

iDirect Pulse® provides the tools to manage a variety of VSAT networks, no matter the size or complexity, from tracking mobile terminals to maintaining the QoS for thousands of ground remotes. The NMS expands to match the scope of your business, permitting simultaneous access by hundreds of staff and being able to control over 100,000 remotes.

The Intelligent Gateway

LOWER OPERATING COSTS Scale nfrastructure

up and down as needed with better server processing

density

REDUCED HUB FOOTPRINT

Virtualized instances of PPs, NMS

and third-party applications

HIGHER COMPUTE POWER High-performance compute/storage, standardized OS/

hypervisor

A New Playing FieldToday, the ability to turn on new services with speed and agility has become table stakes for competing across the global network. Doing so with the right technology strategy can elevate your business to a new level: higher revenue streams, lowered operating costs and more opportunity overall.

iDirect plays a vital role, providing the building blocks to support every point in the process, from network implementation to unified services to optimized service fulfillment. Our goal is to support rapidly changing needs and enable growth through new innovation that builds on the core strengths of our platform.

In the deployment of the end-to-end network, let dynamic service delivery be your differentiator.

For more information, please visit:

intelligentpathforward.com