A Compelling IP Backhaul Alternative for Mobile Operators Confronting Increasing Volumes of High Speed Packet Access Traffic

This paper explores the dramatic and continuing increase in data traffic within mobile service provider networks - specifically traffic based on HSPA and associated standards - and presents a solution for cost-effectively providing more bandwidth in the Radio Access Network (RAN) for backhaul of data traffic. The Cisco solution, Mobile Transport over Packet (MToP), is presented. A description of how a mobile service provider can make a smooth migration over time from a legacy infrastructure to 3G IP infrastructures and beyond to 4G or Long Time Evolution (LTE) is also included.