Birdstep announces 3G network offload solution for operators

(Oslo, January 25, 2009) SafeMove Mobile IP Client allows operators to seamlessly offload 3G data connections to Wi-Fi networks to avert looming network capacity crisis.

Birdstep Technology, a leading provider of wireless connectivity software, today announced the availability of its SafeMove Mobile IP software solution for 3G network operators. SafeMove Mobile IP offers a flexible and low-cost approach for operators looking at ways to address 3G network capacity challenges as the volume of 3G data traffic increases. This problem has been widely reported in recent months due to the huge increase in data traffic driven by the adoption of new feature-rich mobile devices, 3G USB dongles and bandwidth-intensive services such as music and video. Various estimates put the increase in data traffic at 300% to 700% per annum which is not a sustainable rate of growth for current 3G networks. Compared to voice traffic, 3G subscribers can consume between 7 and 26 times as much bandwidth for audio and video services respectively. The urgent questions for operators are for how long can this growth be supported and what do they do when the demand for mobile data exceeds their ability to deliver it. Obvious answers are to build additional network capacity to meet this demand or to wait for 4G networks to provide higher download speeds. But adding extra infrastructure is highly expensive at a time when revenues for data services remain broadly flat and the faster speeds provided by 4G networks will soon be taken up by ever more bandwidth-hungry services. Others are promoting Femtocells as the solution but putting a box into every home and office is an expensive and lengthy process. Estimates suggest that between 50% and 60% of 3G data services are consumed in the home or office – locations where Wi-Fi networks are often present too. Birdstep Technology’s vision is that 3G data connections are offloaded to a Wi-Fi network alternative in a way that is totally transparent to the end user. The result benefits both the operator (extra network capacity created for little investment) and their subscriber (faster, cheaper more reliable connectivity). “Our initial work with a variety of operators around the world shows just how serious this looming network capacity challenge is,” commented Torbjörn Sandberg, CEO and President of Birdstep Technology. “Some analysts predict that operators will face capacity problems before the end of 2010 resulting in service degradation and a competitive opportunity for new market entrants. In response to this massive issue we are pleased to announce SafeMove Mobile IP which we expect to achieve rapid acceptance from the operator community.” Birdstep Technology will be exhibiting at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from February 15th to and 18th (Hall 2, Stand 2B77) and welcomes meetings with operators to discuss the benefits of a Mobile IP-based 3G data offload capability.