Users want to be able to access their communications services, at any time, on any device, and switch between them at will.

This requires technology that allows applications to move seamlessly across access forms, while maintaining the service experience expected from the specific device.

Full Service Broadband networks provide the combined fixed and mobile infrastructure, but create challenges relating to the area logically at the edge between the access and services domains.

Multi-Access Edge solutions are the answer.

Multi-Access Edge solutions ensure operators can cost-effectively provide services and implement business agreements that allow users to seamlessly move between fixed and mobile accesses.

They provide a holistic approach to providing capabilities required for true converged offerings, such as bandwidth management/quality of service control, charging, mobility support, packet inspection and security.

In high-capacity networks (fixed broadband networks) converging these capabilities with IP Edge routing, to create a Multi-Service Edge router implementation, provides the most cost-optimized and manageable solution.

For wireless networks, with more modest capacity needs, a more centralized gateway solution is most common.

Ericsson’s Multi-Access Edge solutions are a strategic part of a Full Service Broadband network, and have been designed to provide a smooth migration from existing to next-generation technologies.

They support operators wishing to:

• Upgrade from current EDGE capabilities to support mass market roll out of IPTV and ultra-high-speed internet services
• Upgrade from S/GGSN to support mass market roll out or traffic growth in mobile broadband 
• Consolidate fixed edge capabilities, for residential and enterprise services on a single platform for all types of fixed-IP services 
• Evolve the packet core towards an enhanced packet core supporting both 3G and LTE access networks.