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A feature of the 4G world will be an increasing tendency for operators to buy core and RAN networks from different suppliers. We have already seen this in Verizon Wireless' initial LTE award, and now Clearwire is adopting the 'best of breed' approach for WiMAX, selecting start-up WiChorus to provide a unified packet core, rather than any of its RAN vendors (Motorola, Samsung and Huawei).

As the core becomes more mission critical, having to handle the demands of exploding mobile data traffic and personalized web services, more carriers are looking for an optimized platform, and are putting pressure on equipment vendors to support open interfaces so they can choose multivendor systems. Clearwire is the first major WiMAX carrier to adopt this approach.

Clearwire will use the SmartCore 4G packet core platform, which can work with multiple access networks and with different radio designs, from macro to femtocell. In the WiMAX network architecture, SmartCore fulfils the role of the ASN Gateway, which routes mobile IP traffic, terminates mobile sessions, authenticates and tracks users for personalized services, and handles security. SmartCore is already deployed in some Clearwire markets.

A dozen vendors responded to Clearwire's RFP for its packet core and six were shortlisted. WiChorus' win is clearly an important proof point for the vendor, but also shows Clearwire putting its money where its open networking mouth is. "Clearwire has changed this market," commented Andrews. "It has forced vendors to support open interfaces for the core in the real world, not just theoretical standards." The WiMAX Forum has established standards, notably its R6 interface, to enable carriers to mix and match core and RAN vendors, but this is the first implementation by a significant operator, and has forced sometimes reluctant major suppliers to support the Forum standards.

This is a major boost for WiChorus, a three-year old specialist that has had its product on the market for only a year. The company's VP of product management, Eric Andrews, ambitiously says the firm aims to achieve in 4G what Starent did in 3G, offering a specific core product that outdid the RAN vendors' own offerings in many areas. Of course Starent will be aiming for 4G dominance too, but Andrews claims WiChorus has several advantages over larger rivals, including a high level of packet management and DPI (deep packet inspection) capabilities, to support advanced mobile internet models; and lower cost because of the high capacity of the platform. "We have many patents in the area of network optimization," said Andrews. "And we can support eight times the capacity in one rack compared to Cisco." He added: "We only really go for operators that have the problems we address - needing higher capacity and the ability to monetize the internet."

WiChorus has started in WiMAX but is now in trials with a version of its product for HSPA operators. Andrews says the firm offers these carriers the ability to augment their current infrastructure if this is failing to support packet-based traffic levels, or if they want to introduce models such as high volume content-based charging. They can then hold onto the architecture as they move towards a 4G network.

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