VoWLAN Network Planning and Operations

SUMMARY

The convergence of two highly disruptive technologies, VoIP and WLAN, is set to drastically alter the way we communicate, do business, and play. VoWLAN represents both an opportunity and a threat to traditional business and communications. This report provides the foundation knowledge and understanding necessary to capitalize on this evolution from wireline to wireless and from circuit to packet.

Purpose of VoWLAN Network Planning and Operations

An excellent complement to the Mind Commerce report, VoWLAN Fundamentals, this report is the only publication of its type to provide an in-depth analysis of the technical and business challenges associated with planning and design, implementation and ongoing operations of a VoWLAN network. This report will answer critical questions including:

• Why deploy VoWLAN? What are the right circumstances? What market segments will use VoWLAN? What are the market drivers for VoWLAN?
• What are the planning and engineering issues? How to deal with RF issues, QoS issues, traffic engineering and capacity planning?
• What are the bandwidth management techniques that may be employed?
• What are the security and privacy issues? How does one detect and deal with hackers and bandwidth stealers?
• What is the future of VoWLAN? What is the future of Voice over packet in general?

Target Audience for the Report

While this report will be of interest to anyone involved in the business, engineering, planning, and/or operation of a VoWLAN network or service offering, This report will be of particular value to the following groups:

• Investors in the VoIP, WLAN, and VoWLAN space
• Suppliers of VoIP, WLAN, WiMax, MMDS, and VoWLAN equipment and software
• Hotspot WLAN (WiFi and HiperLAN) service providers
• Traditional circuit-switched and next generation VoIP service providers
• Cellular and broadband wireless service providers
• Consultants, analysts and systems integration companies
• Corporations, VoIP and unlicensed spectrum regulatory agencies, and governmental organizations such as the US Department of Homeland Security

VoWLAN Network Planning and Operation is a must-have for anyone that has a stake in building and/or maintaining a wireless voice over packet network.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

VoIP Standards & Protocols - A Brief Review

• Signaling Protocols
  • ITU-T, H.323
  • Session Initiation Protocol
  • Cisco Client Control Protocol
• Media Gateway Control Protocols
• VoIP Media Transport Protocols
• Section Summary

Wireless Systems & Standards Overview

• 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
  • Emerging 802.11 Specifications & Feature Enhancements
• HiperLAN and HiperMAN
• 802.16, WiMax
• MMDS, 2.5 GHz Super-Cells
• Wireless Local Loop, 3.5 GHz Multi-Cells
• Section Summary

Why VoIP and Wireless?

• Disruptive Technologies in Action
  • The VoWLAN Global Market Power
• The Hunters
  • Cellular Carriers
  • Fixed Wireless Broadband Access (FWBA) Service Providers
    • Economic Assessment - Is It Profitable?
  • Mesh Networks
  • Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs)
  • Cable TV Service Providers
  • Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs)
• The Hunted
  • Corporate Enterprises
    • Economic Assessment - Will It Pay?
  • Hot Spots and Hot Zones
  • The Insurance Industry
  • Medical Industry Opportunity
  • Radio Frequency Identification Systems (RFID)
  • Third World Nations
  • Rural America/Urban America
  • IP Enabled Call Centers
• Section Summary

VoWLAN Implementation - Issues and Answers

• RF Bandwidth - The Critical Resource
• Network Audits
  • Identify Your Network Technologies
  • Test for VoIP Suitability
    • Voice Quality Metrics
  • Identify Your Traffic
  • The V Challenge
    • Television Broadcast Video
    • Digitized Broadcast Video
    • Video Conferencing
    • Internet Streaming Video & MPEG Files
    • Security/Surveillance Video
    • Digital Collaborative Video
    • JPEG Files
  • Traffic Engineering
    • VoIP Coding Algorithms and Bandwidth Usage
    • Engineering Voice Traffic in an IP World - Erlangs
    • Lines and IP Bandwidth Calculator
    • Erlangs and Bandwidth Calculator
    • Minutes and Lines Calculator
    • Erlangs and Lines Calculator
  • Traffic Loading - The Active User
• Generic WLAN Cost Structure
• Sub-Section Summary

The RF Channel - Characteristics and Planning

• Bandwidth
• Modulation Format
• Raw Data Rate
• Channel Plan
  • Adjacent Channel Interference
  • RF Interference Anecdote
• Planning WLAN Capacity
  • High Capacity Networks
  • Design Methodology
• Deploying the Right WLAN Standard
• Other Networks and Overheads
  • Protocol Overheads
  • A Technology Overhead
  • System Management Overhead
• RF Coverage Requirements - Whos On Net
  • Coverage Analysis
    • Other Calculation Tools
  • Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
  • Mesh Networking
    • Single Radio Mesh
    • Dual Radio Mesh
    • Multi-Radio Mesh
  • FDD versus TDD
• RF Site Surveys
  • Network Analyzer - Site Survey & Network Planning Tool
  • Generalities on Indoor Propagation
  • Site Survey Work Sheets
• Sub-Section Summary

Bandwidth Management Techniques

• Managing the RF Bandwidth for QoS
  • Data Grams - MIR and CIR
  • Dynamic Adaptive Modulation (DAM)
  • Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA)
  • Smart Antenna Systems
• Networking Protocols & Techniques for Bandwidth Management
  • Policing and Shaping
  • Congestion Avoidance
  • IP Class and Marking
  • A Simple Marking Scheme
  • A Better Marking Scheme
  • Traffic Queuing
• Performance Monitoring
  • VoIP Performance Benchmarking
  • Active Monitoring
  • Hardware and Software Tools
• Sub-Section Summary

Network Security - More Issues and Answers

• Wireless Network Security Issues
  • Radio Frequency Interception and Hacking
    • 802.11 Vulnerability
    • Bluetooth: A Silent Killer
• Wireless Network Security Techniques
  • Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
  • IEEE 802.11i, aka: WPA2
    • Upgrading To 802.11i
  • Wireless Security Mindset for Small Businesses
  • Security Recommendations for Hot Spot Users
  • Encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) & Security
    • IPSec
    • SSL
  • A WLAN View of VPNs
    • Authentication
    • Data Encryption
    • Management and Security Policy Enforcement
    • User and Device Management
  • The Thin WLAN Alternative
    • Standardization to the Rescue - Maybe
• Security Issues Related To VoIP
  • A Briefing on Dos Attacks
  • Other Bad News
• Intrusion Detection and Counter Measures
  • A Proactive Defense Approach
    • Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
    • Securing VoIP (SIP) Networks
  • How to Spot and Manage WLAN Intrusion
    • Step 1: Capture Traffic
    • Step 2: Analyze Results
    • Step 3: Take Action
• Section Summary

Emerging Technology - Signs of the Future

• Emerging Technology
  • Its In the Chips
  • Advancements in VoIP QoE
  • MIMO