Westell HOME ZONE User Manual

Networked HomeLife Solutions

Home Zone Service for Mobile Operators using
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) networks

Here’s the Problem

With the deployment of Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA)
networks, mobile service providers are capturing an oppor­tunity to keep their subscribers on the line while at home,
increase average revenue per user (ARPU), and offer great
pricing plans to win new customers.

But they face significant challenges in delivering high-quality
voice service over broadband networks and home networks
over which they have no control.

• Voice calls have no guarantees with retail and
unspecified WLAN routers.

• Voice quality suffers when competing with data trafc
in the home for precious bandwidth on both the wireless
interface and the broadband connection.

• WLAN-enabled dual-mode handsets have exhibited
shorter battery life, limiting their use in the home zone.

• Complex user setup and conguration requirements
result in costly support calls, or worse, product returns
and service cancellations.

Here’s the Solution

Now service providers can deliver voice services to mobile handsets in the
home zone with a managed customer solution that puts control back in the
service provider’s hands.

The Westell VersaLink 7501 VoWLAN Gateway is a carrier-class broad­band home router that is specifically designed to ensure high-quality voice ser-

vice and enhanced user experience.

The VersaLink 7501 ensures voice quality:

• 802.11b/g with extended range and throughput ensures high-quality
connections throughout the home. Veriably measured improvement over

leading retail WLAN routers

• WMM QoS ensures prioritization of voice trafc on the wireless interface,
both uplink and downlink

• Ensures prioritization of voice trafc on the broadband uplink connection

• Dual SSIDs allow for dedicated SSID for voice handsets – simplies user

setup and ensures prioritization for handset traffic

• WLAN auto channel selection determines optimal channel for transmission

The VersaLink 7501 extends the battery life of handsets:

• WMM Power Save optimizes transmission power of handset

The VersaLink 7501 enhances the user experience:

• Fast setup: connect cables, power-on, and go. Minimizes support calls and
product returns

• Automatic pairing of wireless voice devices like Dual-Mode Handsets

• Remotely managed and congured by the service provider

Home Zone Service for Mobile Operators using
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) networks

Here’s How It Works

The Dual-Mode Handset (DMH) monitors RF signals on both the cellular network and the WLAN network. It automatically
connects to the best one. In the home zone, it will connect to the WLAN.

The VersaLink 7501 guarantees QoS for voice trafc, and provides reliable high-performance wireless-to-wireline transport
to any broadband network: DSL, cable, ber.

The UMA Network Controller (UNC) manages the access stratum connections to the handset. It interfaces with the mobile
core network using A or IuCS for circuit-switched, and Gb or IuPS for packet-switched, to provide reliable transport of non-

access stratum (NAS) user- and control-plane traffic.

The mobile core network delivers services to the subscriber handset over the UMA access network in the same way as it

does over the Radio Access Network. It uses the same Home Subscriber Server (HSS) or Home Location Registry (HLR) for

maintaining subscriber profiles.

The mobile core network’s Mobile Switching Center (MSC) manages call control and transport of voice calls to the PSTN or

PLMN.

Application Note

UMA benefits

• Maximize wireless coverage by using WLAN access points in
the home

• Reduce costs:

- Optimize licensed spectrum and offload traffic from cellular
network

- Use existing broadband network for backhaul.

• Deliver complete service transparency between the cellular and
the home networks