Continuous Computing announced the addition of a Snow3G security engine or accelerator to its FlexPacket ATCA-PP50 packet processing blade and FlexTCA pre-integrated 10 GbE ATCA platform.

 

Network equipment providers (NEPs) and mobile operators will be able to use the latest block cipher algorithm for authentication and network security in addition to the Snow3G encryption to Long Term Evolution (LTE) products. It will also comply with the Third Generation Partnership Project’s (3GPP’s) specifications for encryption.

 

The company’s hardware-based Snow3G accelerator supports more than 2 Gbps with 200-byte packets. The Snow3G encryption enables PP50 and FlexTCA to support enhanced 3GPP security requirements for LTE network elements like eNodeB and Mobility Management Entity (MME).

 

In case of high-throughput core network elements like MME, 3GPP’s encryption requirements are difficult to obtain employing software only methods. This will need an entire high-performance network processor to match the performance obtained with the new solution.

 

“The compelling end-user benefit of LTE is high bandwidth connectivity, and hardware acceleration of these encrypted user sessions is vital for realizing LTE’s promise,” said Mike Coward, chief technology officer and co-founder, Continuous Computing. “The integration of the Snow3G accelerator alongside our complete Trillium LTE software offering reinforces Continuous Computing’s ability to deliver on our mission of accelerating LTE into the network.”

 

High-performance TCAM is supported by the PP50 Snow3G mezzanine for conducting fast look-ups and for the provision of pattern-matching capabilities in wireless networks employing IPv6 headers. Also binary search methods in Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) are slow and complicated. Other security algorithms supported by FlexTCA and PP50 besides Snow3G are IPsec, AES and Kasumi.

 

Continuous Computing deploys architected systems which include telecom platforms and Trillium software. It helps network equipment providers to deploy carrier-class LTE, DPI and femtocell applications easily and cost effectively.

 

The company combines open-standards systems, Trillium protocol software and professional services to create fully-integrated solutions which allow customers to accelerate new product delivery.