Japan's Softbank and NEC are collaborating to develop a dual path mobile access solution, dubbed as 'Twin Access' which SoftBank is planning to offer to business customers in Japan.
Two months back, Belgium's Proximus announced deployment of a similar technology but by combining the speeds of existing fixed and mobile networks using the Multipath TCP (MPTCP) technology to improve the Internet experience of customers living in large, sparsely populated rural areas.
According to NEC, Twin Access is an access service that uses two mobile network connections to maintain a state of constant, active connectivity between NEC line terminal equipment, the NEC Agater AG2521, and center-based devices that employ virtualization technology.
By utilizing Packet Copy Capsuled (PCC) technology developed in joint collaboration between SoftBank and NEC, the new service offers improved transmission quality with higher packet arrival rates than conventional single mobile line systems, enabling more stable communications.
The two companies plan to conduct field trials towards the full-scale launch of Twin Access as a commercial service by October 2017. SoftBank aims to begin offering the new service in Japan as part of the access lineup for its "Smart VPN" VPN service.
Takenori Kobayashi, VP, Network Division, Softbank
In addition, by utilizing the unique features of mobile networks, such as their freedom from cable installations, Twin Access makes it possible to build flexible, economical, short-term networks; such as temporary networks for use at construction sites and event venues.
Toshiya Tsuji, SVP, NEC
PCC communication technology is enabling us to ensure constant transmission, and to achieve stable and highly reliable communications that are necessary for effective business practices everywhere.
