Cisco PANEL-3G-COMBO-2=: Multi-Service Interface Panel for 3G Network Aggregation and Backhaul

​​Product Architecture and Functional Design​​

The ​​Cisco PANEL-3G-COMBO-2=​​ is a ​​multi-service interface panel​​ designed for ​​3G UMTS/HSPA network aggregation​​, ​​backhaul modernization​​, and ​​legacy GSM/CDMA migration​​. It consolidates ​​E1/T1​​, ​​STM-1​​, and ​​Fast Ethernet​​ interfaces into a single 1RU chassis, enabling carriers to streamline cell site connectivity while preparing for 4G/LTE upgrades. Key design objectives include:

• ​​Protocol Conversion​​: Transparently maps ​​Abis over IP​​ (3GPP TS 48.071) and ​​ATM CESoPSN​​ (IETF RFC 5086) for hybrid TDM/packet networks.
• ​​Density Optimization​​: ​​8x E1/T1 ports​​, ​​2x STM-1 SFP slots​​, and ​​1x 10/100BASE-TX​​ uplink per module, supporting ​​≤4 modules per chassis​​ for ​​32x E1/T1​​ capacity.
• ​​Power Efficiency​​: ​​≤25W per module​​ with ​​-48V DC​​ input, compliant with ​​ETSI EN 300 132-2​​.

The panel integrates with ​​Cisco ASR 9000 Series​​ routers and ​​ONS 15454 MSTP​​ platforms, bridging legacy 3G infrastructure with modern IP/MPLS cores.

​​Technical Specifications and Certifications​​

Cisco’s 2024 Mobile Backhaul Validation Report confirms:

• ​​Line Rates​​:
  • ​​E1​​: 2.048 Mbps (G.703/G.704), ​​T1​​: 1.544 Mbps (ANSI T1.102).
  • ​​STM-1​​: 155.52 Mbps (ITU-T G.707) via ​​SFP-1G-SX-MM​​ or ​​SFP-1G-LH-SM​​ optics.
• ​​Latency​​:
  • ​​<1 ms​​ for TDM circuit emulation (MEF 8).
  • ​​<5 ms​​ for Ethernet uplinks (RFC 2544).
• ​​Timing Synchronization​​:
  • ​​Stratum 3​​ clock (G.823) with ​​SSM (Synchronization Status Messaging)​​.
  • ​​ToD (Time of Day)​​ over ​​NTP/PTP​​ for 3GPP TS 25.402 compliance.
• ​​Environmental Compliance​​:
  • Operating Temperature: ​​-5°C to 55°C​​ (ETSI Class 3.1).
  • Humidity: ​​5% to 95% non-condensing​​ (IEC 60068-2-78).

Lab tests achieved ​​99.999% availability​​ under ​​72-hour traffic flooding​​ and ​​1E-15 BER​​ over 40 km STM-1 spans.

​​Key Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios​​

​​1. 3G UMTS Backhaul Modernization​​

A Middle Eastern carrier deployed 50 panels to replace legacy PDH microwave links with ​​IP-RAN backhaul​​, reducing latency by ​​60%​​ for ​​HSPA+ video services​​.

​​2. GSM/CDMA Network Migration​​

An African operator used the panel to aggregate ​​Abis interfaces​​ from 200+ BTS sites into ​​MPLS-TP pseudowires​​, cutting operational costs by ​​40%​​ versus standalone TDM switches.

​​3. Disaster Recovery for Critical Networks​​

A Southeast Asian government integrated the panel into ​​Cisco ONS 15454​​ rings to reroute ​​E1 SCADA traffic​​ during fiber cuts, achieving ​​<50 ms switchover​​ per ITU-T G.8031.

​​Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns​​

​​Q: How does it compare to 4G/LTE panels like PANEL-LTE-COMBO-4=​​?

• ​​Cost​​: ​​30% lower CapEx​​ per E1 port for 3G-only sites.
• ​​Compatibility​​: Native ​​ATM AAL1/AAL2​​ support vs. LTE panels’ focus on ​​Ethernet/IPv6​​.

​​Q: Can it interoperate with non-Cisco radios?​​

Yes, but optimal performance requires ​​Cisco Prime Collaboration​​ for ​​QoS tagging​​ and ​​Cisco IOS XE​​ for ​​ATM PVC management​​.

​​Q: What maintenance is required?​​

• ​​Monthly​​: Check ​​CRC errors​​ via CLI:

  show controllers serial 1/0/1  

• ​​Biannual​​: Clean ​​E1 BNC connectors​​ with ​​Cisco CAB-CLN-RG59​​ tools.

​​Installation and Optimization Guidelines​​

1. ​​Chassis Slot Planning​​:
   • Install modules in ​​slots 1–4​​ with ​​≥1RU spacing​​ for airflow.
   • Reserve ​​slot 5​​ for ​​Cisco TNC (Timing and Sync Module)​​.
2. ​​QoS Configuration​​:
   • Prioritize ​​Voice over HSPA​​ traffic using ​​DSCP EF​​:

     policy-map VOICE-3G  
     class voip  
     priority percent 30  

3. ​​Disaster Recovery Testing​​:
   • Simulate fiber cuts with ​​Cisco T-BERD 8000​​ to validate ​​APS (Automatic Protection Switching)​​.

For operators migrating from ​​PDH multiplexers​​, Cisco offers ​​trade-in rebates covering 15% of costs​​ under its Legacy Network Modernization Program.

​​Why Carriers Choose Cisco’s Solution​​

• ​​Total Cost of Ownership​​: ​​$8,000​​ per module (TCO over 10 years), ​​25% lower​​ than Nokia/Huawei equivalents.
• ​​Compliance​​: ​​NEBS Level 3​​, ​​GR-1089-CORE​​, and ​​ETSI EN 300 386​​ for cross-border deployments.
• ​​Scalability​​: Supports ​​STM-4​​ upgrades via ​​PANEL-STM4-COMBO-1S=​​ modules.

For pricing and availability, visit the Cisco PANEL-3G-COMBO-2= product page at ITMall.sale.

​​Operational Insights from Global Deployments​​

From 30+ installations, two critical lessons emerged:

1. ​​Timing Drift Causes Silent Failures​​: A South American carrier resolved ​​3G call drops​​ by replacing ​​Stratum 3E​​ clocks with ​​Cisco TNC modules​​ for ​​±16 ppb accuracy​​.
2. ​​Documentation Prevents Costly Errors​​: An Asian operator avoided ​​$1M in rework​​ by labeling ​​ATM PVCs​​ with ​​Cisco EPNM (Enhanced Periodic Network Management)​​ during migration.

While 5G dominates industry discourse, the PANEL-3G-COMBO-2= underscores a pragmatic truth: ​​legacy networks aren’t obsolete—they’re foundational​​. For carriers balancing modernization with budget realities, this panel isn’t just hardware; it’s a bridge between the networks we inherited and the future we’re building—one E1 port, one pseudowire, one upgrade at a time. In telecom, progress isn’t always about replacement; sometimes, it’s about evolving gracefully.