Evolved Packet Core
Complete 4G LTE core network including MME, SGW, PGW, HSS, and PCRF for carrier-grade mobile broadband services.
The Limits of Legacy Mobile Cores
Before EPC, mobile operators were stuck with circuit-switched architecture built for voice — not data
Circuit-switched bottlenecks
Legacy 2G/3G cores route voice and data through separate paths. Every call consumes dedicated circuits — massively inefficient for data-driven services.
High latency, poor experience
Hierarchical architectures with multiple intermediate nodes add latency at every hop. Modern apps and video demand flat, direct paths.
Costly proprietary hardware
Traditional cores lock operators into vendor-specific hardware. Scaling means buying more boxes — no virtualization, no cloud, no flexibility.
Five Components, One Core
EPC replaces complex legacy hierarchies with five cleanly separated functions working together
The brain of the EPC. Handles authentication, bearer setup, mobility tracking, and gateway selection for every device.
The user-plane anchor. Routes packets between base stations and the internet gateway. Buffers data when devices are idle.
The gateway to the internet. Assigns IP addresses, enforces QoS policies, and handles charging at the service-flow level.
The master subscriber repository. Stores identities, authentication keys, service profiles, and roaming permissions.
The real-time policy brain. Dynamically sets QoS and charging rules per subscriber, per service, per network condition.
How EPC Routes Your Data
Every time a subscriber opens an app, EPC orchestrates this behind the scenes in milliseconds
Device Attaches
Phone powers on. MME authenticates the subscriber with HSS, establishes security, and selects the optimal S-GW and P-GW for this session.
Bearer Established
MME instructs S-GW and P-GW to create a dedicated EPS bearer with the right QoS — low latency for video calls, high bandwidth for streaming.
Policy Applied
PCRF pushes real-time QoS and charging rules to P-GW. Premium subscribers get priority. Roaming subscribers get visited-network policies.
Data Flows
Packets flow from phone → eNodeB → S-GW → P-GW → Internet. S-GW anchors mobility if the user moves between cell towers. P-GW enforces rate limits and counts usage.
Session Closes
When the data session ends, P-GW generates charging records. MME releases the bearer. HSS updates the subscriber's last-known location. Everything is logged for billing.
Why Operators Choose EPC
The flat all-IP architecture that made 4G the most successful mobile generation ever
Flat IP Architecture
Fewer network hops means lower latency, higher throughput. Direct eNodeB-to-gateway paths eliminate the hierarchical bottlenecks of 3G.
Control & User Plane Split
Scale signaling and data forwarding independently. Optimize resources — more MME capacity during signaling storms, more S-GW/P-GW during data peaks.
VoLTE-Ready from Day One
Built-in QoS framework with dedicated bearers guarantees HD voice quality. One network for voice and data — no circuit-switched fallback.
Multi-Access Convergence
Single EPC serves LTE, 3G, and even Wi-Fi. Unified policy, charging, and mobility across all access types — one core, all radios.
Built for 4G, Ready for 5G
EPC components have direct evolution paths to 5G Core — protecting your investment
Who Deploys EPC
From nationwide carriers to private enterprise networks — EPC powers every kind of LTE deployment
Macro Carriers
Nationwide mobile operators serving millions of subscribers with voice, data, and VoLTE across urban and rural coverage.
Private LTE
Mines, ports, factories, and warehouses running dedicated 4G networks for mission-critical operations and IoT.
Rural & MVNO
Compact all-in-one EPC for regional operators and MVNOs entering new markets with minimal upfront investment.
Public Safety
First responder networks requiring carrier-grade reliability, priority access, and secure isolated communications.
Deploy Your Way
From a single server to a geo-redundant distributed core — EPC scales to fit your business
Compact All-in-One
Integrated EPC on a single server. Ideal for trials, rural coverage, private LTE, and small-scale MVNO launches. Deploy in days.
Carrier Distributed
Fully separated MME, S-GW, P-GW, HSS, and PCRF on dedicated nodes. Active-active geo-redundancy for millions of subscribers.
Cloud-Native VNF
Virtualized EPC functions running on COTS hardware or private cloud. Elastic scaling, CI/CD deployment, infrastructure-agnostic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can EPC support both 4G and 5G?
EPC is the core for 4G LTE. For 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) deployments, EPC continues to serve as the anchor core while 5G NR provides the radio. For 5G Standalone (SA), operators migrate to the 5G Core. ZBensoft EPC provides a smooth migration path with dual-stack support during transition.
What scale can a single EPC deployment support?
ZBensoft EPC scales from compact all-in-one deployments supporting tens of thousands of subscribers, to fully distributed carrier-grade deployments handling millions of concurrent sessions. The modular architecture allows operators to start small and grow incrementally.
Does EPC work with existing 2G and 3G networks?
Yes. EPC includes standardized interworking with 2G/3G networks via the S3/S4 interfaces to legacy SGSN nodes. This enables seamless handovers and protects existing network investments while operators roll out LTE coverage.
Full-Stack Technology for Your Telecom Business
ZBensoft integrates charging, core network, and AI capabilities to help operators run efficiently and grow sustainably.
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