Profile: Starent Networks, Corp. (STAR.O)

Starent Networks, Corp. (Starent Networks), incorporated on August 11, 2000, is a provider of infrastructure hardware and software products and services that enable mobile operators to deliver multimedia services to their subscribers. The Company’s hardware and software products provide core network functions and services, including access from a range of radio networks to the operator’s packet core network. Its products and services also provide management of subscriber sessions moving between networks and application of billing and other session policies. Its products integrate multiple network functions and services needed for the delivery of multimedia services, such as video, Internet access, voice-over-IP, e-mail, mobile television (TV), photo sharing and gaming.

The Company’s multimedia core network hardware platforms, the ST16 and the ST40 address the needs of packet-based mobile networks. Its products are designed to provide mobile operators with new revenue opportunities while also reducing their costs. It sells hardware and software products to mobile operators around the world both directly and through original equipment manufacturer s(OEMs), system integrators and distributors. The Company’s products consist of the ST16 and ST40 hardware platforms, software that allows the ST16 and ST40 to be configured for specific network functions, software that enables operators to provide in-line services and the Starent Web Element Management System (EMS), a Web-based element management system that allows a mobile operator to monitor and operate the ST16 and ST40 through a graphical user interface.

ST16 and ST40 Multimedia Core Platforms

The ST16 and ST40 are hardware platforms that combine high availability and performance with subscriber and network intelligence. The ST16 and ST40 are radio access-independent and can be deployed in multiple mobile network environments, including CDMA2000 1X, 1xEV-DO Rev. 0 and Rev. A, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Mobile WiMax networks. The ST16 and ST40 are capable of providing multiple network functions and in-line services.

The ST16 and ST40 consist of a chassis, application or processing cards and line cards. The application or processing cards provide system management and process all network functions and services. The line cards provide the physical connection to the network. The ST16 platform is suited to meet the needs of multimedia networks.

In-line Services

The ST16’s and ST40’s processing power and abundant memory are designed to enable mobile operators to integrate multiple in-line service capabilities into the core network. In-line services that it offers include charging and billing, intelligent traffic control, application detection and control, stateful firewall and content filtering.

Starent Web EMS

The Starent Web Element Management System (EMS) is a centralized service and network element management product that controls the ST16 and ST40. Starent Web EMS is a multi-service element manager, which provides fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security functions through a graphical user interface. Starent Web EMS enables mobile operators to monitor, manage and control the performance of the ST16 and ST40, as well as integrate and interoperate with other components and network management systems. The Starent Web EMS also provides a variety of performance and operation records based on mobile operator defined parameters.

The Company competes with Cisco Systems, Inc., UTStarcom, Inc. Cisco Systems, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., LM Ericsson Telephone Co. and Nokia Siemens Networks B.V.