Distributed enterprises such as retail, restaurant, and retail petroleum are constantly looking for ways to cut operational costs and improve efficiencies. One strategy that holds great promise to achieve both goals is to implement robust networks capable of facilitating the convergence of data, voice, and video applications. But to realize the benefits of convergence, networks require strong quality of service (QoS) levels for reliable transmission, and greater bandwidth in particular for media-rich and video content. In the past, that has meant choosing an MPLS network for branches—an automatic deal-breaker for many enterprises because of the high costs involved.

Today, thanks to the Converged Broadband Architecture™ (CBA) from Hughes, distributed enterprises can have the best of both worlds—MPLS-like network quality and performance from broadband IP networks, such as DSL and cable, at a much lower price point. The new Hughes HS1200 Broadband Optimization Appliance, a key component of CBA, enables this by delivering MPLS-like, end-to-end QoS, coupled with advanced data reduction and TCP optimization on qualified private IP broadband networks.

Bandwidth Acceleration and Optimization

Designed for acceleration and optimization of bandwidth from the branch, the HS1200, in conjunction with a data center acceleration gateway, automatically classifies and prioritizes real-time traffic, such as voice or video, over less critical traffic types, such as file transfers or Web browsing. At the same time, it also transparently compresses the data traversing the network, effectively expanding the available bandwidth for applications sharing the network. To accomplish this, the HS1200 relies on two groundbreaking, patent-pending technology components—Hughes ActiveQoS™ and Hughes ActiveCompression™.

End-to-End Quality of Service

Hughes ActiveQoS employs active network capacity monitoring, smart application classification, dynamic rate limiting, and prioritization to automatically classify real-time traffic, reduce packet loss and jitter, and ensure that critical traffic receives priority on the network. The result is that even stringent, real-time applications, such as business-grade voice, can be supported with the required QoS across ordinary broadband networks despite dynamically changing available network capacity. Hughes ActiveQoS also encompasses split-tunnel configurations, such as for Guest Wi-Fi traffic destined to the Internet from branch locations, providing QoS in the outbound direction. With built-in ActiveQoS technology, the HS1200 uniquely provides true, end-to-end QoS over a standard affordable broadband connection.

Powerful Two-Stage Adaptive Compression

Another HS1200 performance feature is Hughes ActiveCompression, which increases virtual throughput via a two-stage adaptive compression process that dynamically selects the best combination of compression technologies based on the type of traffic. A long-range compression algorithm looks across multiple packets and data flows from multiple users to eliminate coarse-grained, large, redundant data streams, replacing them with tokens in a process known as de-duplication. In conjunction, a short-range compression algorithm provides the best data reduction for shorter streams of highly compressible data such as text. In real time, ActiveCompression adaptively determines the combination of the two algorithms that provides the best overall compression.

For example, when multiple users at a branch are browsing the same Web site, the long-range compression algorithm removes the duplicated data, reducing bandwidth used. The short-range compression algorithm then picks up the remaining data and compresses it further. The net result is up to six times reduction in traffic, creating virtual bandwidth perceived to be from two to three times greater than the original bandwidth.

By using less bandwidth per transaction, session, or application, actual performance is often increased. In addition, the user perceives increased speed even though the actual speed of the WAN connection has not changed. ActiveCompression optimizes how bandwidth is used so that enterprises get superior virtual bandwidth, enabling them to connect more users, run more sessions, or add more applications—with no need to pay for higher speeds.

The Branch of the Future Is Here Today

“Our vision is to deliver the technology solutions our customers need to provide the best customer and employee experience possible as part of our ‘Branch of the Future’ concept,” said Doug Medina, senior director of enterprise marketing at Hughes. “The HS1200 continues that effort by enabling distributed enterprises to cost-effectively converge their voice, video, and data applications on a single IP network.”

Available in Q4/2012 as part of Hughes Managed Network Services, the HS1200 Broadband Optimization Appliance will enable enterprises to enjoy true, business-grade voice, video, and data convergence over affordable broadband—with no need for an expensive MPLS network.