Elliptic First To Offer Commercial IP For New LTE-Advanced Security Algorithms

October 21, 2010 – Ottawa, Canada: Leading global security IP provider Elliptic Technologies today launched its family of IP solutions in support of two new algorithms intended for Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced 3GPP wireless networks acceptable to key Asian markets.

All eyes are now on the emerging 4th Generation (4G) mobile networking technologies which will offer not only a significant bandwidth increase, but will also bring all mobility benefits to the mass end-users. These benefits include access and use of applications from anywhere, at anytime and using any devices. LTE and LTE-Advanced in particular meet the demands of this growing market with a high spectral efficiency and peak rates of more than 1 Gpbs.

The market is already witnessing aggressive plans for 4G network deployments with more to come. Juniper Research estimates that by 2015 the number of LTE mobile subscribers will exceed 300 million globally (North America, Western Europe, China and the Far East).

The LTE system security architecture already includes two sets of standardized confidentiality and integrity algorithms (128-EEA1/128-EIA1 and 128-EEA2/128-EIA2) which are covered in Elliptic’s IP portfolio. More recently, a new set of security algorithms is being standardized for 3GPP/LTE/LTE-Advanced wireless networks acceptable for the Chinese market. These algorithms (128-EEA3/128-EIA3) are based on the stream cipher ZUC.

Elliptic is the first IP provider to offer commercial support for the 128-EEA3, 128-EIA3 and ZUC modes as part of its family of hardware and software solutions. Three new IP cores have been introduced:

• CLP-410: ZUC Key Stream Generator
• CLP-411: ZUC Look Aside Core
• CLP-412: ZUC Flow Through Core

These cores are based on look aside or flow through architectures and are targeted at high-performance LTE eNodeB base stations, handset and femtocell applications. To complement the hardware solutions, the Ellipsys Cryptography Middleware now offers a software alternative for these modes.

“Elliptic takes pride in being the first to introduce complete security solutions in emerging technologies like 4G LTE-Advanced” said Richard White, President and CEO of Elliptic Technologies. “The security landscape is constantly changing, but our customers always rely on us to present solutions that address full specification compliance for newly ratified security standards or those that are close to being ratified.”