Sandvine, a provider of intelligent broadband network
solutions for fixed and mobile operators, announced the release of their Usage
Management product, which includes key upgrades to help both fixed and mobile
service providers create, manage and implement new product offerings.
A key differentiator in the 4.0 release of Usage
Management is that with its availability, operators now have a single vendor,
pre-integrated source for a high-availability software solution that
incorporates a real-time advice of usage interface at any threshold.
Additionally, the new release allows operators to create
a virtually unlimited number of service plan offerings, by enabling operators
to differentiate the service plans using combinations of application, location,
device awareness, access technology, and volume or time metrics.
Sandvine’s access-agnostic solutions are also capable of
interfacing with multiple concurrent data sources, including Internet Protocol
Detail Record (IPDR) data sources within cable architectures, augmenting the
usage data with rich application and subscriber aware conditions at the
Sandvine Policy Traffic Switch (PTS). Enforcement of specified usage policies,
which may include zero-rating for certain traffic, is achieved at the PTS, or
optional signalling down to the access device, via technologies such as
PacketCable Multi-Media (PCMM).
Some operators are offering basic plans, for set monthly
charges, targeted towards subscribers who primarily use specific applications,
such as Facebook or email. These plans have become popular because they offer
consumers cost certainty for heavy-use applications.
For volume-based plans, service providers can help inform
consumers with real-time usage portals, and provide advice of usage
notifications when they are nearing their quota limit, so there is no
overshoot.
Proactive communications help prevent unnecessary overage
charges and allow redirection to a portal so the subscriber can top-up his
quota or upgrade his plan to another tier.
Subscribers who travel outside of their service plan
jurisdiction may be in for a nasty surprise when they are additionally billed
for use of third-party network usage.
Some jurisdictions, like the EU, have now mandated that
subscribers get official notice, when they exceed a certain cost threshold,
while roaming in out-of-network geographic areas.
With Sandvine’s ability to track roaming usage and
display usage in real-time, subscribers can be kept informed of their usage
charges.
Within the subscriber’s home, multiple users can access
the Internet from different login locations concurrently, so that each can
enjoy favorite applications at leisure on different devices.
“With growing interest in different Internet
applications and billing models, Sandvine is keeping ahead of operators’ needs
for greater service creation flexibility and scalability,” said Don
Bowman, CTO, Sandvine.
By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]
