We discuss the following topics in this blog:
- Cloud-native for better speed and agility
- How PCRF Regulates Network Traffic
- Key Benefits of 5G-Supported PCRF
- Resilient Network Policy Control via STL dPCRF
In addition to these topics, we shall also be answering the following FAQs:
- What is WiFi?
- What is an Optical Fibre Cable?
Contents
Overview
With telcos racing towards 5G leading space, most Communication Service Providers (CSPs) look at their entire communication stack be cloud-native for better speed and agility and consider the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) as part of their overall strategy. Also, generally known as the Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), this game-changing solution is a defined policy with rules that define and regulate network traffic flow through blocking, throttling, and billing over the network, down to the individual end-users in a real-time mode.
How PCRF Regulates Network Traffic?
PCRF is designed to integrate with different platforms like billing, rating, charging, and subscriber database or deployed as a standalone entity. A 5G PCRF enables service providers or operators to reduce subscriber churn, monitor subscriber usage patterns, network contention, enable usage-based charging, and manage bandwidth.
Ideally, PCRF consists of diameter based 3GPP, Gx, Rx, Sx, Sd, Gxx and includes policy management, Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) along with Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR) and can create new policies for testing and roll-out purposes, and can create compelling and differentiated offers to customers. A PCRF can also complete LTE deployment and modernize legacy BSS and 5G investments.
What are the Key Benefits of 5G-Supported PCRF?
- High reliability & high performance
- Reduced time to market
- Flexible policy control
- Seamless integration with the central billing charging system
As the world is swiftly moving towards 5G-enabled environment, most CSPs seek to latch on and move away from legacy systems to a more cohesive communications stack that can be fully cloud-native with improved speeds and agility, ensuring a rich customer experience (CX). By helping to seize or deploy a full-fledged cloud native PCRF, most organizations can seek new capabilities and handle traffic, ensuring to take advantage of most 5G opportunities in real-time and monetize their 5G infrastructure investments in an effective manner.
Resilient Network Policy Control via STL dPCRF
STL’s Digital Policy and Charging Rules Function (dPCRF) offers CSPs to respond to competitive market dynamics and the ever-changing consumer preferences by providing a single interface for real-time modelling and launching product offers in real-time. STL dPCRF is an industry-leading solution providing a scalable & resilient network policy control and bandwidth management system. It offers Telco’s to achieve total control on the network usage, service differentiation and handle subscriber management policies. With the help of the next-gen dynamic policy manager, dPCRF enforces policy decisions in real-time based on services, applications, network resources and parameters, subscriber profile, and service level agreement (SLAs), ensuring the quality of service (QoS) and effective bandwidth allocation.
Our 5G compliant and supported solution allows CSPs to manage their networks more effectively and efficiently by reducing the network load through usage metering on Gx through a zero-touch web-scale platform designed for mission-critical applications. STL’s dPCRF is fully compliant with 3GPP R11, R15-NSA, ETSI, WiMax, IETF, and RFC and is also a charging solution.
End Note
Most operators nowadays are choosing to deploy PCRF as a policy solution that will consider the actual usage scenarios of the subscriber and combine it with charging and billing systems while providing differentiated policy control and tariffs. PCRF gives CSPs and operators the flexibility to innovate in present-day next-generation data services and helps in policy enforcement, service data flow detection, and supports flow-based charging. With PCRF, telecom companies and CSPs can better control their services and align their revenue with their resources. To support this industry-leading digital network aggregator like STL offers the best 5G monetization approach models that will ensure 5G PCF, PCRF is well-taken care of and will help CSPs and operators likewise to ideate better during the 5G services.
The STL Everything 5G portfolio stack which includes the end to end monetization solutions like 5G CHF, PCF, PCRF, Service Provisioning, 5G Marketplace model, Public Cloud BSS along with cloud-native architecture will help enterprises to transform, create, orchestrate the entire 5G infrastructure and helps organizations to earn more revenues with their existing 5G services.
FAQs
What is WiFi?
Put simply, WiFi is a technology that uses radio waves to create a wireless network through which devices like mobile phones, computers, printers, etc., connect to the internet. A wireless router is needed to establish a WiFi hotspot that people in its vicinity may use to access internet services. You’re sure to have encountered such a WiFi hotspot in houses, offices, restaurants, etc.
To get a little more technical, WiFi works by enabling a Wireless Local Area Network or WLAN that allows devices connected to it to exchange signals with the internet via a router. The frequencies of these signals are either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidths. These frequencies are much higher than those transmitted to or by radios, mobile phones, and televisions since WiFi signals need to carry significantly higher amounts of data. The networking standards are variants of 802.11, of which there are several (802.11a, 802.11b, 801.11g, etc.).
To get a little more technical, WiFi works by enabling a Wireless Local Area Network or WLAN that allows devices connected to it to exchange signals with the internet via a router. The frequencies of these signals are either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidths. These frequencies are much higher than those transmitted to or by radios, mobile phones, and televisions since WiFi signals need to carry significantly higher amounts of data. The networking standards are variants of 802.11, of which there are several (802.11a, 802.11b, 801.11g, etc.).
What is an Optical Fibre Cable?
An optical fibre cable is a cable type that has a few to hundreds of optical fibres bundled together within a protective plastic coating. They help carry digital data in the form of light pulses across large distances at faster speeds. For this, they need to be installed or deployed either underground or aerially. Standalone fibres cannot be buried or hanged so fibres are bunched together as cables for the transmission of data. This is done to protect the fibre from stress, moisture, temperature changes and other externalities.
There are three main components of a optical fibre cable, core (It carries the light and is made of pure silicon dioxide (SiO2) with dopants such as germania, phosphorous pentoxide, or alumina to raise the refractive index; Typical glass cores range from as small as 3.7um up to 200um), Cladding (Cladding surrounds the core and has a lower refractive index than the core, it is also made from the same material as the core; 1% refractive index difference is maintained between the core and cladding; Two commonly used diameters are 125µm and 140µm) and Coating (Protective layer that absorbs shocks, physical damage and moisture; The outside diameter of the coating is typically either 250µm or 500µm; Commonly used material for coatings are acrylate,Silicone, carbon, and polyimide).
An optical fibre cable is made up of the following components: Optical fibres – ranging from one to many. Buffer tubes (with different settings), for protection and cushioning of the fibre. Water protection in the tubes – wet or dry. A central strength member (CSM) is the backbone of all cables. Armoured tapes for stranding to bunch the buffer tubes and strength members together. Sheathing or final covering to provide further protection.
The five main reasons that make this technology innovation disruptive are fast communication speed, infinite bandwidth & capacity, low interference, high tensile strength and secure communication. The major usescases of optical fibre cables include intenet connectivity, computer networking, surgery & dentistry, automotive industry, telephony, lighting & decorations, mechanical inspections, cable television, military applications and space.
