Policy control for packetcore networks

Whitepaper Elitecore Technologies Telecom Practices

Policy control for

Whitepaper Policy control for Packetcore Networks

INTRODUCTION

The world pushing in overdrive
Communication Service Providers (CSPs) are busy riding the avalanche of unprecedented network changes and
technology arrivals. Even at this juncture, a phenomenon that is growing faster than everything else is the ‘insatiable
consumer’. The telecommunications industry in recent years has witnessed a systematic upheaval in communications
technologies. With rapidly maturing technologies and protocols, demand for higher-level applications and services via
IP driven access and bandwidth is also growing rapidly .

This transformation has given rise to a multitude of new trends such as intensified subscription to life-style and business
oriented communications services by consumers and enterprise users. Demand for high speed, data-heavy and content
rich mobile connectivity capable of providing continuous information stream has emerged as a new paradigm. This
organized rally of ‘personalized services’ oriented network platform eventually arrived at a quintessential phase with
the advent of packetcore networks.

Source: Chetan Sharma Consulting

3G, for example, promises to alleviate many limitations of 2.5G that didn't allow enjoying high-speed internet services.
Since it will work well simultaneously for both voice and data, service providers will indeed witness a great surge in SMS,
streaming video, music downloads, social media applications and the like. The market is already experiencing
phenomenal addiction for high-speed rich media content and social networking enabled smart phones. Nokia Ovi,
Apple App Store, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and many other similar platforms are becoming essential lifestyle
ingredients for the next-gen users. In order to capitalize these opportunities, service providers need smart yet simple
solutions to introduce Time and Value based innovative service plans. This is where a dynamic Policy Manager will
catalyze a cutting edge in packetcore networks by raising the bar in managing ubiquitous and context aware service
provision with real time charging.
Gradual Drift from 2G to 3G and evolution Changing Dynamics of the Subscriber Usage Pattern
towards Evolved Packet System

Source: Fraunhofer FOKUS presentation on OpenEPC

2 Elitecore Technologies Telecom Practices


NEED FOR POLICY AND CHARGING RULES FUNCTION

Today, for Communications Service Providers, successful rollout of high-speed data driven services hinges on fine-
grained control of each service. This is an undeniable imperative for stringent network usage management for High-
speed Network, since guaranteeing end-to-end Quality-of-Service (QoS) using manual intervention for a variety of
services appears rather unachievable. Besides, rapidly declining price per bandwidth due to intense competition and
continued trend of data access being commoditized has also added extra pressure. Service providers therefore have to
control, monetize, and adapt their infrastructure suitably for fine-tuning their network economics, while also satisfying
today's demanding customers. Arriving at this involves
manifold service levels, real-time charging and quota Top Data Applications used by smart-phone users

management, real-time service provisioning, seamless
experience over various devices, on-demand & location-
specific applications and right-enabled admission with

(minutes/month/user)
Avg. monthly facetime
steady access control.

This is where the role of PCRF (Policy Charging and Rules
Function) comes. With the help of PCRF, Service Providers
can implement a policy-driven mechanism for automating
user self-provisioning. Accordingly, they can engage more
effectively with subscribers, sustain real-time control,
charge suitably and maximize their returns by centralizing
network policy control by building a smart conduit between Source – Zokem
the OSS (network processes) and BSS (business processes). An exemplary sample from the USA, UK, nordic countries.

EXTRACTING THE GENESIS OF PCRF

Simple and cost-effective ways for catering and managing Quality of Service (QoS) are important for packetcore
operators. This is essentially important for operators aiming at providing a gamut of IP-based rich content services across
over mobile broadband channels. This is where Policy based network management Architecture was evolved with IETF
and 3GPP for IMS policy frameworks.

PCRF has evolved out of the 3GPP (third generation partnership product) as a component for IMS, an architectural
framework for delivering multimedia services using Internet Protocol (IP), a common transport protocol that allows for
access independence and enables a single-core multimedia network. PCRF as of today is no longer tied only to IMS
networks, but is applicable across many network types.

Notwithstanding its original release as part of the 3GPP IMS standardization move to dynamically authorize and tie IMS
sessions with mobile packet access resources, today policy plays a key role in the working of an IMS, 3G and other
evolving next generation networks. PCRF now essentially covers the business and technological rules / definitions that
administer which network services a subscriber can access, at what bandwidth level, when, and for how long. The policy
control thus queries, coordinates, and adjusts all of the network resources to grant the required services to individual,
authorized subscribers.

PERTINENCE TO 3GPP RELEASES AND EVOLUTION OF POLICY CONTROL FRAMEWORK

With a view to fortifying the future of CSPs in the highly evolving heterogonous networks, 3GPP has been introducing a
series of guidelines known as releases. Of these releases, 3GPP release 7 is where PCRF formally replaced the erstwhile
Policy Decision Function (PDF), a secondary mechanism that used to provide static policy controls and lacked unification.
Realizing the growing complexity in next-gen networks, Release 7 aimed at centralizing subscriber management policy
control. The move helped telecom carriers break new ground by empowering them with new capabilities in centralized
subscriber policy management, for delivering broadband services with high data rate and lower-latency. With this, the



next generation policy system imbibed hitherto unavailable features such as additional policy rules and real-time event
triggers. Aided by this improved scalability, PCRF came to support a much higher level of TPS & tiered services, volume
quotas, premium content and other next generation telecom offerings.

Diameter was first introduced by 3GPP in Release 5 for the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In the beginning Diameter
was used along side other control protocols such as COPS and SOAP, but in 3GPP Releases 6 and 7 Diameter received
prime responsibility for control plane signaling and in the LTE related 3GPP Release 8 and 9 it continued widespread as
continued to more interfaces and network functionalities. 3GPP Release 8 also brought many advanced capabilities
such as the first step towards Long Term Evolution (LTE).

The release introduced an array of components for
3GPP Wireless Networks Reference Architecture
Evolved Packet Core (EPC) including SGW (Serving
Gateway), PGW (PDN Gateway) and MME (Mobile
Application
Management Entity). As per Rel 8 guidelines, PCRF's
Function
interoperation with the EPC gateways and the MME SPR
becomes mandatory and essential for the operation Online Charging
of the LTE. Also quite importantly, 3GPP Rel 8 actively Diameter
System(OCS)
looks at supporting IP based 3GPP services through
various non-3GPP access technologies such as
WiMAX and WLAN. 3GPP compliant AAA (by Sp Rx

interfacing with HSS) facilitates interworking
Gy
between 3GPP and non-3GPP access technologies in
EPC.
Policy Charging and
Also, a policy peering protocol enabling automated Rules Function
(PCRF)
control for adaptive flow aggregation between the Offline Charging
PCRF and PCEF allows policy rules to trail subscribers System (OFCS)
even when they are roaming, thus ensuring
consistent service quality (QoE) irrespective of Gxx Gx

subscriber's geographic location, by peering in real- Gz
time with the visited (roaming) networks. In 3GPP
release 9 further expanded policy enforcement
PCEF
functions of the Gx interface for direct management BBERF
of QoS policies based on subscribers usage Gateway
information. Thus, also enabling overall data
transmission and/or service level monitoring.

Key reference points described in 3GPP Release 7 and 8

Release 7 End-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) concept and architecture

Release 7 Policy and charging control architecture

Release 7 Added end user subscription differentiation

Release 7 Applicable to many access networks

Release 8 Policy and charging control signaling flows and Quality of Service (QoS) parameter mapping

Release 8 LTE and System Architecture Evolution

Release 8 Inter operator roaming and policy control

Release 8 Interworking with 3GPP and Non 3GPP access networks



WHY SHOULD OPERATORS OPT FOR A PCRF

Communication services are no longer conceived as something services such as streaming video, P2P, BoD, VoIP, etc. becomes
needed to reach another person. They have evolved into a quite effective. In turn as subscribers also get to enjoy the QoS
highly influencing and aspirations driven lifestyle & business and freedom of managing, controlling and updating their own
intervention, which touches human lives in many ways, usage preferences, they feel more comfortable and grow loyal
everyday, and every moment. Resultantly, CSPs now seek a with their CSP. This way PCRF also delivers substantial value-
special presence among their customers with a view to satisfy addition by enabling personalization to subscribers’ service
subscribers while ensuring profitable and judicious network usage experience.
usage. Optimizing bandwidth utilization, improving QoS,
ensuring consistent data roaming control and gaining capability By enabling adequate policy control PCRF safeguards both
to offer & manage long-term tiered bandwidth services customer expectations (QoE) and carrier needs (QoS).
together hold the key to business competitiveness. Integration of Network with the OSS has always been a
challenge, with PCRF Tactically located between the network
Policy Manager benefits the operator through real time control and the OSS; it acts as an intelligent conduit of services across
on network usage, service personalization and subscriber any kind of network or device.
management polices. Network policies help Resource
Admission Control in real time through Monitoring Network Finally, in the light of 3GPP release 8, which adequately
Contention per Class of Service by enforcing bandwidth usage accommodates interest of the service providers that are keen
controls on real time, thereby ensuring QoS. By managing data to offer next-generation services over non-3GPP access
traffic peaks, the unnecessary cost involved in adding network networks, a PCRF enabling such integration in the case of legacy
capacity can be avoided. Application policies help determine infrastructure deserves key attention. As stems from this, a
requirements that have to be met in order for it to be delivered smart PCRF is needed that can support such networks which
successfully (e.g. subscriber plan, subscriber location, QoS, comprises of devices that aren't fully-compliant with current
bandwidth requirements) It manages bandwidth allocations as industry specifications. Similarly, a PCRF can also be tied to a
per service&subscriber profiles. Subscriber policies help create specific vendor or it can be an open platform that allows
personalized services plans for data services integration and interoperability of equipment from multiple
vendors. It also integrates with OCS where PCEF cannot directly
With a PCRF driven policy management, rolling out tiered talk to the charging system
service plans while managing volume control for an array of

Contemporary policy management and enforcement specifications stress on the following aspects (use
cases) for judicious QoS over varied technologies, devices and networks, especially when data (mobile)
revenues are burgeoning at an extreme rate and shall soon take over voice revenues the world over.

Managing mobile data tsunami and averting traffic Vs non-roaming customers etc. This way using dynamic policy in
congestion in network real-time, CSPs can avert possible event of network congestion
and maintain healthy network economics together with
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in its recent competitive QoS among all broadband data users.
survey reveals that by the end of 2010, worldwide mobile users
will reach a titanic population of about 5.3 billion. Add to this Mobile broadband users in emerging markets by access device
another study from Cisco, which concerns Global Mobile Data
Forecast finds that a booming developing market like India will
Mobile broadband users in emerging markets (%)

have the highest Mobile Data Traffic Growth at a staggering
CAGR of 222% over 2009-2014. This indeed introduces fresh
challenges for CSPs in managing mobile (broadband) data
tsunami.

This is again where dynamic policy manager can offer the much
needed panacea. By being able to monitor subscribers’ usage
pattern in the light of available network resources, CSPs can
assign judicious priorities to various parameters such as
subscriber profile, service package, application type (music,
gaming, video, VoIP) traffic required by partner sites, roaming Source – Ovum



Dynamic adaptation and Efficient use of resources Tiered service offerings
Unlike traditional ways of configuring static policies, today's As consumption of high-speed mobile data grows, CSPs have to
policy controller must adapt to suitable QoS configurations manage very tactically for a broad yet complex mix of content
based on monitored network state in real-time for better and mobile data users. While power users are increasing, a
utilization of network resources. Thus, satisfying both network wide section of causal users still remains. In order to make data
specific needs i.e. determining available resources (e.g. services more appealing and relevant to both these segments,
bandwidth) for enforcing policies as per required Class of CSPs must have smart Policy Management to cater adequate
Service and service usage specific needs (personalizing service options on usage and pricing. This provides ample opportunity
delivery to a subscriber by based on context-awareness). for revenue maximization while ensuring customization for
individual subscriber needs since configuring various service
Fair usage classes based on Bandwidth Usage Caps, Plan Speed, Access
For enabling end-to-end QoS (fair allocation of broadband Time, Service Priority (whether the subscriber is a casual
resources among all users), policy control mechanism should consumer, a business organization or a government
be able to invoke fair usage control to avoid network congestion establishment), Application type (e.g., streaming HD video,
on account of a small fraction of heavy usage subscribers and VoIP, P2P etc) and Device type (e.g. a 3G smart phone) now
should reserve network resources evenly among a wide section becomes possible with the help of a dynamic policy manager.
of subscribers. Hence, CSPs would have the ability to apply a set
of proactive responses to add to their subscribers QoE. Using Enabling Real time Charging
dynamic policy CSPs can proactively measure their subscribers’ With exponential growth in consumption of rich multimedia
usage and upon them reaching assigned threshold, CSPs can content (data) on variety of devices and also fast changing
wield flexible options such as sending alerts, throttling the subscriber usage patterns, CSPs are required to charge their
access speed during peak hours, assign priorities to bandwidth subscribers in real-time and also need to shift their access
intensive services. Moreover, with the added goodness of privileges between tiers of service QoS (e.g. bandwidth on
Parental Controls, subscriber too can restrict or limit abhorrent demand using self-care portal). In similar circumstances, it
and bandwidth-guzzling content channels by applying suitable becomes an imperative to integrate dynamic policy
conditions such as Time of Day, Bandwidth Quota Management management with online charging systems (OCS). This
and Anti Spam filters. augments and streamlines management of real-time changes
in QoS while catering sporadic subscriber requests which has
tremendous implications for service provider's revenue and
subscriber's service experience.

IN NUTSHELL

The world of savvy broadband users and uber-cool smart mobile devices is busy swallowing oodles of high-speed rich content and
data. This paradigm, though gradually yet steadily, is heralding the onset of Yottabyte Era*. With the dawn of 3G, managing the
quality of service promise eclipses every other aspect of broadband telecom offering. At this juncture, the telecom industry in
general and CSPs in particular are revisiting their value-proposition for meaningful sustainability and seamless alignment with
rapidly changing subscribers' needs. Irrespective of their demographics and psychographics, both ordinary and enterprise users
want to engage in smooth, convenient and 'anywhere, anytime and any device' high-speed data service. Since brand promise in
packetcore networks strictly hinges on service quality reliability (QoS), CSPs in turn are keen to partner accurate answers for their
acute needs as they prepare to deliver attractive offerings and strive to meet on-demand (real-time) service requests.

* As articulately defined in the paper “Managing growth and profits in the Yottabyte Era”

NETVERTEX: A DYNAMIC POLICY MANAGER

NetVertex NetVertex is a Service Aware Intelligent Policy Manager that brings intelligence into the network to make
Product of policy enforcement decisions in real time based on the services, applications, network resources,
e L I T E C O R E
subscriber profile, SLA & application to ensure end to end QoS & charging in real time.

NetVertex enables services providers reduce subscriber churn, the cost associated with non business data traffic and increase ARPU
through monitoring subscriber usage pattern, network contention, manage application wise bandwidth and enabling usage based
charging, It also provides platform for launch of subscriber intiated on demand services like BoD, music on demand, gaming on
demand etc. NetVertex Policy manager is compliant to 3GPP Release 8 (PCRF), WiMAX PCC and ETSI TISPAN standards with
redundant and failover deployment architecture. NetVertex can be delivered pre-integrated with fully compliant OCS, BSS, AAA or
Independent Policy manager



TECHNICAL ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE DOCUMENT
! IMS - IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an architectural framework for delivering Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia services
! PCRF – Policy and Charging Rules Function
! BBERF – Bearer binding and event reporting function
! Rx -resides between PCRF and AF, it enables transfer session information from AF to PCRF. Using Rx PCRF can notify AF of occurrence of a
subscribed traffic plane event.(eg IP session has been closed)
! Gx - The on-line policy interface between the GGSN and the Policy and charging rules function. Gx reference point enables a PCRF to have
dynamic control over the PCC behaviour at a PCEF
! Gxx -incorporates commands and AVPs, it enables gateway directly talk to PCRF.
! Gy- resides between the OCS and the PCEF. The Gy reference point allows online credit control for service data flow based charging.
! GZ- resides between the PCEF and the OFCS. The Gz reference point enables transport of service data flow based offline charging
information.
! SP- The Sp reference point lies between the SPR and the PCRF. The Sp reference point allows the PCRF to request subscription information
such as subscriber ID, a PDN identifier and session attributes. The reference point allows the SPR to notify the PCRF when the subscription
information has been changed.
! PCEF – Policy Control and Enforcement Function
! EPC – Evolved Packet Core
! IETF - Internet Engineering Task force
! 3GPP – Third Generation Partnership Project

REFERENCES
! A case study of Policy based QoS Management in 3G Networks by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea
! Understanding the Future Mobile Networks and Related Technologies by Fraunhofer, Fokus
! ITU World Telecommunication, ICT Mobile World 2010 presentation
! Automated and Scalable QoS Control for Network Convergence, Princeton University
! Resource authorization in IMS with known multimedia service adaptation capabilities, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
and Computing
! Value Added Service Management in 3G networks, Communication Networks Laboratory,
! Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Athens

About Elitecore Technologies
TM
Elitecore Technologies is the provider of Billing & Revenue Management Solution- Crestel and Core Network Session Control Software- ELiteAAA and
TM
NetVertex - Service Aware Intelligent Policy Manager to enable Next Generation Voice, Video, Data Services offered by Tier-1 to Tier 3 Telecom Operators /
Service Providers over Wireline or Wireless Networks. Elitecore is a Carlyle Investee company having customers across the globe with presence in more than
78 countries. For more information, visit Elitecore Technologies at www.elitecore.com/telecompractices

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