OEM control and user plane correlation software helps enlighten CSPs
Mobile operators have been given new powers to improve the user experience.
Test and measurement specialist Rohde & Schwarz claims a new traffic visibility system from subsidiary Ipoque will help them see what their subscribers face when they use their 3G, 4G and 5G NSA networks. Understanding the subscriber’s story is essential in giving them the best customer service, it claims.
A new software module R&S®GSRM promises comms service providers (CSPs) an instant picture of the subscriber- and session-level traffic that affects network performance, quality of service and user experience. The module is to be offered as an easily-integrated OEM for networking, IP traffic management and cybersecurity vendors.
The software works in the core of mobile networks to resolve the data traffic issues of subscribers by correlating control of each user plane. This detailed subscriber-level traffic view allows vendors of network packet brokers and IP probes to raise their game with session-aware traffic aggregation, filtering and load balancing capabilities. Other new powers will include policy control, cybersecurity and IP traffic management.
Software module for network kit makers
According to Ipoque, it’s hard for engineers at CSPs to is get complete intelligence on each subscriber’s events but this is essential for meeting customer experience targets imposed on them. Given that they have multiple millions of GPRS tunnelling protocol (GTP) sessions running concurrently across mobile networks, the correlation of all that user plane and data plane traffic is impossible.
Without IP probes, network packet brokers and network management tools they can’t analyse subscriber sessions. If that wasn’t bad enough, they are constrained by bandwidth and throughput limitations, according to Stephan Klokow, VP of engineering at Ipoque.
“Subscriber awareness, swiftly integrated as a lean OEM software module, enables vendors to be one step ahead of the competition,” said Klakow.
After field testing and early adoption by US-based packet broker Niagara Networks the module is being offered to network equipment vendors to embed into new kit.