Openet has acquired start-up Forkstream to help operators improve network access decisions within their policy and charging infrastructures.
Forkstream’s technology enables operators to define policies for routing mobile data streams within and between different access networks while ensuring a seamless user experience, according to a statement released by Openet.
In turn, it provides granular control of traffic offload policies and enables new business models that include service options specific to an access network.
The technology, which is fully compliant with 3GPP Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) standards that enable consumer devices to discover and communicate with non-3GPP networks such as WiFi or WiMAX, interacts with the network core via Openet’s Interaction Gateway solution.
“Integrating Forkstream into the Openet PCC ecosystem enables our customers to overcome many challenges related to seamlessly integrating multiple access networks with cellular services,” said Openet CTO Joe Hogan.
“[Forkstream has] developed an elegant solution to ensure cross-network session continuity and flow management, which is key to a quality user experience.”
Ireland-based Forkstream is a spin out from University College Dublin.
Co-founder John Fitzpatrick said his team was joining Openet at a crucial time.
“Operators are investing heavily in multi-access networks and cross-network services,” he added. “Supporting network access decisions within the policy and charging infrastructure makes it easy for operators to deliver more to their customers.”
In March, Infonetics Research released data showing that the global policy management software market grew by almost a third last year.