Procera Networks - Policy Enforcement in Motion

Cable Operator Challenges

Cable operators face some significant challenges as they are increasing the performance of their access network using DOCSIS 3.0 technologies to enhance their subscriber’s broadband experience. Cable Operators need fine-grained awareness on the behavior of their network and subscribers, sophisticated analysis tools for business planning, and real-time control that enables them to deliver a superior Quality of Experience on their networks. Cable networks must inherently mange the congestion on the last mile due to the DOCSIS architecture. In order to support the massive increases in access bandwidth, backhaul and core network bandwidth has increased exponentially over the past few years, and solutions that can scale to hundreds of gigabits in some locations. Operators are struggling to cope with the data usage of their subscribers with the new generation of Internet applications and their own triple play services, and meeting the high expectations of their subscribers at a low cost is proving to be a challenge. More streaming usage (both audio and video), file downloading, and even social network interaction are changing the dynamics of the broadband data network.

Cable Operator Requirements

Cable operators need visibility into the usage patterns on their network. The explosion of bandwidth in the cable network mandate that any system deployed today must be able to handle the performance increase required to address DOCSIS 3.0 upgrades. Operators that have good visualization of the behavior of their subscriber’s applications and application types during peak usage times ensures that congestion management will ensure that subscribers have a good Quality of Experience. Operators also need visibility into the usage patterns of different geographic locations, and the ability to understand when usage patterns require channel bonding or the addition of additional systems to allow more efficient capacity planning and operational expenditures. Tight integration with the Operational Support (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) is required to provide a single point of access into subscriber services and usage behavior. In some regions of the world, regulatory challenges mandate that congestion management techniques must be user friendly, flexible, and transparent.

PacketLogic Solutions

Procera Networks’ PacketLogic solutions are deployed by Tier 1 cable operators worldwide to meet these challenges through next-generation technology that provides deep visibility into and control over network traffic. PacketLogic solutions provide deep packet inspection capabilities that allow highly accurate identification of network traffic such as file sharing, streaming video (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu), Skype and others – even if these applications use port-hopping, encryption, masking or other behaviors to hide their identity. PacketLogic solutions integrate with the Cable BSS and OSS to provide subscriber and network topology correlation. PacketLogic solutions provide precise visibility into network traffic, allowing accurate management and optimization of bandwidth. Standards-based policy management interworking with policy vendors enables allocation of bandwidth by application (such as VoIP) or subscriber, and time-of-day, down to individual CMTS channels. With a PacketLogic solution, cable operators do not need to sacrifice performance, functionality, or scalability as compared to competitive solutions.

Broadband Use Cases:

• Business and Network Analytics: Detailed analytics on network consumption based on users, applications, devices, location, and other metrics used to conduct business plans.
• OTT Video Management: Peering analysis, CDN-awareness, and Quality of Experience measurement for OTT Video over the cable infrastructure.
• Usage Management: Management of networks based on volume of traffic consumed by subscribers on the network (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, etc,). 
• Intelligent Charging: Zero Rating or Tiered Charging based on time-of-day, application, or content for “Happy Hour” or “Free” service plans designed to enhance the subscriber experience.
• Tiered Services: Service Management and prioritization of content and applications based on subscriber preferences and service choice.
• Traffic Steering: Subscriber and application-aware steering of traffic to value-added services and 3rd party content/service providers.
• Threat Management: Integration with threat management systems for granular data feeds, mitigation, and audit purposes.
• Captive Portals, Top-Up, and Proactive Notifications: Re-direction of web browsing to a web service for top-up and service notifications (upsell, billing, emergency notification, etc).
• Congestion Management and Fair Use: Quality of Experience management to ensure high quality delivery of broadband service even in times of congestion on the access or core network.

Key PacketLogic Capabilities for Cable Providers: 

• DOCSIS 3.0 ready today – no forklift upgrade required – even if bandwidth usage doubles or triples! 
• End-to-end integration into the provider’s Billing and Operational network with customizable interfaces to multiple departments: Customer Service, Revenue Assurance, Billing Intelligence using standard interfaces.
• Full subscriber, topology, and service plan awareness with the ability to deploy policies dynamically to manage congestion and QoE.
• Scalability to multi-10GE capacity and millions of subscribers, allowing operators to evolve and grow their networks to meet technology and business goals. 
• Real-Time operational analysis on the network, users, and applications
• Traffic optimization and service creation functionality that generates customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and added-revenue opportunities