Maximizing Network Value with Next Generation Policy

Network service providers are caught between the proverbial rock and the hard place. Demand for Internet protocol (IP) access and bandwidth continues to grow at a tremendous pace driven by network technologies that require faster speeds and subscriber demand for bandwidth-intensive services, such as streaming videos, Internet protocol television (IPTV), and peer-to-peer (P2P) applications. Operators are left with little choice but to deploy faster networks with more capacity. However, the flat-rate, "all-you-can-eat" service plans used by most operators make it difficult to increase revenues in order to cover the additional capital and operational expenditures required to manage heavier network traffic. Within this environment, operators are finding it difficult to capitalize on the explosion in demand for their core assets. That is the "rock". The "hard place" is the financially driven imperative to avoid being relegated within the value chain as a low-value provider of commoditized access services. The number of over-the-top (OTT) providers of IP-based applications, services, and content is growing as companies, such as content providers, Internet companies, and device providers, attempt to monetize on the delivery of rich and valuable Internet content to consumers and businesses. In the meantime, telecommunications providers and cable multiple system operators (MSOs) are in danger of being disintermediated as mere transporters of Internet traffic and being bypassed from participating in emerging revenue models. Next generation policy management enables network service providers to overcome these challenges. With intelligent, dynamic control over subscriber entitlement to network resources and real-time charging capabilities at the network-edge, operators have an opportunity to play a central role in the evolving ecosystem of IP content, applications, services, devices, and networks. Service providers are uniquely positioned to use next generation policy to deliver highly individualized, interactive, and integrated experience to consumers and businesses and to monetize the value delivered to subscribers with a variety of new revenue models. Next generation policy enables service providers to become competitive and strategic players in the value chain.