[November 18, 2009] Starent Networks Unveils New Charging Control Solution Tweet Nov 19, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Starent Networks, a provider of infrastructure solutions that enable mobile operators to deliver multimedia services, announced an end-to-end 3GPP Policy and Charging Control (PCC) solution to address mobile operators' need to manage network traffic and introduce new revenue generating services. The complete solution consists of Starent and ecosystem partner technologies, which the company said will enable operators to improve subscriber experiences through effective resource management. Due to its integrated mobile gateway, policy enforcement, Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and In-line Services functions, Starent said its PCC solution has a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than others that use multiple platforms to provide each element. A recent TCO analysis conducted by Network Strategy Partners showed that Starent's integrated architecture for key functions in the PCC solution has approximately 35-40 percent savings in operational expenses over a five year study. "Policy management has a diverse array of use cases and deployment scenarios, but operators are most interested in policy solutions that can ensure customer satisfaction and a high-quality customer experience," said Arindam Banerjee, vice president at Yankee Group. "The most effective way to achieve this is by providing an integrated approach to inspection, policy management, enforcement and real-time charging that mirrors the full PCC architecture." The Starent PCC solution consists of Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), Subscriber Profile Repository (SPR), Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) and On-Line and Off-Line Charging (OCS/OFCS). Starent stated that the solution allows operators to lower TCO by integrating key elements in the mobile gateway function. Key services of the PCC solution include automated use notifications to prevent bill shock and reduce subscriber churn, tiered services to improve customer satisfaction, parental control, roaming management, traffic optimization, location-based differential charging and on-net preferential charging. "Mobile operators are increasingly challenged by the explosion of data traffic, to keep costs down and monetize their networks," said Ashraf Dahod, president and chief executive officer of Starent Networks. "By offering a tightly-coupled and cost-effective PCC solution, Starent is providing operators with the real-time management of their network resources to contain costs and provide the personalized services they need now." The Starent PCC solution can be deployed in 3G networks today and the same solution can be used in LTE/EPC networks through a simple software upgrade which will allow carriers in the future to minimize the cost of transitioning their core network infrastructure from 3G to 4G. The Starent PCC solution has been deployed in multiple tier-one operator networks. ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]