DPI Deployments (12): Dautkom TV Latvia Uses Procera to Manage OTT Traffic

  

Procera Networks announced today that Dautkom TV Latvia has deployed its recently announced PacketLogic™ PL8720.

See "Procera Networks Announces Strong Initial Customer Deployments of its New PacketLogic PL8720" - here.

“As a cable operator we constantly have to assess opportunities and threats from over the top video and voice services, and ensure we provide a good and still profitable Internet service,” said Pavel Grigorjev, CTO of Dautkom TV Latvia. “Our subscribers generate a lot of traffic and PL8720 provides a quick return on our investment and protection for the continued rapid growth in number of customers and traffic volume.”

Good quote! 

Yankee Group: 4G Video is a Killer App, but might be a Network Killer

  

A webinar hosted by Yankee Group analysts Chris Nicoll and Terry Cudmore examined the opportunity and risks of video services on upcoming 4G networks.

See "Webinar: Preparing for 4G Video Services" on Yankee's Blog (here) and the recorded presentation (below).

Among the findings/forecast:

• Network traffic will grow by a factor of 28 between 2008 and 2012, while revenue will only grow 15 percent in that same period
   
• Poor design and high usage can lead to network congestion, negative user experiences and, ultimately, customer churn
   

 

• There will be over 500 million smartphones in use worldwide in 2010, and that number will increase 137% by 2014 (compare to IDC- here and Strategy Analytics - here)
   
• Mobile video users are forecasted to register over 3 times more annual growth than mobile phone lines from 2011-2014
   
• CSPs need clear positioning in a crowded mobile broadband market and develop new business models 
       [And the most important recommendation from the point of view of this blog ...]
     
• In addition to adopting new pricing models, CSPs must optimize and effectively manage their exploding mobile Internet traffic, particularly video and other rich media

Preparing for 4G Video Services

FCC: 13% of Voice Connections are VoIP Based

 

In its "Local Telephone Competition: Status as of December 31, 2008" report (here) the FCC, for the first time, shows VoIP statistics. The information, collected from US operators ("Form 477 program") counts now "interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol" (see definition below - it excludes Skype).

According to the report, there were over 21M such VoIP lines vs. 141M PSTN lines - i.e. 13% of voice connections were VoIP based (20% for residential links). 4M VoIP connections were "Standalone" (2.5% of all voice connections) while 17.3M were part of "Broadband Bundled" (is part of an Internet service - Standalone are other cases).

Source - FCC report, page 3

"An interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service is a service that:

(1) Enables real-time, two-way voice communications;

(2) Requires a broadband connection from the user’s location;

(3) Requires Internet protocol-compatible customer premises equipment (CPE); and
(4) Permits users generally to receive calls that originate on the public switched telephone network and to terminate calls to the public switched telephone network.
We note that the current interpretation of element (4) of the definition excludes the VoIP services that Skype offers in the United States, and subscribers to those services are not reported on Form 477."

Bridgewater: "We are Cisco Ready"

   

Bridgewater Systems issued a press release today ("Bridgewater Joins the Cisco Developer Network as a Preferred Solution Developer and Completes Interoperability Verification Testing" - here) announcing that it has completed testing with Cisco's ASR 5000 (former Starent GGSN).

The company describes (here) the PCRF-PCEF test as follows: "The Bridgewater HSS and PCRF completed IVT with the Cisco ASR 5000 for the mobile packet core, including the PCRF Gx and Gy interfaces to the packet data network gateway and the HSS S6a and STa interfaces to the Mobility Management Entity (MME) for LTE, and the PCRF Gx/Gx+, and Gy interfaces to the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) for HSPA".

This does not change my PCRF-DPI compatibility matrix (Bridgewater/Cisco is there already) - see here.

Related post - "DPI Announcements - Cisco/Starent PGW - DPI, QoS, LI" - here.

Skype Does Good for 3UK

   

Unlike the conventional wisdom, according to which allowing Skype over mobile data will cannibalize mobile operators' voice minutes revenues, 3 UK is seeing just the opposite - according to recent research by CCS Insight, reported by Rethink Wireless.

See "Skype boosts results for exclusive operators" - here.

"Nearly 80% of 3 UK's Skype users over the past year are new to the company, and on average, they deliver 20% higher ARPU and 14% lower churn than the rest of 3's base ... Though few operators actually block the service any more, only a handful has offered active support, including an optimized application and free calls over 3G - and so these tend to promote such a rare differentiator aggressively." 

Concluding that this will be correct for every operators is maybe far fetching, but we did see Verizon going the same way earlier this year: "Verizon likes Skype" - here.

Let’s not forget Skype's intention to charge extra for currently free Skype to Skype calls over 3G: "Skype: We Will Charge 3G Calls to Ensure QoS Stays High" - here.

Net Neutrality in Israel: Targeting Voice over Mobile

 

The Israeli government has a unique way to pass new economic laws in the parliament (Knesset) - combining a large number of reforms and regulations into the bi-yearly government budget bill.

The bill, known as the "Economic Arrangements Law" relates to all aspects of national economics (and people life) - including health, wealth, education, infrastructure, transportation and communication. The idea is that all new reforms are brought to the parliament as one package - a way to expedite the legislation process compared to bringing each one separately.  

The process has started for the 2011-12 budget, and according to a report in The Marker the draft includes a new Net Neutrality regulation for cellular services (article in Hebrew - here). According to the article, the proposed regulation will say - "a Cellular operator and importer of cellular end-user equipment will not limit, in any way, the use of applications or services used by his subscribers on the mobile internet network". While this is a general statement, TheMarker says that it targets VoB (VoIP) services, for which some licenses has been granted recently.

In parallel to the above, the Ministry of Communications published  a presentation - "Economic Aspects of Net Neutrality - by Yair Hakak" (Regulatory Economist, Israel Ministry of Communications) - here.

The presentation covers the status of Net Neutrality in the US and the EU and seems to be targeting Voice and Video over Broadband (which is the main aspect of Net Neutrality world wide). For Israel, there is only a very general "next steps" slide. For reference, see a previous comment by Mr. Hakak - "Israel not blocking VoIP" - here.

Related posts:

• Pelephone Israel Reveals Mobile Internet Information - here
• Frost & Sullivan: Mobile Operators Should not Impose Bans or Surcharges to VoIP - here
• My ISP Endorses Quota Policy - here
• 
  Skype: We Will Charge 3G Calls to Ensure QoS Stays High - here

DPI Solution: KindSight's Security VAS

  

French web site PC INpact reported last week that Orange France is going to offer a new anti-identity theft service, using a solution from KindSight. They assumed that based on some KindSight slides showing Orange's logo (see below). Today, PC INpact reported that KindSight said they do not have an agreement with Orange.

See the first report (French) from "Orange : lutter contre l’usurpation d’identité en échange de publicités" (Orange: Fight against identity theft in return for advertising) - here and the denial - "Publicité et DPI : KindSight conteste tout accord avec Orange" - here. See also

In any case, this is a good opportunity to review another aspect of DPI, which maybe used as a VAS by ISP for ARPU increase.

Kindsight's solution is an ISP installed s/w, and uses DPI to detect security threats. According to the limited information in the site "It detects threats in your Internet traffic, sends you alerts and shows you step-by-step how to remove these threats that put your personal information at risk. Kindsight is always-on, always-up-to-date and can not be disabled by criminals since it’s embedded in your service provider’s network."

The French reports were particularly concerned by the following statement: "The Kindsight service is offered for a monthly fee (3.95 euro/month in the "Orange Slide") or, like many other Internet applications, at no-cost through relevant advertising ("Orange" free option)". The free option says that the service will track web sites accessed and searches performed by the subscriber but will not store the information (known as anonymous behavioral analysis).

Related posts:

• Japan - ISPs May Use DPI for Behavioral Advertising - here
   
• The Legality of DPI - Paper by Angela Daly - here

 

DPI Announcements - Cisco/Starent PGW - DPI, QoS, LI

    

Cisco updated on Friday its information on "Cisco PGW Packet Data Network Gateway" (PGW), a function that is supported on Cisco's ASR 5000 multimedia core platforms (the former Starent ST40 GGSN product).

See the introduction - here.

According to Cisco, the PGW function supports also the following functions, all in the ASR-5000 platform - and seems to be available now.

• Acts as the Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF)
• Manages quality of service (QoS)
• Provides deep-packet inspection and lawful intercept

Ofcom: Traffic Management and ‘net neutrality’

  

Ofcom, the UK regulator, published a "discussion document" on traffic management, and its impact on Net Neutrality.

See "Ofcom opens debate on net neutrality" - here and the discussion document - here.

"This practice [Traffic management] may allow network operators and ISPs to handle traffic more efficiently, to prioritise traffic by type, to guarantee bandwidth or to block or degrade the quality of certain content. However, it has also led to concerns that network operators and ISPs could engage in anti-competitive behaviour and suppress the quality of content from provider services."

Source: Ofcom document, P 6

"Other countries including the US, Canada, France, Norway and Sweden have adopted or are considering some form of regulatory requirements relating to traffic management. The European Commission is due to publish a consultation on the issue this summer."

Related posts:

• "The Legality of DPI - Paper by Angela" - here
   
• "Net-Neutrality Crosses the Pond" - here

Google - [Our] TCP Can Do 12% Better

   

According to Google's Urs Holzle (during his keynote presentation at the Velocity 2010 conference yesterday):

".. Google has seen a 12% improvement in the performance of its sites through refinements in its implementation of TCP/IP."

See "Google: How We’re Making the Web Faster" - here.

See a paper from Google "An Argument for Increasing TCP’s Initial Congestion Window" - here. The paper concludes:  "Increasing TCP’s initial congestion window is a small change with a significant positive impact on Web transfer latency"

Google work is not limited to TCP - DNS and HTTP improvements ("SPDY") also contribute to a faster web service.

The Legality of DPI - Paper by Angela Daly

  

Angela Daly, from the European University Institute - Department of Law, published as abstract for a new paper, discussing the legality of Deep Packet Inspection.

The paper discusses the use of DPI for network security (here), network management (i.e. QoS/traffic management by ISPs), government surveillance, targeted advertising (here) and copyright infringements (here). Aspects examined are privacy, free expression, competition, copyright and due process

Regarding network management, the recommendation sounds (to a non-legal expert like me) similar to Net Neutrality expected guidelines (non-discrimination, transparency with reasonable network management):

".. as regards network management, it seems that some use of DPI to prioritise some types of Internet traffic on a QoS basis would be desirable. However, given the potential (as well as actual) abuse of such a position of network control, it would be unwise to leave network management, even just vis-a-vis a minimum QoS solely to the ISPs: principled, clear, transparent, and ideally independent rules on such network management, to avoid free expression violations and anticompetitive behaviour, would be highly desirable here" .

See "The Legality of Deep Packet Inspection" - here ; Paper - here.

AT&T Seeks Unified Policy Management for Wireline and Wireless

 

AT&T network architect Yiannis Argyropoulos spoke today at Light Reading's Backhaul Strategies and Core Convergence for Mobile Operators event in New York.

See coverage by Carol Wilson "LTE Will Reshape Entire AT&T Network" - here.

"AT&T also is looking for coordination of policy control between its wireline and wireless networks, so that the core network services are the same for end-users, regardless of how they connect to the network. It is no longer adequate for quality-of-service to be delivered piecemeal, within different segments of the network, Argyropoulos stated: "There is a lot of work going on right now to harmonize these."

See "AT&T Uses Openet for iPad Monetization" - here - for the selection of Openet, a Policy Management software (PCRF) vendor by AT&T.

Allot: World Cup Generates 26% Increase in Mobile Broadband Usage

  

Allot says that "its data indicates a 26% increase in overall mobile broadband usage during the initial 10 days of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This surge is apparent particularly in Web Browsing, P2P and Video Streaming."

Press release - "Mobile Broadband the Clear Winner at 2010 FIFA World Cup" - here.

More impact of the World Cup event::

• "WorldCup Breaks Global Broadband Internet Traffic Record - UK ISPs Unharmed" - here
   
• "Akamai Anticipates Record Internet Traffic During World Cup" - here
   
• "The World Cup Yields Record Tweets and Traffic" - here

Dish Networks Fights for Net Neutrality

 

Satellite provider Dish Networks escalates its efforts for Net Neutrality. Last week the company issued a press release (here) supporting the FCC recent move - "DISH Network applauds the Commission's decision to release a Notice of Inquiry on the 'Third Way' legal approach .. A sound legal framework is absolutely necessary to preserve a free and open Internet and encourage innovation and investment" said Charlie Ergen, Chairman, President and CEO of DISH Network"

Now, Dish is going after the Comcast-NBCU merger. The NewTeeVee site quotes Dish's FCC filling, saying that: "A combined Comcast-NBCU would have the incentive and ability to take anticompetitive action against Dish Network’s online video products by giving Comcast unique visibility into Hulu; combining Comcast’s broadband gatekeeper position and NBCU’s key role in video-on-demand; blending Comcast’s broadband traffic management power and NBCU’s online video content; joining Comcast’s and NBCU’s ability to interfere with EchoStar’s “Sling” place-shifting technology; and leveraging the combined companies’ ability to offer a multi-platform advertising product."

See "Dish: Comcast-NBCU Combo Poses ‘Grave Threats’ to Online Video" - here.

Once again, we see the concerns of how broadband traffic management maybe going from a "reasonable network management tool" to a marketing/anti-competition system.

The current Net Neutrality guidelines forbid the discrimination applications, but also require transparency of service. This may be interpreted as the ability to offer a number of service plans that prioritize certain applications as long as it duly disclosed to the subscribers. . There is nothing forbidding carriers from charging (subscriber or content providers) for improved QoS.

Related posts:

•  "NBC's Rick Cotton on DPI - Or is it Comcast?" - here
• "AT&T Escalates Net Neutrality Political Fight" - here

Australia: ISPs Should Detect Virus Infected Computers (DPI Becomes a Must for ISPs)

 

ABC News reports that "A federal parliamentary committee has called for new measures to deal with an explosion of fraud and scams on the internet. The committee has recommended internet providers be obliged to tell people if their computers are infected with a virus."

See "Calls for national office to tackle cyber crime" - here

Committee chairwoman Belinda Neal says "internet service providers (ISPs) must be made to tell people if their computers have been infected by harmful programs"

The inquisitr ("Australia Takes Further Step Towards Police State With Cyber Crime Proposals" - here) adds - "The headline proposal, if adopted by the Government, would force Australian internet users to install and keep up-to-date virus scanners on computers as a condition for internet access via the contractual obligations with their ISP. Users would also be forced to “take reasonable steps to remediate their computer(s) when notified of suspected malware compromise.”

In the event that the customer does not meet these contractual obligations, ISP’s must provide “a clear policy on graduated access restrictions and, if necessary, disconnection until the infected machine is remediated.”

So ISPs will need to detect infected subscribers. This requires DPI technology - and much more extensive than the DPI used to identify applications, as it has to inspect every packet (rather than every flow).

Point Topic: Broadband Growth Accelerated During Q1

 

According to recent data from Point Topic - "As of 31 March 2010 there were 484 million broadband subscribers in the world. This is an increase of 14.7 million lines in the first three months of the year which represents growth of 3.12% making Q1 2010 the best quarter for broadband for 12 months."

See "Broadband world growth accelerates after the doldrums of 2009" - here.

Analysis by access method, shows that "Although fibre makes a strong showing many deployments are actually hybrids of fibre and DSL or ethernet, using either VDSL or some form of LAN for the last few hundred metres."

Fiona Vanier, Senior Analyst at Point Topic says “It’s very expensive to deploy fibre all the way to the premises. More cost effective is to get fibre as far as the local node and then use copper or ethernet cable, often already present, to deliver broadband. These hybrid deployments often have characteristics closer to a fibre line than DSL with better upstream speeds, higher downstream speeds and better latency than without the optical component. So although these tariffs can’t deliver gigabit speeds they are part of closing the fibre gap to the premises and lay the groundwork for future expansion,”

Related post - "OECD Broadband Statistics" - here

Mobile Internet Gateway - Product List

My "Mobile Internet Gateway Function Matrix" (here) project continues. This time I present the list of vendors and their gateway product.

In the next step I will start to map the gateway functions (here) for each product.

Again, vendors are invited to send additional information to me directly.

Company	Product / Solution
Acision	Acision Broadband Mobility Suite
Allot Communications	Allot Service Gateway
Bytemobile	Unison Mobile Internet Platform
Comverse	Mobile Internet HUB
Cisco	Cisco Content Services Gateway
Ericsson	SASN – Service Aware Support Node
Flash Networks	HARMONY GATEWAY
Huawei	Wireless Integrated Service Gateway
Mobixell (724 Solutions)	Seamless Access
Nokia Siemens Networks	Browsing Gateway/ Open Multimedia Gateway
Novarra	Vision™ Mobile Internet & Multimedia Suite
Openwave	Traffic Mediation
Radware	Mobile Internet Service Delivery

Verizon: LTE Will See Tiered Pricing

   

Verizon expects "explosions in data traffic" so it "probably need to change the design of our pricing where it will not be totally unlimited, flat rate" - as told by John Killian, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - Verizon, to Amy Thomson from Bloomberg.

See "Verizon May Follow AT&T’s IPhone to Tiered Pricing" - here.

According to Killian "Verizon’s customers for smartphones, like the Droid and Incredible, are using between 600 and 800 megabytes of data per month, similar to what iPhone customers consume" [The iPhone number should be a quote from AT&T] . 

See a chart from a recent FCC report (here).

Also, mobile network are becoming a smartphone domain - "Smartphone users will make up 70 percent to 80 percent of the company’s customers “over time,” up from about 17 percent today". This may have some reflection on network elements implementing services that may no longer be needed (such as content adaption and WAP gateway) while other services will be enjoy higher demand (such as security related services, as smart devices might be a subject for attacks).

FCC: We Are Going With Net Neutrality

 

The FCC voted yesterday in favor of pursuing the process of reclassification of Internet Service ("the third way") that will allow it to regulate ISPs, with a goal of enforcing Net Neutrality.

FCC announcement is here.

The feedbacks from the the ISP and OTT content providers were as expected:

• Verizon - "Reclassifying high-speed broadband Internet service as a telecom service is a terrible idea .. the FCC should acknowledge that this is an issue Congress should address." (here)
    
• AT&T - it will downgrade investments - see ("AT&T Escalates Net Neutrality Political Fight" - here)
   
• Comcast - "While we remain concerned about unjustified regulation, we are encouraged that the careful balancing the Chairman promised in his public statements since first announcing a 'Third Way' has led to a rational next step as all stakeholders continue to work together to keep the Internet ecosystem growing and open" (here)
   
• Google - "broadband infrastructure is too important to be left outside of any oversight. Google, along with a dozen other tech companies, have written in support of Chairman Genachowski's proposed 'third way' as a straightforward way to protect consumers and the open Internet" - here
   
• Skype - "Skype supports quick action by the FCC and today's vote. Moving forward with a solid legal foundation is critical to promoting investment and consumer choice throughout the Internet ecosystem." - here.
  
  Skype however also prepares the alternative - see "Skype: We Will Charge 3G Calls to Ensure QoS Stays High (Net Neutrality?)" - here

 

BITAG Web Site Goes Live

 

The new BITAG organization's web site (see "Plans for a New Forum: Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group" - here) is up.

The new site (here) does not have much - the home page is the press release we saw already, and a contact for further information on membership.


With the recent escalation on Net Neutrality (see "AT&T Escalates Net Neutrality Political Fight" - here) let’s hope the group will start the work quickly!

AT&T Escalates Net Neutrality Political Fight

 
So far carriers claim that traffic management (or DPI) was implemented on their networks in the order to manage network congestion, while the public (and FCC) concerns was that certain OTT services will be discriminated in order to maintain carriers revenues, mainly from voice and video.


Now AT&T is telling the Wall Street Journal (here) that if FCC's Net Neutrality will go through, it will downgrade investment in its U-verse (IPTV over broadband) service offering.

Half a year ago, AT&T announced that the service has 2M subscribers  (see - "AT&T U-verse TV Marks 2 Million Customer Milestone" - here).

Earlier this month we heard from Skype, that their iPhone 3G Skype-to-Skype service will no longer be free so "it [Skype] can fund the investments needed to ensure that the quality of 3G Skype calls stays high" (here).

I was wondering where the money will go to - now I understand that AT&T maybe considering the use of traffic management policies that will prioritize certain services - either their own (U-verse has VoIP as well) or any OTT provider paying it to get reasonable QoS. This creates a conflict with the Net Neutrality no-discrimination principle.

AT&T will invest $19B this Year to Upgrade the Network

 
If it looks like I am picking on AT&T - then I am not. It just that AT&T provides "Broadband Traffic Management" news almost every day ...

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, told CNBC that "to combat this [mobile internet traffic volumes] AT&T will invest $19B this year, more than any company in the U.S .. We made a huge bet on mobile broadband, to create what we think is the best".

See "AT&T CEO: 'Number One' in Mobile Broadband by 2015" - here.

Related posts:

• AT&T CTO: Traffic has Grown 5,000% in 3 Years - here
   
• AT&T: Times Square needs a Wifi Boost to cope with 3G Traffic - here
   
• DPI Deployments (10): AT&T Uses Openet for iPad Monetization - here
   
• IDC: 30 Million US Mobile Broadband Users by 2014 - here 

IDC: 30 Million US Mobile Broadband Users by 2014

  

IDC predicts that "the U.S. mobile broadband market will grow from 6.5 million subscribers in 2009 to 30.2 million in 2014, which accounts for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.1% over the forecast period." 


See "IDC Says Market for U.S. Mobile Broadband About to Speed Up"  here and "U.S. Mobile Broadband 2010–2014 Forecast: Consumers Join Business Users to Spur Growth" - here.

"Mobile broadband is growing in importance for both consumers adopting the service and the operators offering connectivity," says Carrie MacGillivray, program manager, Mobility Services. "Diversity in pricing plans, new computing devices capable of mobile broadband connections, and the promise of a 4G world with faster speeds are a tempting proposition for customers looking to be ubiquitously connected regardless of location, anytime."

Hopefully, the US mobile operators will be able to offer enough capacity and/or traffic management control in order to cope with the expected growth of over 360% in 4 years (see more below).

Related posts:

• CHETAN SHARMA: US Mobile Data Continues to Grow; Needs Traffic Management - here
   
• Strategy Analytics: 415M Mobile Broadband Modem Devices by 2014 - here
   
• AT&T: Times Square needs a Wifi Boost to cope with 3G Traffic - here
   
• FCC Annual Wireless Report: Mobile Internet Usage Information  - here
  
  

AT&T - Yes for Metered Wireless, No for Metered DSL

 
While AT&T ends unlimited wireless (here), it has also terminated its metered billing trials in Nevada and Texas - according to a DSLReports.com  (here).

Seems like fixed broadband is not ready yet for usage based billing, after "all you can eat" was there since the day 1 of the internet.

See a 3 months old post - "AT&T CEO Sees Metered Pricing in Future" - here.


 

DPI Deployments (10): AT&T Uses Openet for iPad Monetization

 

Openet announced last week that a "Tier 1 North American Carrier Monetizes iPad Using Openet Solutions" (press release - here).

Since AT&T is the only US carrier offering service to iPad, I’ll take the risk and say that the anonymous carrier is AT&T (see "AT&T 3G Data Plans for iPad" - here).

This follows AT&T's message earlier this month about aborting the unlimited iPad data plan (see "AT&T - No More Unlimited Mobile Data" - here), and offering a self-provisioning option to add volume when the quota has been reached.

According to Mike Manzo, CMO at Openet: “With the iPad supporting Over-The-Air Activation, the operator is implementing both Openet’s Subscriber Initiated Provisioning and Service Pass solutions to give its device users the option to purchase a flexible data plan that fits their needs. By adding a third type of service option, the operator is uniquely able to meet customer needs, which is a powerful competitive advantage.”

In addition, the release states that "Before deploying these solutions, the operator was unable to offer mobile network access for defined period of time and/or usage, whilst not connected to Wi-Fi".

The iPad 3G device is available since May 7th, and within one month AT&T changed the service plan. Since ordering, designing, implementing and customizing the supporting management system take more than a month (to say the least), especially for a network of the size of AT&T, it seems that A&T initial plan was to offer a limited plan, but it experienced a delay in the readiness of the new system for general use. This delay allows the early adapters to continue enjoying the unlimited service plan!

AT&T site explains: "If you choose the 250 MB or 2 GB data plan options, iPad will notify you when 20%, 10%, and 0% data remains. If you exceed the amount of data on your plan, you may immediately purchase an additional data plan or wait until the current plan automatically renews at the end of the 30-day period. Plans expire when you have used all the data included in your plan, or in 30 days, whichever occurs first."

OECD Broadband Statistics

 

The OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry, released new statistics on broadband services penetration in its member countries for December 2009 (31 counties).

See press release here and the "OECD Broadband Portal" - here.

I selected one chart - "Fixed broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants, by technology". Please note that OECD definitions do NOT include mobile services (including 3G services) as broadband, so the statistics are for fixed connection, including some minor fixed-wireless access technologies (see "Broadband Subscriber Criteria" - here).

The average is 23.3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. In total, DSL has 60%, Cable 29%, Fiber/LAN 11% (mainly in Japan and Korea).

Related posts:

• "OOKLA: The World Cup Winner is South Korea [in Broadband Speed]" - here
• "ITU: 9.5% of World Population has Mobile Broadband Subscriptions" - here).

Mobile Internet Gateway - Functions Explained

   

Following my announcement on creating the Mobile Internet Gateway Function Matrix (here), please find below a short description of the different gateway functions to be covered by the matrix.

Please note that some of the functions may be interrelated (like DPI and traffic steering, or tiered services and quota). Also, we can expect different levels of support in most functions (e.g. video optimization or DPI) and different levels of integration (single/multiple devices, integrated management, single policy view etc).

Nevertheless, I will start by the highest level: whether the function is part of the vendor's offering or not. As a ground rule, I will indicate a function as supported only if it is clearly presented in the vendor's web site. Again, vendors are invited to send their information to me directly.

Category	Function/Service	Description
Content Management	WAP gateway	Translation of web pages to WAP format
	Content Adaption	Transforming web pages to adapt to the subscriber’s end-device capabilities
	URL filtering	Block access to certain categories of web sites (by subscriber)
	URL black list	Block access to illegal sites, including synchronization with black lists providers (such as the IWF)
	Content caching	Cache content locally – Web, Video or P2P shared files
Optimization	Data acceleration	Accelerate data traffic by optimizing the TCP or application layers
	Video Optimization	Optimize video traffic – including control of coding, size, resolution and pace
Service Management and Charging	Advice of use/bill shock prevention	Advise subscriber when reaching account limits
	Tiered services	Enforce traffic, content and security management polices per subscriber
	Quota control	Measure and enforce maximum volume of traffic consumed by a subscriber over a specific period of time
	Content charging	Analyze web traffic and report access to chargeable content
	CDR generation	Generate Call Detail Records with usage information by application and subscriber
Traffic Management	DPI	Per-Flow Deep Packet Inspection (“layer 7”) for accurate identification of the flow’s application and application-level information
	Traffic shaping	Enforce bandwidth management policies including blocking, allocating minimum or maximum bandwidth or priority
	Network intelligence	Collect, export and report network activity
	Traffic steering	Efficiently steer flows among the different services, based on subscriber’s service plan and application type
	Compliance with 3GPP PCRF	Support 3GPP interface with PCRF systems
	VoIP quality monitoring	Collect, analyze, calculate, export and report VoIP (voice and video) quality parameters including MOS per subscriber, VoIP Service and location
	Cell awareness	Consider, for traffic shaping and ad-insertion the subscriber location and path to the network
Security	Anti-Virus/worm detection	Detect and block or quarantine malware on traffic
	Outgoing SPAM detection	Detect and block or quarantine outgoing SPAM activity on subscriber level
	DDoS prevention	Detect and block Distributed Denial of Service attacks
	Session boarder control (SBC)	Support SBC functions
	Ad-insertion	Analyze subscribers' traffic and insert personalized ads