Sandvine Enables CSPs to Interact Directly w/Subscribers; How does it Work?

Sandvine announced the "latest version of Sandvine OutReach, a subscriber communications and interaction product. Communications service providers (CSPs) have long sought ways to communicate directly with subscribers without negatively impacting their online experience. 

Sandvine OutReach provides operators with a powerful set of subscriber-friendly, device-agnostic tools to interact with subscribers to satisfy a range of use cases, including:

• Usage Information: Keep subscribers informed about remaining or consumed quota or time in order to help avoid bill shock
   
• Promotions: Offer new products or short-term promotions to subscribers
   
• Brand Awareness: Make subscribers aware of the network provider for Wi-Fi hotspots and sponsored connectivity
   
• Alerts: Contact subscribers infected with malicious software
   
• Compliance: Address regulatory notification requirements (e.g., extreme weather alerts, amber alerts, etc.)

How does Sandvine OutReach work?

For direct notification and interaction, the Sandvine Policy Traffic Switch (PTS) intercepts HTTP flows and:

• either injects a specially-crafted HTTP packet to create a floating in-browser overlay (this method ensures that the notification process is completed without ever inspecting or modifying the requested page)
• or provides an HTTP redirect to a captive portal

For indirect notifications (e.g., email, SMS), the Sandvine Service Delivery Engine (SDE) is integrated directly with the CSP’s short message service center (SMSC) or another messaging gateway. Policies defined in the Sandvine Policy Engine and executed in the control plane determine when such notifications are triggered.

See "Sandvine OutReach Opens a Communication Channel With Subscribers" - here.

DigitalRoute Enhances MediationZone

DigitalRoute announced the release of its "..MediationZone 7.0 software, which delivers an easy-to-integrate, high-performing, and functionally advanced platform that gives CSPs unrivalled control over their usage and performance data in a flexible, cost-effective and robust manner 

Key aspects of the updated solution include:

• Significant improvements to data availability achieved via advances in Persistent Real-Time Aggregation Storage, Configuration Spaces, and protection of BSS systems through Extended Supervision of real-time protocols’ behavior and load [see chart].
   
• Support for the newest streaming data formats as well as accommodating additional legacy interfaces to help Data Centers win the battle against ageing legacy IT systems.
   
• Ease-of-use Enhancements that enable faster times to market and improve the quality of the user experience, including direct integration with Hadoop distributions by Cloudera and HortonWorks for easy Big Data enablement.
   
• The availability of important new pre-configured solutions including Service Control, which enables uses cases like sponsored data, bifurcated billing, and lean BSS.

With the release of version 7.0 DigitalRoute continues to strengthen its’ offering towards the OEM channel, cementing its position as the first choice mediation provider for enabling value added applications".

See "DigitalRoute releases MediationZone 7.0" - here.