Wireless data transfer networks

Wireless communications is not just one of the fast-growing trends in the telecommunications sphere. It is characterized by high competition, increasing interest on the part of subscribers and constant development of technologies.

Severity of competition is conditioned by appearance of new companies on the wireless communications market resulting from development of telecoms operators, which initially provided only wire communication services. Besides, a large role is played here by takeover and merger processes, which take place in the market.

However, not only competition puts "pressure" on telecoms operators, but also subscribers, to which they provide communications services. Subscribers expect to get high-quality services, which can be quickly connected, with the minimum idle time and the possibility of self-servicing. It is not easy to manage the balance between demands of subscribers and successful provision of services, especially in tough competitive environment.

Inline Telecom Solutions, using the billing solution for wireless telecoms operators based on B&CC Billmaster, can help with realization of an effective and innovative tariff policy (including prepaid and post-paid tariffs), control of personal accounts of subscribers, realization of an optimal business model. Due to its flexibility, which allows to create innovative service offers for subscribers, the solution allows to satisfy their actual expectations.

This solution is designed for telecoms operators, who use or plan to implement wireless communication services – WiFi and WiMax – in their network.

Realization of the solution

This billing product for wireless telecoms operators from Inline Telecom Solutions is designed for provision of services based on WiFi and WiMax technology.

Core components of this solution are:

• Cisco ISG/SSG support module;
• BISA (Built-In Service Activator) authorization portal;
• ISG/SSG-roaming module;
• Components, which ensure interaction with Mobile WiMax AAA.

Cisco ISG/SSG support module allows to set SSG/ISG service profiles. In profiles there are specified technological service parameters, which are transferred to the ISG/SSG gateway, for example, the IP-address of a remote server, DNS-servers addresses, access rate, etc.

Authorization can be performed in Billmaster, and for services of third-party operators – on their AAA-service. On first referencing of customers to external resources the SSG/ISG gateway readdresses queries to the BISA (Built-In Service Activator) authorization portal, which displays a page with the requirement to enter login and password. The data entered are then submitted to the gateway, and from there – to Billmaster, which identifies customers and confirms authorization, as well as returns technological parameters of services, which are available to customers. The gateway redirects the information about available services to BISA, which builds the service selection menu.

ISG/SSG tariff plans have the following possibilities:

• calculation of time cost of sessions and cost of incoming/outgoing traffic taking into account tariffication schedules;
• one-time payments for usage of ISG/SSG services, i.e. if customers disconnect from services using the BISA authorization portal, payment for repeated connection is not charged;
• charging of subscription fee;
• one-time charges.

Components, which ensure interaction with Mobile WiMax AAA allow to organize connection of wireless communications services on the basis of WiMax technology using third-party Mobile WiMax AAA servers, and ensure registration and self-registration of subscribers, manual management of provided services, etc.

During implementation of this solution, for purposes of direct interaction with a Mobile WiMax AAA server, there is carried out integration with the server of a specific vendor, in accordance with business tasks and technical requirements of a telecoms operator. In particular, there can be provided integration with Mobile WiMax AAA of such manufacturers as Bridgewater System, Aptilo Networks, Huawei Technologies.

Mobile WiMax AAA provides authorization of equipment, roaming, servicing, static authorization (certificate, МАС-address), and B&CC Billmaster ensures authorization at the level of service receiver, accrual/charging of money, accounting of traffic (if this is provided for by specifications of the Mobile WiMax solution).

Tariffication depends on the operators work scheme: depending on the pass band in case of unlimited access for the billing period, or by way of analysis of records, which contain information about provided services (CDR, UDR).

Service management is performed directly in B&CC Billmaster, through the interface (if there is an API ААА-server), which supports a particular number of instructions for registration of a subscriber, activation of services at the personal account of a subscriber and for management of wireless network access characteristics.

The BISA (Built-In Service Activator) authorization portal represents a web-portal for authentication and management of ISG services, which is developed on the basis of Change-of-Authorization (CoA) interface. BISA allows subscribers of ISG-services to independently manage their service profile through a convenient and intuitive web-interface.

At the BISA portal users can do the following:

• authentication (entering of user’s login and password);
• disconnection from active services;
• connection of services, available for activation;
• obtaining of information about service statuses;
• viewing of statistics on services connected during the current session.

ISG/SSG-roaming module is designed for servicing of third-party customers under roaming agreements. Billmaster redirects authorization requests of third-party customers to AAA-servers, located in their home networks.

Tariff plans for ISG/SSG-roaming give the following possibilities:

• one-time payments for connection to ISG/SSG services;
• subscription fee;
• one-time charges;
• calculation of time cost of services;
• calculation of traffic cost;
• prediction of traffic on the basis of statistics, for allocation of quotas.

Advantages of the solution

Billing solution B&CC Billmaster from Inline Telecom Solutions – is a unique platform, which allows to realize different tariffication schemes (prepaid/post-paid) and ensure "seamless" integration with different systems of third-party developers; it gives to the operator of wireless data transfer network the possibility to offer to its subscribers modern and high-quality communication services.

There can be named the following advantages of this solution:

• flexibility an high performance, which ensure provision of high-quality services;
• quick launching of new interesting and competitive offers to subscribers;
• usage of an interactive authorization portal BISA for self-servicing of subscribers;
• reliable and accurate tariffication of provided services;
• reduction of operating expenses due to use of the unified solution and the possibility to use only those functions, which are required;
• "seamless" integration with solutions of third-party developers, recognized world leaders on the market of wireless telecommunications services.