The challenges of WiMAX service activation

By: by Farshid Mohammadi, Vice President, Product Line Management

Over-the-Air Provisioning in a retail-centric world

In traditional cellular networks, the operator retains primary control over the devices operating on its network, with most devices being directly supplied to the subscriber through the operator’s retail stores or partners, and pre-provisioned with the operator’s

software or SIM card.

 

WiMAX will change this. Subscribers buying a WiMAX-enabled device will be able to choose the device model they prefer and buy it from an operator-independent retailer. Separating the device distribution model from the service delivery model will result in a strong supply chain of devices needed for successful uptake of mobile applications.

This represents a new operating model for the WiMAX operator – one that reduces the pressure to subsidize devices, maintain extensive inventory, and sell noncore devices to subscribers. But it does present some challenges:

1.        Most devices are not sold with the operator’s firmware preloaded or locked to a particular WiMAX operator’s network.

When turned on, the device will look for available service from all operators with network coverage at the device’s location. To sign up new subscribers, the operator

must ensure that subscribers can detect the availability of its service and sign up in real time, and that the device is able to download the firmware required for services activation.

2.                A range of devices operating on the network can create complex challenges for customer support staff.

The ability to push firmware to the device enables users to keep their devices updated, reducing customer support workload and cost for the operator. Ideally, device management, including firmware updates and device configuration, should be tied to the plan preferences of each subscriber and to an automated identification of the device.

3.                The ability to set different priority levels for subscribers becomes a requirement.

Because WiMAX can support a range of applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, or Video on Demand (VoD), the operator needs the ability to set QoS prioritization. Subscribers need to be able to change their profiles and seamlessly download the required configuration settings to their devices.

4.       Subscribers purchasing their own device will want to register on the WiMAX network at their convenience and select plan features they find most attractive, without having to visit the operator’s store or call customer service.

 

WHAT IS OVER-THE-AIR PROVISIONING?

Over-the-Air (OTA) provisioning enables WiMAX operators to address these challenges and differentiate their offerings through real-time subscriber self-activation and dynamic device management.

 

Subscribers can activate their subscription in real time, without the assistance of the operator’s customer service representative. New devices can be detected at time of activation and the required firmware can be remotely installed automatically by the

operator. Firmware and device configuration settings are pushed to the device, enabling subscriber-selected services. Future firmware updates can be automatically downloaded as required.

 

OTA provisioning provides two crucial benefits to operators — improved subscriber experience and lower Operating Expense (OpEx) — and offers the following

advantages:

·       Faster, consistent subscription activation.

·       Efficient identification and configuration of new devices with new technologies, such as WiMAX, where the frequency of firmware updates is likely to

be high.

·       Up-to-date firmware ensures subscribers enjoy the most current device and service innovationsthrough seamless updates.

ENABLING OTA AND DEVICE MANAGEMENT

The Bridgewater Systems solution to enable OTA services for WiMAX operators interfaces to the operator’s Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA-DM) platform.

 

The Bridgewater subscriber data management function plays a central role in the WiMAX core network for OTA provisioning. Using information stored in the subscriber database, the Bridgewater Systems AAA Service Controller determines whether the device can be authenticated and granted network access, or whether the device needs to beactivated or updated.

 

To determine whether a provisioning action or firmware update is necessary, the network requires access to detailed, real-time information about the subscriber, known as subscriber context, and includes:

·       Presence: subscriber ID, connection status, IP address, network access type, QoS settings, and roaming status.

·       Device: model, manufacturer, firmware version installed.

 

Presence information is collected by the Bridgewater OTA solution and forwarded to the OMA-DM Server as required. The OMADM Server combines this presence information with its device knowledge to complete the view of subscriber context. If service activation is necessary, the Bridgewater OTA provisioning solution uses hot-lining to redirect subscriber traffic to the operator’s portal. This enables subscribers to take a particular action — such as registering, paying for a new service, or adding a credit to their account before being authenticated.

As operators migrate to WiMAX networks, their business and operating models will shift. Bridgewater offers a unique solution to solve the challenges of service activation, while offering superior subscriber experiences for new and existing WiMAX subscribers.