Openet Acquisition of Forkstream – Seamless Access and Carrier WiFi Management, New Frontier for Policy Control - Openet’s recent acquisition of Forkstream, an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) provider, pushes the boundaries of Policy and Charging Control segment to enable seamless integration between mobile data networks and the WiFi and Wimax connections of the fixed network via the use of end-user smart clients.

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Seamless Access
and Carrier WiFi
Management:
Openet Acquisition of Forkstream
The seamless integration of data and WiFi defines another frontier for Policy
Control. Openet’s acquisition of Forkstream enables Service Providers to offer
subscribers user-controlled ‘roaming’ capabilities that take advantage of the
many WiFi hotspots via bolt-on features
www.policychargingcontrol.com.

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Openet Acquisition of Forkstream –Seamless Access and Carrier Wifi
Management, New Frontier for Policy Control
Original published @ www.policychargingcontrol.com
Openet’s recent acquisition of Forkstream, an access network discovery and selection function
(ANDSF) provider, pushes the boundaries of Policy and Charging Control segment to enable
seamless integration between mobile data networks and the WiFi and Wimax connections of the
fixed network via the use of end-user smart clients. The evolution of these smart clients from static
‘connection manager’ function to current capability to intelligently and dynamically switch from one
connection to another through its ability to define policies for routing mobile data streams within and
between different access networks will provide both seamless and secured connection for
customers.
We are seeing a lot of sales activity and solution requests in relation to
managed carrier wifi and offload from mature LTE operators in North America
and Asia. Over the coming 12 -18 months we see this trend accelerating
across other regions in line with LTE deployments globally as wifi becomes an
important part of the network evolution strategy" says Oisin O’Connor,
Director of Product Marketing, Openet
Strong growth ahead
The market for this technology is expected to grow tremendously in the next 12-18 months in
tandem with the increasing demand from customers for seamless access between the mobile data
and WiFi networks. Based on Informa’s data on UK, WiFi traffic from smartphones exceeded data
carried over mobile networks by a factor of 4:1. Globally, WiFi offload traffic accounted for 33% of all
mobile data in 2012 and is expected to rise to 46% by 2017, according to a report by Cisco. With the
growth in WiFi availability across cafes, shopping malls and other public places, more and more
people will see the need for continuous and hassle-free ‘roaming’ between multiple networks.

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MNO’s Push Factors
The new area is gaining momentum and the industry players are already seeing many Requests for
Information (RFIs) and Requests for Tenders (RFTs) with these requirements spelled out. Mobile
Network Operators (MNOs) are expected to push for this solution as it will enable them to:
1. Leverage on their existing infrastructure – mobile networks, WiFi and fixed networks for
better traffic management, especially in alleviating network congestions during peak
hours.
2. Provide end-customers options and flexibility in choosing best fitting connections –
ensuring highest quality experience at all times.
3. Enable MNOs to partner, implement and manage inter-network arrangements among
themselves and with WiFi / WiMAX providers.
4. Provide more competitive bundling for mobile data and WiFi service packages via WiFi
bolt-on, incorporated into single billing with attractive rates on the latter; and
5. Devise better revenue sharing models between providers of Mobile Data and WiFi/WiMAX
with the support of technology enabled insights and analytics.
The MNOs have also started the ball rolling by developing use cases relating to seamless user
experience and providing customers with enhanced quality of experience (QoE). The standardization
and maturity of Radio Access Network (RAN) offload architecture further accelerates the
development in this area, without which, the idea of seamless access would have remained as a
technology strategy for future implementation. The Long Term Evolution (LTE), which comes with
higher bandwidth, is another push factor for higher QoE use cases. With this, the MNOs would be

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able to invent new products that can offer service guaranty to customers with pre-specified minimum
quality of service.
Technology – how it works?
Forkstream’s client side technology, which works with the network core via Openet’s Interaction
Gateway, enables dynamic offload mechanism based on various real time network conditions such
as traffic congestion, type of application and even subscribers charging profile in determining the
best network. MNOs can manage network access policies using the Policy Controls Rules Function
(PCRF) and use standards that enable consumer devices to discover and communicate with non-
3GPP networks such as WiFi or WiMAX, which provides granular control of traffic offload policies
and enables new business models that include service options specific to an access network.
Another milestone for Openet
Forkstream technology will enable Openet to enhance its policy control solutions allowing MNOs to
fully optimize their existing infrastructure, both mobile, wireless and fixed network with greater
control while granting flexibility and improved connection options for their end-customers. With this
acquisition, Openet’s PCC solutions will also enable MNOs to better manage traffic within and
between networks, leveraging on insights from network analytics, thus creating a superior PCC
environment.
"We are seeing a lot of sales activity and solution requests in relation to managed
carrier WiFi and offload from mature LTE operators in North America and
Asia. Over the coming 12 -18 months we see this trend accelerating across other
regions in line with LTE deployments globally as WiFi becomes an important part of
the network evolution strategy" says Oisin O'Connor, Openet's Director of Product
Marketing,
Openet’s move to integrate the seamless access component into its current PCC architecture
signifies increasing emphasis in the market on the quality of data networks for both mobile and WiFi.
Acquisition of Forkstream not only creates a ready platform to enhance service quality and drive
revenues in the mid and long term, it also spurs more such outfits to develop complementary
technologies that enable vendors and MNOs to achieve better user experience and service quality
targets across their existing networks.