Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) Policy Control Function (PCF)
Policy management and control made easy
As defined by industry standards, Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is the software node designated in real-time to determine policy rules in a multimedia network supporting the creation of rules and then automatically making policy decisions for each subscriber active on the network. Such a network might offer multiple services, quality of service (QoS) levels, and charging rules. PCRF can provide a network agnostic solution (wireline and wireless) and can also enable multi-dimensional approach which helps in creating a lucrative and innovative platform for operators. PCRF can also be integrated with different platforms like billing, rating, charging, and subscriber database or can also be deployed as a standalone entity.
PCRF plays a key role in VoLTE as a mediator of network resources for the IP Multimedia Systems network for establishing the calls and allocating the requested bandwidth to the call bearer with configured attributes. This enables an operator to offer differentiated voice services to their user(s). Operators also have an opportunity to use PCRF for prioritizing the calls to emergency numbers in the next-gen networks.
Summa Networks has implemented a Policy management and control function with a word in mind: simplicity.
Cumbersome solutions with complicated design rules, clanky web interfaces have been the norm in the PCRF space for years. Therefore we have decided to create a simple yet complete PCRF suite of solutions including:
- Voice PCRF for VoLTE, VoWiFi and basic data capabilities.
- Data policy and control functionalities.
- Transparent extension to 5G PCF.
Besides, our PCRF can work as a standalone solution or in conjunction with our converged 3G-4G-5G HLR/HSS, UDR/UDM, in a bundled solution which brings benefits from both operational and TCO perspectives.
Finally, our solution can work as a converged policy center for both 4G and 5G simplifying the transition into standalone 5G networks of the future. Manage your different bearers from a single policy product!
Summa Networks PCRF Use Cases
VoLTE/VoWifi
Summa Networks has developed a "light" version of PCRF to act as the perfect companion of an HSS-IMS for VoLTE and VoWiFi deployments. It allows carriers to go VoLTE/VoWiFi easily controlling the investment and deployment complexity, paving the way as well for VoNR.
Simple Data and Quota management
A fully-fledged PCRF affordable for any kind of communication provider. It can adapt to any number of subscribers or traffic patterns, from a few thousand to scaling up to the millions, allowed by its design to run on virtualized environments as well as cloud-native systems.
Unified Policy control
Summa Networks PCRF is as well a PCF for 5G allowing to extend the rules and policies to subscribers in 5G SA networks as well as to those interworking between technologies (4G /5G) during the networks transition to 5G SA
Summa Networks Converged Policy Control Functionalities
Voice
- Gx/Rx Session Establishment & Termination
- Dynamic PCC Rules for Voice Dedicated Bearers
- NetLoc
- Emergency Sessions and Calls
- Subscription/Provisioning Signaling path
- Preliminary service information handling
- Gate handling
- Session Modifications
- ARP selection for VoLTE roaming
- SIP Forking
Data
- Policy Engine (predefined rules, QoS parameters etc.)
- APN policies
- Roaming policies
- Radio Technology policies
- Block data policies (predefined rule)
- Subscriber profile policies with multiple plans
- Usage Monitoring with Volume counters
- Throttling policies
- Bill-cycle
- Bill shock policies
- Multiple SIM cards for same subscriber
- Family plans and shared counters
- Online notification to re-evaluate sessions (e.g. top-up)
- Integration of SMS
5G PCF
- Features available using N7 instead of Gx
- Features available using N5 instead of Rx
Non-functional
- Web based dashboard for operational functions
- FM,PM,CM and logs using Summa framework
- Live session parameters query
- Integrated Subscriber Profile Repository
- Web based policy editor
- REST API for provisioning of profiles and usage plans
- Multi-tenancy
Powerful yet easy handling for simple rule creation and management
Friendly user interface to create rules without relying on fixed rule table schedules supported by A.R.T rule system. Product includes a flexible and robust web interface that enables users to configure policy rules and their evaluation criteria based on their unique business needs. This helps operators create highly contextual and personalised offers that resonate with subscribers’ digital lifestyles. Features include:
- Easy-to-use GUI to create policy rules with a rich set of policy conditions.
- Manages policy profiles for UE, AM, SM (session and PCC rules).
- Provides a high-performance flexible rule engine for policy evaluation.
Interoperability with 5G
Summa Networks joint combo PCF+PCRF solution naturally implements policy control requirements in 4G as well 5G networks. It provides a unified platform for configuring and managing policy decisions based on various network parameters, user subscriptions, and usage to deliver the policies.
The use cases supported are:
- 4G, 5G-NSA, 5G-SA deployments.
- Static as well as dynamic policies.
- Access mobility policy.
- Session management policy.
- IMS integration for VoNR and VoLTE.
- Seamless session continuity for inter-RAT handover.
Architecture and deployment
Summa Networks PCRF can be deployed on off-the shelf hardware. A standard deployment to ensure High Availability, would have 2 servers for the Business logic (Front-ends) including the GUI, plus two Back-end servers for the configuration DB (MySQL) and the sessions DB (Redis).
