Expanding Provider Service Portfolios

P-Cube's Service Control Platform is designed to help operators expand their portfolio of services. It is increasingly clear that flat-fee based Internet access is being commoditized. A "one-size-fits-all" charging model is insufficient. Moreover, differentiating service levels and compelling new content can further drive the migration of dial-up users to broadband access creating the necessary critical mass of users for premium content-service deployment.

As content proliferates and content suppliers begin to partner with network operators, both mobile and broadband service providers will need to protect copyrights, which may be based upon subscription, and mitigate against unauthorized access to content.

While different geographies offer a variety of challenges, the simple fact is that to increase market share and grow revenue operators must develop innovative new service offerings for high speed Internet access.

Traditional Approaches

Traditional approaches to differentiate service levels based on bandwidth or byte caps have been unattractive to the user community. These initial attempts to control Internet access have not resulted in attracting new subscribers. Instead, they have frequently given rise to negative publicity, customer churn and potential revenue loss when service providers have tried this approach when experimenting with access and service packaging.

Differentiating Offerings with Application Tiers

P-Cube's Service Control Platform ensures that operators can account for usage on an individual subscriber-level, while enforcing different policies on a variety of applications or services. Providers now have a much more attractive way to differentiate service levels for current and potential subscribers. The solution allows operators to create a wide range of subscription-based tiers of service that are tailored to the needs of individual subscribers or market segments.

Policy and Access Enforcement

This dynamic, subscriber-centric enforcement model allows for the creation of access and bandwidth-on-demand services that can improve overall subscriber satisfaction by allowing them to select or gain access to chosen content and resources.

Providers can now create truly customized broadband products and services and can enforce service parameters directly correlated to the needs of individual users. With P-Cube broadband and mobile operators can develop services that:

• Migrate dial-up users to broadband by crafting introductory broadband packages specifically tailored to appeal to dial-up users

• Attract on-line gamers and power users with quality add-ons for bandwidth intensive applications

• Allow for custom service plans for small office and home office ( SOHO ) segment

• Tailor broadband services for children and educational facilities

• Protect content from unauthorized access by subscriber or device-type