Procera Networks aims to help operators reduce their deployment of probes and costs associated with drive testing by enabling real-time location and awareness of radio access network (RAN) signal quality in its new device-based RAN Perspectives software solution.
Procera is best known as a provider of deep-packet inspection tools and big data analytics. Alexander Havang, Procera CTO, said RAN Perspectives is Procera's first product specifically targeting mobile subscriber quality of experience (QoE). The new product integrates into the company's existing PacketLogic solutions.
Procera said its initial offerings based on RAN Perspectives include customer care insights; analytics for quality, congestion, applications and out-of-coverage hotspots; RAN congestion management based on real-time location awareness; location-based service plan offerings; crowd-sourced minimized drive testing and out of coverage registration for RAN engineering teams.
RAN Perspectives is available now for beta testing and is slated for general availability during the first quarter of 2015.
Mobile network operators are increasingly interested in implementing solutions that reveal the true QoE being experienced by their users. This approach is essential in managing network data traffic and keeping customers happy, thus reducing churn and competitively positioning one mobile network vis-à-vis its competition. Competitors entering the QoE and customer experience management (CEM) market include Anite, which announced in June that its Nemo CEM Observer now provides diagnostics at the drive-test level via an application that runs on a subscriber's mobile device.
"The proliferation of mobile devices coupled with the expanding use of data-intensive applications such as mobile video has led to increasing congestion in the RAN that can dramatically reduce subscriber QoE," said Shira Levine, directing analyst, service enablement and subscriber intelligence at Infonetics Research. "A device-based solution such as RAN Perspectives has the potential to more effectively manage congestion while enabling a broad array of additional services, solutions and applications, which could have dramatic implications for mobile networks."
Anil Rao, senior analyst, service assurance, at Analysys Mason, noted that RAN data and intelligence on roaming customers' service quality "is of critical importance for operators looking to improve the subscriber experience and further monetize their infrastructure investments."
For more:
- see this Procera release
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