New ghost in town"PCRF" for telecom giants in India

Since launch of 3G services every strategist and research firms reports has been talking about,backbone data network explosion due to high BW and data consuming applications.
Other thing was to managing traffic intelligently to get maximum out of limited network resources. (providing regulated QoS as per application and customer).

So with these predictions operators have started looking for entity who can handle these issues.

The obvious answer was an functional entity from IMS network (NGN ) framework that is PCRF(Policy and Charging Rule function). PCRF is an functional block in IMS framework and not an device or network element with defined function and boundary.

PCRF is collection of elements which will include many subsystems like policy manager with administrator, subscriber repository and trigger manager (for communication with network)

So as per IMS framework, its upto designer how he implements the PCRF functionality. Indian operators have started implementation of PCRF functionality in networks, with 3G roll out itself.

However many are struggling with this new ghost in town ,because of misconceptions about PCRF, lack of long term vision for cellular networks and lack of readiness of tailor made solutions by OEMs(manufacturers).

Some of the operators have got this PCRF as a COTS product (like Black box) , no one knows what it can do. There are challenges in implementation because this function need some BSS data of customer (Billing info, customer category, preferences) to do an network monitoring and controlling.
So integration between BSS systems with PCRF is very difficult as everyone was treating OSS/BSS and network systems are different silos with one narrow interface of provisioning.

After integrating PCRF in network ,now next challenge is use cases which operators business team wants to implement and what COTS vendor is offering.

Because there are many so called killer use cases like URL based charging and QoS assignment,
Parental control, Real time speed and session monitoring.
Which are still not matured and getting trail and error-ed in operator network.

Global Economy ...Tumbling ? Reality ?? or Ghost Created by Economists ???

On Thursday Stock Markets crashed worldwide ,after the announcement of FED that there will be no stimulus package for American Market .

The way growth rate and GDP is going in US , and recent downgrade of ratings by reais worrisome for m

INDIA After 1year since 3G license were given by DOT (INDIAN GOVT.)

The huge amounts were paid by operators for scarce 3G spectrum last year .
In return they got small piece of spectrum 5 Mhz in 2100 band ,with so many stringent conditions, which have made them more debt ridden , and less competitive.

Now almost all operators have rolled out 3G services in at least metros, however the excitement which was there before launch of 3G in India , not truly meeting the expectations of customers as well as operators.
Reason behind saying this is , there is not significant improvement in ARPUs or profitability of operators ,and customers response also not picking up for this new service. The only service which everyone advertised or made hype with 3G technology i.e video calling , has not lived the expectations.

Video calling service has not been lived to expectation because :
1) Bad picture quality because of less BW 5 Mhz at Radio access and carrying data over circuit switched network (64KBPS) (via MSC) . TRAI has made compulsion for using circuit swithed technology at core because of security concerns.
2) The 3G multifeature handsets which are there in market are still much costlier for common Indians.
3) Operators are failed to create market awareness and use cases for unique Indian market with these so called magic 3G services for common man.

There are many ways ahead for operators for making this technology as success in India and many operators have already started learning from there mistakes .
Followling are the some key areas where lies the money for operators :

1) Partnering with OEMs for making bundled offer of service+ device in subsidized rate. Where new innovative devices like netbooks, smartphones other connectivity enabled devices where data will be consumed by these devices will be more and more which will add to operators revenue.
2) Getting tied up with application and content vendor , where soft clients of applications could be given on devices , kept on operators VAS portals.
Which will help to generate revenue based on giving personalized experienced with URL based rating.
3) moving the network infrastructure on IP from legacy networks SS7 and other .

and many more innovations operators can think of .....

Kanimozi still in Tihar .. many more to go ..sleepless nights for Telecom operators in India

TIHAR has become an ICONIC place since last some months ,
many high profile politicians , bureaucrats and corporates have been there for world biggest scam 2G spectrum scam .
Kani is an ideal example of how dramatically things can change at gods mercy
Till last month she had been a MLA , owner of TV channel and big political background enjoying every benefit of power.
Now , with Anna and then RAMDEV revolution UPA ship is sinking ,and in state politics with Jayalalitha coming in power there is no rest for high profile suspects of 2G scam.
many big names frequently visiting the TIHAR someone for meeting who is there inside and someone to stay there.
But ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,after all .............. 'there is no ray of hope looking for Indian Telecom (ICT) industry .

Still many operators higher management and politicians are having sleepless nights because no one knows ...who Will be next ..
and some are in worry of in this over regulated market what worst government can make for their political benefit which will wipe out small margins which are there in market today .

Worldwide operators talking about bringing this virtual world to even closer , with IT reducing cost and life cycle of products and services with ease of use....

CRISIS in INDIAN TELECOM Industry at the time when world is moving with speed of HSPA and LTE

Hello All
After long time writing

with Industry i m too moving from Telecom and IT to ICT
now getting involved with IT systems for Telecom .

In Last two months there is not single day when there is no news in times about 2G scam in INDIA. Every day there are new things coming out , from Ministers , secretaries,and CO and CTOs of small and large Telecom companies everyone has been under scanner. Now the reach and depth of this scam has increased so much that it may be an one of the biggest scam in the world all time.

The correcting actions and investigation by government and its agencies is like as always RED TAPE work. So there is very less hope that government will be doing something constructive in near term for the industry .
And biggest dilemma is that , exactly the same with 3G and MNP coming in with fierce competition operators are literally bleeding to maintain and continue with current operations and processes.

So , As 4G or broadband spectrum auction has also takenplace ,,,, we are expecting good boost in wireless speed s which can actually will give the high speed experience on wireless to user
as current CDMA and WCDMA are actually not meeting to expectation of end users for speed thing.


And operators should realise that conventional telecom business concepts investing thoussands of crores in network , spectrum and infrastrcuture has been over.
Now they should consolidate and with advancement in IP world for communication protocols , and Radio access for speed, operators have to focus on adding value to the customer rather than acting as dumb pipe .

I think "THATS THE MANTRA FOR SUCCESS IN INDIAN TELECOM INDUSTRY TODAY "

Unfolding 2011 for Indian Telecom Industry getting bad to worst

As the 2011 ,is getting unfolded , the things are getting worsen for the overall Telecom industry in India. Year started with resignation of or A Raja's former Minister of DOT in UPA Govt.
followed by his arrest .
Now supreme court has asked govt. to setup new separate court for hearing of 2G scam case and has asked CBI to act against everyone found guilty from top notch corporates to PM , and bureaucrats. Followed by this order some officials of some service providers are taken in custody and some are enquired for information of beneficiaries.

As new telecom minister and PM are taking steps against all wrongdoings , operators and promoters are getting sleepless nights ,because since last 10 years as telecom industry has developed in India , most of the operators have benefited in some way and some have been deprived from opportunity.

Mr.Sibal new Telecom minister has announced 100 days plan to decide on new telecom policy and regulatory architecture.

In this remains to be seen is how Kapil Sibal strikes balance between stern action against wrongdoing by operators and future growth of Telecom industry , because most of the operators are already bleeding with debt ridden balance sheet , minute models death for voice and still very low ARPU(Average Revenue Per User ) s with data services.

As now 3G is lanuched by most of the operators thier is not much buzz in customer about 3G services , reasons for this may be less marketing , or operators are not ready with relevent applications or market is not that matter , this can be topic of research.

Now with launch of 3G and MNP thier is some churn in markets , but it will be known exactly who is getting benefitted as time passes