Bridgewater Systems - Service Controller for DSL networks

Wireline DSL operators require flexible, policy-based network access control to authenticate both devices and subscribers. Serving more than 150 million subscribers worldwide, and proven in the most demanding tier 1 network environments, the Bridgewater® Service Controller offers unparalleled scalability, extensibility, and redundancy.

Many broadband service providers are pursuing wholesale business models to harvest new revenue opportunities. The Service Controller helps them to capitalize on wholesale service opportunities by:

Accommodating complex, rules-based subscriber service access.
Facilitating flexible service delivery options, including delegated administration and subscriber choice.
Allowing them to maintain ownership of the subscriber relationship while managing revenue-sharing relationships with partners.

Combining the Service Controller with DSL support delivers powerful and extensible AAA capabilities, including support for both RADIUS and Diameter. As a truly scalable solution, the Service Controller supports DSL networks today and provides the capabilities for converged networks in the future.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Centralized Management

Centralized subscriber data management enabled by Bridgewater’s Subscriber Data Broker™ provides the foundation for differentiated services, hierarchical administration, and granular profile-based control of user entitlements.
Push-and-pull policy decision point (PDP) allows subscriber entitlements to be managed and enforced through profile-associated attributes, as well as credentials that may be presented on demand to application infrastructure.
Lawful intercept support identifies when surveillance targets are on-net in support of Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) compliance.

Revenue Opportunities and Management

Simultaneous session control helps manage fraud by detecting and preventing unauthorized account sharing.
Support for multiple business models – including wholesale and retail, which allows DSL providers and ISPs to leverage new business models with a common policy management infrastructure.
Subscriber redirection helps prevent revenue leakage and manage subscriber usage.
Tailor bundled services to specific subscriber segments and meter for fair usage.
Build quality of service (QoS) or bandwidth thresholds into service tiers and apply them on a per subscriber basis.
Extensive profiling and user self-administration make customized and personalized access quick and easy, enabling service bundling to a broad range of subscriber segments that receive services based on their evolving preferences.

Enhanced Security

Subscribers’ credentials may be hidden from wireline network consolidators to safeguard stewardship and the privacy of subscriber information.
System access security via SSL or ARC4 encryption over HTTPS with X.509 certificate.
Simultaneous support of multiple EAP methods for a flexible, secure authentication and a seamless subscriber experience, including EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-SIM and EAP-AKA.

Flexible Architecture and Superior Performance

Simultaneous support of multiple access technologies on a single server platform with highly scalable, high-performance RADIUS and Diameter engines.
Proven interoperability to support multi-network convergence.
Support of numerous Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) technologies from leading vendors allow service providers maximum flexibility in their wireline network architectures.
Multiple deployment architectures supported including high availability, database replication, system redundancy, and application decoupling.
Congestion control protects against potential overload conditions during usage peaks or system-related failures.
Intelligent RADIUS proxy minimizes operational impact of non-performing proxy targets.
Extensive and proven interoperability accelerates time to market and prevents expensive custom integration.
High-performance and proven interoperability improves network uptime and subscriber satisfaction.