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technical

growing demand for data with growing revenues through usage-based billing and/or a well-defined upgrade strategy.

To improve visibility into their networks and to automate management functions to proactively handle congestion, forecast network requirements and communicate with subscribers, a US-based Tier Two provider deployed the multi- purpose, cloud-based OpenVault platform that is designed to bring network, data usage and marketing data together in a way that has never been done before. In this way, OpenVault collects data from multiple sources and provides both dashboards and specific solutions, which allows operators to easily see where improvements can be made, and the impact of those decisions across multiple disciplines. This powerful information, combined with deep analytics and real solutions, helps the provider to not only monetise the high-speed data usage on their networks but, equally importantly, to better serve and enhance the user experience through cost-effective integration of subscriber communications, active policy-based network management, billing systems and in-browser messaging systems. Results Through proper data collection, deep analytics and accurate reporting, implementing monetisation levers and a subscriber education and communication strategy, the provider experienced a more than US$ 10 ARPU (Average Revenue

flexible pricing models and yet do not require large capital investment into the network infrastructure.

A US case study The challenge

In a recent industry study of the effect of live sports streaming on High-Speed Data (HSD) networks, broadband management company OpenVault reported that there was an average increase of nearly 20% in data consumption across its global customer base during a live stream of a Sunday NFL game, compared to normal Sunday usage. This finding supports the idea that as more events are streamed live onto more household devices, subscribers will need to upgrade their service/increase their speeds to support the additional bandwidth requirements. For operators, this data growth means a necessary evolution across the board, including technical infrastructure to innovative product and programming delivery. To be successful during this industry revolution, operators must make informed decisions and, to do so, they must first understand subscriber HSD usage behaviours to develop new product offerings. In addition, operators must effectively communicate with subscribers with targeted messaging to enhance their user experience. Lastly, operators must consider aligning this

Per User) increase within six months of deployment. This positive result was experienced with negligible subscriber churn impacts. This approach enables operators to align the growing demand for data with growing, rather than stagnant, revenues.

The European wave Not surprisingly, Europe is currently experiencing a similar OTT explosion that appears to be a mirror image of the growth experienced in the US market a few years ago. And despite the Western challenges surrounding the mass market with film and TV content, a recent industry study indicates that, in addition to the subscription business model, there are significant opportunities for European content providers

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Vol. 38 No. 4 - November 2016 Issue