The policy market continues to grow with various forecasts being regularly updated to indicate a multi-billion market. Of course, it would be interesting to see forecasts for revenue that can be driven by the deployment of policy control solutions and we shall comment on this when we see it.
In an interesting summary of the various market forecasts, blogger Azi Ronen, has also included an illuminating diagram from Analysys Mason. What’s interesting here is what’s missing.
There is clearly an understanding that DPI / Policy Control solutions are part of the core and edge of the network, but the access devices and user equipment doesn’t form part of theoretical deployment of policy solutions, at least in this conception. As we know, this must change.
End-to-end policy depends on the deployment of software in end-user devices. Without this, policy solutions can only act at the network level. Users demand the best quality of service for both downstream and upstream applications; they may not know anything about QoS or still less care, but they do know when things don’t work as they expect.
By extending policy control solutions into user devices, network operators can ensure that connectivity and application performance are optimised in real-time. Applications that need real-time performance can be prioritised when required. Applications that are not real-time can be managed so that they consume less resources when bandwidth is required by more demanding applications.
It’s time for the picture to be updated. Policy management is rightly attracting a lot of attention and it’s an evolving market. But it’s also clear that there’s something missing. We complete the picture. With GoS 360º, operators can truly deliver end-to-end policy control that enables them to satisfy more of their customers, more of the time, saving costs and increasing profit.
