Mobile Data Traffic: Taming the Beast

Thanks to the seemingly insatiable appetite for data on the move, mobile data traffic is expected to continue growing at a phenomenal rate into the foreseeable future.

Besides the volume of data flowing through wireless networks, the number of connected devices is also expected to explode as a result of growth in machine-to-machine (M2M) deployments. As such, mobile data clearly needs to be proactively managed in order to keep CAPEX and OPEX under control, ensure fair use of network resources, guarantee quality of service (QoS), and enable operators to monetize their infrastructure investments.

The introduction of VoLTE, conversational video, and other such QoS-sensitive services makes this all the more critical. Certain key mechanisms such as policy and charging control (PCC) and deep packet inspection (DPI) can be employed to manage and monetize mobile data. These techniques should work flawlessly within a live network to meet the above-mentioned objectives, with comprehensive lab testing being the only way to ensure such cohesion.