11 November 2020

#  How can Policy control solutions boost MVNO innovation?

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Policy control has long been an important function in mobile networks, but it has only recently become a tool that can be exploited by MVNOs. What is Policy control and how can it help your business?

## What is policy control and what does it do?

In the context of networking and communications, policies are basically rules that determine how services are delivered. At a simple level, this means determining who can use a particular service and how it is charged. For example, a rule might mean that a subscriber can access particular destinations for a particular range of fees – something that many mobile operators have taken advantage of for flat rate-based calling plans, for example.

Policy systems must work in real-time, so that permissions and rules can be applied quickly when a subscriber makes a particular request (dialling a given number, or initiating a session from a mobile device), and they must also be connected to the subscriber database – which will contain records of who can do what, as well as services and their requirements.

But policy offers so much more. Policies can also determine the quality of service and the way in which a service is delivered. That could mean a specific data rate, or a particular time period during which the specified service is available – a faster rate at a specific time, or for a particular service or product.

To achieve this, we need to know that an individual subscriber is authorised to use a service, what that service is and how it should be offered. This information is recorded in the database, so when a subscriber takes an action, this triggers a request to the policy function which, in turn, checks the relevant records in the database.

## Policy control unlocks personalised services for MVNO customers

Policy control creates a vast range of possibilities, many of which are now available from mobile providers. These include free social media usage, family packages with data sharing between members, or access to better data rates for gaming services. Such innovations deliver benefits to both subscriber and provider.

For example, simply being able to rollover part of a subscription allowance from month to month provides a customer with the reassurance that they won’t lose out just because they’re away for a short period of time. Similarly, the ability to share quotas across a family group, or to provide inclusive access to social media or streaming services and applications, allows customers to adapt the service to their particular needs. Such personalisation increases stickiness and reduces the likelihood of churn, or makes one provider more attractive than another, thereby helping to gain new customers.

Policy control is a core network function and was not generally something that was available to MVNOs. That’s changing, as many MNOs offer access to policy control systems – technically known as the “Policy and Charging Rules Function” or PCRF – either directly or through a dedicated MVNE solution. Some MVNOs have also invested in their own core network capabilities, adding PCRF solutions to their infrastructure.

## Policy control is essential for future service innovation

What’s really interesting here is the potential to exploit policy control in the future. With growing need for tailored services and highly-customised offers that are personalised for individual subscribers. If the future is personalisation, policy control is the key tool to enable this to happen – in real-time and at mass scale. So, as MVNOs seek to innovate and to differentiate offers for their customers, policy control will become indispensable.

Policy control is just one of a range of ways in which MVNOs can innovate to enhance service and operational performance. If you’d like to know more, why not download one of our [“MVNO Innovation Briefings”](https://www.digitalk.com/mvno-innovation?ss_campaign=mvno-innovation-series-q3-2020-digitalk-blog) – an exclusive series of 4 papers to help you explore innovation opportunities and how to benefit from them?

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