Title: Traffic Management for Mobile Broadband


Abstract:
Mobile broadband enables advanced data services, and data traffic; the number of mobile data subscriptions is increasing rapidly along with a continuous increase in the average data volume per subscription, driving growth in data traffic. Cellular systems by nature have finite resources, and shared between many users and services. Mobile broadband networks must support multiple applications of voice, video, and data on a single IP-based infrastructure. These converged services each have unique traffic-handling and QoE (Quality of Experience) requirements. Traffic management is the term used to describe a range of technical practices undertaken to manage traffic across networks. The different outcomes achieved by the use of technical practices can include:
• The prioritization of certain types of traffic
• The slowing down of certain traffic types
• Supporting the delivery of managed services
Traffic management for mobile broadband networks requires visibility to what is occurring (by device or application) at the cell site level and in a timeframe that enables as far as feasible near-time reactions to resolve issues. In many cases, traffic management practices serve as an effective mean to provide quality services to end users. Mobile operators can take two major approaches to significantly reduce the risk of cost outstripping data revenues:
- Network Optimization
- Network Sharing