F5 Unveils BIG-IP Policy Enforcement Manager

F5 Networks, Inc. has announced the newest member of its portfolio of solutions for fixed and mobile service providers. F5 BIG-IP Policy Enforcement Manager (PEM) combines the strength of F5’s intelligent traffic steering functionality with a context-aware policy enforcement solution. Providing deep visibility and analytics into subscriber behaviour, applications, and the network itself, BIG-IP PEM empowers service providers to optimise network performance, introduce new revenue-generating services, and better control costs. The foundation of F5’s approach is its intelligent services framework, which offers service providers a unified solution for optimising service delivery and security, and monetising services.

“Service providers are dealing with enormous challenges, among them, a relentless growth in mobile applications and data traffic, falling average revenue per user (ARPU), increasingly sophisticated security threats, and skyrocketing infrastructure costs,” said Manny Rivelo, EVP, Service Provider and Security Solutions at F5. “Those costs, along with network complexity, continue to rise for service providers because, until now, they have been forced to deploy core services via point solutions. With BIG-IP Policy Enforcement Manager, they can deliver multiple services from a unified platform—without sacrificing performance or scalability.”

With BIG-IP PEM, service providers now have the ability to classify traffic and enforce policy based on applications and subscriber behaviour. BIG-IP PEM also provides granular reports on subscriber and application flows, and it integrates with online charging subsystems, giving operators real-time credit control.

BIG-IP PEM has been tested with third-party Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) vendors and is compliant with the latest 3GPP standards for a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF).

In addition, when BIG-IP PEM runs on VIPRION hardware, core services can be provisioned on any blade, so service providers gain flexibility and avoid the necessity and added expense of stocking service-specific blades.