Complex Challenges At The Network Edge Are The Great Untapped Potential Of TR-069 Data

Jan 25

Customers naturally judge the quality of their network provider primarily through their day-to-day experience with predominantly WiFi-connected devices. It is the performance at this ‘fuzzy edge’ – beyond the strict boundary of the operator’s network – that has the most direct and regular impact on users’ experiences of streaming services, phones and tablets, gaming consoles and computers.

Zero-touch customer service will need full information on what is happening for each and every customer, in the moment and over time. Network operators have typically had little visibility and even less control over how this critical network edge performs, but they can no longer afford to abdicate responsibility for it. Fortunately, they can now build an invaluable picture of their network’s performance as their customers see it simply by mining their readily-available, minute-by-minute CPE data. In a simple analogy, they can now see the intricate patterns of all their tree’s leaves, not just have to confine their focus to its trunk and branches.

Telecommunications companies are already familiar with the efficiency benefits of a comprehensive auto-configuration server (ACS) system for managing their large fleets of CPE devices. Sophisticated tools such as Axiros’ AXESS ACS have become essential for automating and standardizing device management tasks.

However, operators are still to reap the huge benefit from the under-utilized treasure trove of data from these devices. Under the TR-069 and TR-369 | USP standard, each customer gateway can provide hundreds of parameters detailing its activity, its performance, and information on the devices connected to it. This incredibly rich data can be captured continuously, and the amazing power of machine learning creates enormous potential for the complexity of the network edge to be comprehensively monitored, understood and managed as never before.

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