The Aptilo WiMAX CSN System™ currently supporting NWG specifications rel. 1, ver. 1.2.2. and 1.3.0, is the first pre-integrated, ready to deploy wireless broadband data and voice services solution for mobile WiMAX AAA and Service Control. The unique multi-access, multi-service support allows for management of bundled data and multimedia services over WiMAX, and Wi-Fi networks within the same platform. The Aptilo WiMAX CSN System was named ‘Best WiMAX Product or Service’ by the Wireless Broadband Innovation (WBI) 2009 Award and as a recipient of the 2009 WiMAX Distinction Award.

Our AAA core is not your ordinary generic Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server, but a purpose-built solid system for control of access, user services and billing in WiMAX networks. That is why we call it Aptilo WiMAX AAA+, bringing additional values such as:
Built-in user database, subscriber & session management, a dynamic account engine, voucher management, advanced authentication, intelligent roaming, ASN Gateway & Mobile IP HA adaptors, advanced APIs, security features and more.  Aptilo WiMAX AAA+ core has full support for WiMAX Forum’s latest Prepaid and Hotlining specifications.

Aptilo’s WiMAX CSN System consists of the Aptilo Service Management Platform™ integrated with add-on modules for the WiMAX features. It can thus by default be used for WiMAX and Wi-Fi networks. It delivers a highly flexible and versatile Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA), policy management and service control solution for Mobile WiMAX and Wi-Fi network services, with support for pre- and post-paid data and Voice over IP (VoIP) services. The integrated data and voice services solution provides AAA through multiple authentication types and and dynamic Quality of Service defined through service flow descriptors for users, devices and services.

The intelligent AAA proxy functionality in the Aptilo WiMAX CSN System allows service providers to manage interactions with multiple external AAA servers and roaming partners while a large multitude of service offerings and combinations of time-, volume- and credit-quota based subscriber accounts cover multiple business models.

The Aptilo WiMAX CSN System is fully interoperable with WiMAX NWG compliant clients and Access Service Network (ASN) nodes such as WiMAX 802.16-2005 based Base Stations and ASN Gateways through standard interfaces defined by the WiMAX Forum®. It is an open platform that has demonstrated proven interoperability with several ASN (Access Service Network) and HA (Home Agent) products from leading WiMAX vendors.

Raising the Bar for CSN Solutions. While the inherent support for both WiMAX and Wi-Fi within the same platform is important, what sets Aptilo apart from our competition and ahead of the industry is our truly integrated, ready to deploy solution, which saves significant time and money for operators initiating WiMAX services.

A CSN system typically consists of several different subsystems for functions like AAA, DHCP, post- & pre-paid billing, provisioning, customer portals, policy management, captive portals, customer care, service portals, mobility management and more. These subsystems frequently come from different vendors, which often lead to significant time and money spent for the operator in the procurement, integration and maintenance processes. This can have a negative impact on time-to-revenue and time to launch of the service. Aptilo´s pre-integrated solution

Traditional building block solution Aptilo’s Unique Integrated Approach. Aptilo offers a unique, yet simple approach to challenges faced by many WiMAX Operators. We have integrated most of the different subsystems functions needed into our own product, the Aptilo WiMAX CSN System. Dedicated subsystems are frequently underutilized from a functionality perspective. Many operators just make use of a fraction of the total functionality. Aptilo is second to none when it comes to critical core functions such as AAA, policy management and end-to-end pre-paid billing and we have developed sufficient functionality for the other subsystems. The Aptilo system also features a built-in user database. Our optional AC network node can be deployed for traffic management including intelligent IP-address allocation, DHCP, policy based routing, VLAN and bandwidth shaping.

Streamlining Procurement to Save Time and Money. Embarking on a thorough evaluation of different vendors for a subsystem such as pre-paid billing is a long and costly process. It will also delay the time to launch of the service. This same process must be repeated to evaluate all CSN subsystems, so the time spent is linear with the number of subsystems procured, especially if they come from different vendors.

In the worst case an operator may not have enough resources to procure all subsystems in parallel. It may not even be possible to procure all subsystems in parallel because they may have dependencies against each other and thus need to be procured in a specific order. This will have a significant negative impact on the launch date and time-to-revenue. With an integrated solution these issues are reduced to a minimum, as most subsystems are already integrated.

Save Time and Money in the Deployment Phase. Deploying several subsystems from different vendors and getting them ready for launch is a complex and costly process, especially if something does not work as intended. With an integrated, ready to deploy solution there is no custom integration required at all for products from different vendors, as the different subsystem functions - all included in the integrated solution - are designed to work seamlessly together. Furthermore the end to end functionalities are rigorously tested for each new release.

Save Time and Money in the Maintenance Phase. Maintenance may not be the first thing considered when launching a new WiMAX service. In the long run, however, this might be the most important issue when it comes to OPEX (operating expenditures) for the service. Having several subsystem-vendors releasing new software versions at different times puts a great deal of pressure on the operation of the service. The stability of the service may even be compromised due to sudden problems between subsystems not detected during the testing.

By combining all the important subsystems required to deliver data and multi-media services within the same platform, Aptilo’s WiMAX CSN System not only reduces the number of software releases per year, but also provides a more stable operation as the different subsystems are well tested before release.

Vendor Independent Solution with Proven Interoperability. In the WiMAX architecture the CSN (Connectivity Services Network) communicates with the ASN (Access Services Network) via an ASN Gateway through the standard R3 interface. Aptilo is committed to support ongoing WiMAX enhancements and interoperability with all leading ASN and HA vendors in accordance with the NWG standard, thus offering a future proof, investment protection to customer. For more information about Aptilo’s growing list of interoperable vendors through customer implementations and partner testing please see http://www.aptilo.com/solutions_interop.htm We know that this work is a crucial part of the fast-track equation and that there is significant amount of money to be saved for operators that are deploying WiMAX services if they can choose from a variety of vendors that all work together from the very start.

Flexibility to Change the Operation of the WiMAX Service. The Aptilo WiMAX CSN System is an open system, which means that the operator is free to integrate with a dedicated subsystem at a later stage if desired. The integration via Aptilo’s well defined APIs gives the operator the flexibility to make the integration in an easy and modular way throughout the lifecycle of the service.

Aptilo’s solutions are sold as software licenses running on standard servers. With the Aptilo Managed Service™ option a WiMAX operator can outsource the operation of the Aptilo platform and get up and running in just a few weeks. The Aptilo managed service is ideal for operators that want to do trials or utilize Aptilo’s “build and transfer” model where they use Aptilo’s managed service while building up technical know-how.

Keep Existing OSS/BSS Infrastructure with Aptilo WiMAX Connector™. Aptilo’s WiMAX Connector is a plug-and-play solution that allows operators to deploy WiMAX while utilizing existing broadband OSS/BSS infrastructure – infrastructure that does not natively handle WiMAX. It incorporates the award-winning Aptilo WiMAX AAA+ core into existing broadband networks. The WiMAX Connector dynamically maps the subscriber services described in the existing OSS/BSS systems into WiMAX 16e service flows required by the ASN gateway. It keeps a “shadow copy” of the subscriber credentials and handles all WiMAX-specific aspects for the users towards the WiMAX Network including policy control information in real-time. The WiMAX Connector allows operators to use their existing subscriber sign-up, provisioning, billing and other processes with the new WiMAX service, minimizing capital/operating expenses on new processes, training staff, and maintaining and operating new OSS/BSS equipment. The existing user database can be LDAP, Active Directory or a legacy AAA database.

Furthermore, a WiMAX network provider with the Aptilo WiMAX Connector installed can offer wholesale of WiMAX services to multiple broadband operators and connect them through the Aptilo WiMAX Connector as virtual WiMAX service providers.

Aptilo WiMAX CSN TrialPack™. For operators that want to trial a more comprehensive end-to-end WiMAX service environment, Aptilo Networks can now offer the Aptilo WiMAX CSN TrialPack as a complement to a radio network trial.

 The Aptilo WiMAX CSN TrialPack gives the operator a cost-effective test bed to:

Experience a more thorough end-to-end WIMAX functionality solution during a trial or pilot.
Explore a WiMAX compliant service management and AAA with pre-and post paid business model support.
Gain important end-user feedback and evaluate multiple service plans and business models before commercial launch

 If you're interested in the Aptilo WiMAX CSN TrialPack, please contact Aptilo so that we can describe this further.