Subscriber Data Management (SDM)
Subscriber Data Management
What is a subscriber data management solution?
A telecom SDM provides a unified platform for both 4G and 5G subscriptions, helping operators make a smooth transition to 5G while supporting legacy services alongside advanced next-gen services. It lets operators respond dynamically to changing demands by easily scaling up or down; they can swiftly configure and launch new services. Its cloud-native architecture supports flexible deployment and reduces CAPEX and OPEX. It also offers the potential for new partnerships and collaborations to introduce advanced services such as enterprise IoT and 5G slicing.
What functions does SDM perform in 5G?
To facilitate the high-value CX-driven use cases that 5G offers, service providers need to upgrade their legacy core so it can support 4G as well as 5G (and private 5G) networks through subscriber data management (SDM). A telecom SDM makes it easy to expand and operate the network and add innovations to meet customer demand. It helps bring fixed and mobile networks together with robust and scalable single-point data storage. SDM can manage SIM services and subscriber data more efficiently, which is essential for 5G. It ensures hassle-free migration to 5G, enables CSPs to leverage partnership and collaboration opportunities for advanced 5G use cases, ensures swift TTM, and unlocks a host of revenue streams by supporting the launch of next-gen services like IoT, eMBB, M2M, URLLC, and more.
Alepo 5G Core Network Function: SDM
Deploy Converged SDM
Alepo Subscriber Data Management (SDM), part of Alepo’s 5G Core (5GC) Solution, lets operators enhance their existing 4G core and extend support to 5G, simplifying the launch of new services, reducing time-to-market, and saving on costs.
The SDM is a standard-based network function that includes Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Unified Data Management (UDM), and Unified Data Repository (UDR) for 5G-SA support as well as Home Subscriber Server (HSS) for 4G and 5G-NSA support. Capabilities of the SDM solution include:
Seamless authentication: AuSF
- Based on 3GPP standards
- Support for 5G authentication based on 5G-AKA
- Manages authentication session states in the external centralized database
- Handles authentication confirmation timeout
- Support for re-synchronization failure management
- Support routing based on SUCI and SUPI
Highly scalable data repository: UDR
- Based on release 16 (July 2020) 3GPP TS 29.504, TS 29.505
- Storage and retrieval of 4G+5G subscriptions and policy data
- Subscription for notifications of subscriber data changes
- High-performance and scalable 4G+5G subscriber repository
- Support for single- and multi-site deployment
- Web-based admin portal for managing subscriptions, SIM identities, service configurations, and policy data for subscribers
- REST (real-time) or batch (bulk) SIM provisioning
- Support for roaming use cases
- Support for V2X subscriptions
- Integrates with third-party UDM and PCF over standard 3GPP interfaces
Unified data management: UDM+HSS
A converged offering for authenticating and authorizing access to services in 4G and 5G networks:
- Support for 3GPP S6a with MME and Nudm interface with AMF and SMF based on 3GPP TS 29.272 R16 and TS 29.503 R16
- Supports EPS-AKA, 5G-AKA authentication methods
- Manages user identities (storage and management of SUPI/SUCI/IMSI/GPSI for each subscriber in the 4G+5G)
- SUCI de-concealing (SUCI to SUPI conversion) using Profile A, Profile B, and null scheme method
- Handles 4G authentication and service authorization using subscription data
- Stores and manages AMF/MME and SMF contexts for UEs
- Support for V2X subscription data and Dedicated Core
- Support for PLMN-based authentication and authorization (including roaming use cases)
- Supports inter-RAT, intra-RAT mobility
- Enables service and session continuity by managing SMF/DNN contexts for ongoing sessions
- Supports for Interworking Function (IWF) for interfacing with 4G network nodes
Employ Web-Based Portals
Alepo’s SDM Portal empowers the service provider’s network team to manage subscription and policy data for subscribers. The easy-to-use GUI system displays all subscription-related information in one place.
- Allows service configurations for APN, DNN, slices (S-NSSAI), PLMNs
- Manages subscription and policy data for subscribers
- Supports bulk operations for SIM management
- Facilitates troubleshooting for network administrators
Alepo Enterprise Self-Service (ESS) Portal
- Facilitates bulk operations for SIM and device management
- Allows automated provisioning and activation of services
- Manages end-to-end subscription and device life cycles
- Supports real-time usage monitoring and connectivity dashboards
- Maintains audit logs and user access control
Alepo Element Management System (EMS)
Alepo EMS allows system users to configure NF services, profiles, and deployments. System users can also define various monitoring KPIs for application and system health.
- Supports alarm monitoring by configuring thresholds on KPI reported by NF services
- Handles various service deployment models (active-active, active-passive, and more)
- Performs various other monitoring and health performance functionalities
What Sets Alepo SDM Apart
Alepo’s Subscriber Data Management is based on 3GPP standards, built on a best-in-class technical stack, and compatible with a multi-vendor environment. The low-footprint SDM solution is built on a highly scalable NoSQL data repository (Couchbase DB).
Alepo SDM is suitable for compact core and can also be scaled for macro core.
The solution employs microservice-based software architecture that is cloud- and PaaS-agnostic and supports public, private, and hybrid deployment options. It also supports containerized as well as NFV-based deployment. Being fully cloud-native, the network function handles interworking with 5G NRF for service registration, discovery, and authorization executes horizontal and vertical scaling based on traffic needs, maintains high availability, and implements CI-CD for automated release management.
Related Resources
Accelerate 5G transformation with Alepo’s converged SDM solution
Alepo’s cloud-native and converged SDM manages 4G and 5G subscriptions. Download the solution brief to understand its role in the network upgrade path, advanced use cases it supports, solution USPs, and more.
SDM for 5G Core Network Solution
Subscriber Data Management provides a converged platform for 4G and 5G services, helping operators in enabling high-value next-gen use cases. Download the whitepaper to learn about the role of SDM’s in 5G Core, its use cases, benefits, and much more.
Subscriber Data Management (SDM) for 5G Core
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