This creates an open market for mobile M2M communications. The first PVNO to use this service is a Dutch utility company, which provides services to millions of M2M devices (smart meters, gateways, and remote telemetry units).
Thanks to the new PVNO model, companies with large quantities of SIM cards distributed nationwide can become independent operators and escape the constraints of long-term contracts with a single mobile network operator. From now on, they can switch to another network provider without replacing their SIM cards. SIM ownership not only reduces costs but also fosters service innovation.
CGI's implementation of the proxy solution and PVNO service stems from the recent introduction by the Dutch telecommunications regulator of a unique, transformative legislative framework that enables companies to become communications service providers. Companies can register as a so-called "Virtual Private Network Operator" and thereby obtain a shared "Mobile Network Code" (MNC). Participating companies connect to the PVNO solution managed by CGI and obtain their own partial range within this shared network code.
The managed service allows participating companies to share this network code across different operators for communication via mobile networks between devices and the companies' backend systems. The Netherlands is the first country to have allowed this type of virtual operator.
At the heart of the service is BroadForward's BFX gateway. It provides the proxy technology necessary for intelligent M2M traffic routing based on network codes and subcodes. BFX is designed to facilitate routing and interconnection across network and IT protocols, requiring no development and in a matter of hours. BFX is deployed by the world's leading communications service providers to enable multi-service scenarios.
