Case Study-24online offers Billing and Bandwidth Management Solution to Life-Telecom, Bahrain

24online provides its billing and bandwidth management solution for smooth and fair distribution of bandwidth at Life-telecom, Bahrain.

Background

Life Telecom is one of the leading and established Internet service provider (ISP) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, catering several customers with wireless technology solutions, Web Hosting, Voip and Bulk SMS. Life telecom has its strong holding in Bahrain offering its technological superiority with fully converged IPs architecture and the use of selective technologies.
Life Telecom optimizes delivery of state-of-the-art converged services including Voice, Internet, Video, Surveillance and many other features. And Life Telecom’s self resources manage to study the requirements and make the need for an integrated solution that provides an excellent internet and other communication services more favorably in fevers of efficiency, cost and control. With the help of integrating with different components or solutions it can easily offer latest and advanced services to its customers.
Life Telecom’s competitive advantage over other providers is based on execution of commitments, true delivery of advanced services and breakthrough technological solutions: It is the also first company in Bahrain and one of the few in the field to combine the extensive use of IPs for the integrated deployment and management of voice, data, web hosting and bulk SMS.

Challenge

Life telecom is in continuous process of delivering the best in class services for its users, in addition to services like Internet provision, Web Hosting, SMS and Wireless etc. And with the increasing demand of Internet services and fulfilling customer needs with the help of advanced technology solutions is one of the major challenges that are faced by the service providers. And offering latest technology service with necessary measures taken for safety and security parameters for efficient use of service is also observed as another major challenge for service providers. So, with increasing subscribers, Life telecom is looking for a solution that is advance in nature of technology, which offers advanced features and flexibility as well as security and safety to customers.

Mr. Hassane Mroue, Angel Wireless - General Manager, premium partner of 24online, clearly defined that the comprehensive solution should be compatible enough to communicate with Wifi components in the network. The solution will be responsible for billing and accounting of the Internet surfing for all users in the network. It should have the facility to create different plans and packages according to which different pre-paid coupons can be designed and availed in printable format for the users. Facility to send messages to guests through SMS gateway for Internet username & password details or welcome messages was a must.
Mr. Sami Radhi, Managing Director- Life Telecom, wanted to deliver a diversity of service that included SMS activation, Parental monitor at user account to be a pioneer among all service providers with new options, as well as Net capturing to comply by the TRA lawful intercept regulations. In addition to that and

since Life Telecom will be delivering a Wi-Fi cloud across Bahrain, he insisted on combining the 24online Elitecore login client software with RTLS ( Real Time Location Tracking) for all registered subscriber devices along the coverage network to add more compliance to TRA regulation
In view of expansion at different locations, Life-Telecom was clear that the solution should have the ability to provide different admin user creation and various facilities like franchisee management services with zone functionality where multiple NAS having their zones and pools are managed by a centralized RADIUS. This includes the responsibility of subscriber management and billing management at the centralized level. With the help of this feature, the network expansion is not limited and the solution is highly scalable.
Thus, after extensive market survey and research, Life-telecom found 24online as the ideal solution that best suit their requirements as well as cost-effective and scalable enough for expanding ISP network.

Solution

1. 24online in Standalone Mode

After understanding the requirements and necessities of the Life-telecom network, 24online readily offered its standalone mode solution, in which multiple 24online acts as NAS (responsible for access control, bandwidth allocation and restriction) and RADIUS performing AAA functionalities. All user/IP pools are created in 24online, and all user requests will pass through the 24online for login, if user is not logged in then he is automatically redirected to the captive portal login page or administrator configured link, as an authentication parameter. 24online will be regularly communicating with the in-built RADIUS responsible for AAA, subscriber management and billing. Complete information of the subscribers like user details, package policies and accounting will be stored in the 24online RADIUS database.

2. Registration of Data Transfer, Zone Management and Multiple Gateway Features

24online Data Transfer
24online provided data transfer module by which can create different data transfer plans for their subscribers and provide pre-paid/post-paid plans based on upload and download data transfer. With the help of this module, admin can also define data transfer policies that can be used to restrict users from uploading or downloading high amount of data. User is allotted number of data transfer for browsing internet and user remains in active state till the limit of data transfer exhausts. With data transfer policy one can set conditions and allot data limits.

Multiple-Gateway

24online provides security over multiple ISP links using a single appliance. It restricts high consumption of bandwidth and network congestion as well as makes optimum use of low cost links. Incase of link failover it automatically shifts traffic from a failed link to a working link, ensuring continual quality service for premium service.

Zone Management

Offers multiple options to generate and manage franchisee management operations. With franchisee management one can avail single user access for franchisee service as administrator. Management and detailed system MIS reports available. Service providers are free to send alerts to subscribers using 24online messaging options, for their usage and renewals on continuous basis.

3. Creation of different plans and register using Pin Management

(a) Create variety of Internet Plans

24online offers functionalities to create different type of Internet plans (hourly, weekly, monthly or yearly basis) and assign amount of data transfer accordingly. Administrator can also has the benefit to offer these packages online for purchasing.

(b) Renew/Register through Pins

24online pin module offers the facility to attach Internet plans created in the system, to be converted into pre-paid pins in printable formats, which can be readily available for purchase as pre-paid vouchers. The walk-in pin is provided to end user with general details about the username, password and accounting details. Walk pin enable instant subscriber registration for walk-in customers and allows Internet access. Normal pins allow user registration and renewal for their selected plans. With the help of pin facility, users can also renew their Naccount directly from the online portal. With the help of facility client and user have the flexibility to reduce manual intervention in subscribing and renewing for their internet plans.

4. Integration with SMS Gateway

Now mobile phones can be used to exchange business information swiftly and in secured way. 24online offered SMS feature which can be configured to send Internet username & password directly to users on their mobile number. One can also maintain the SMS authentication process using this feature as well as send promotional or advertisement messages for upcoming Internet plans in market.

5. SNAT Management

24online offered SNAT Management which helps in source natting of IP addresses. With the help of this module admin can perform different actions like NAT to Single IP, NAT to Internet Public IP (Live IP) and drive local traffic to Internet.

6. 24online also offered web service is a self containing, self describing modular application that can be published, located and invoked across the web. With the help of this feature, business functions can be made universally available using Internet. This allows the applications to interoperate in a loosely coupled environment, discovering and connecting dynamically to the services. This feature is executed using general APIs that can be easily accessed over Internet. Web service offers list of options using which administrator can send the action request and perform the functions on 24online server via Internet. This feature is highly beneficial for hoteliers, hotspots, cybercafés, ISPs, conference hall etc.

7. Reports

Understanding the major requirement of reports in a dynamic network, 24online offered following reporting features as explained below:



8. Audit Log
Audit log is dedicated to store all the actions performed by the user administrating 24online. With the help of this feature admin can search transactions or actions like create, manage, edit or delete actions performed in the specified time period. It gives complete details on all the actions performed and actions performed by, with IP address from where the action has been taken and action time. As this feature provides time and duration of action performed, it helps in tracking any unsecured login in admin GUI resulting into data loss.

9. NetKapture

24online offered its advanced feature which acts as ‘watchman’ of the network, taking care of each and every protocol request sent and received by the network. The benefit of this feature is that it can easily trace all the user logs and admin can generate different types of reports using this feature. It’s an ideal feature which is highly in-demand for hospitality and ISP clients.

Thus, 24online’s loaded features offered complete support to the laid network setup almost without any interruption and caters all users with smooth, fast & secured distribution of bandwidth. Life Telecom is currently using a 1500i appliance as its RADIUS, NAS and subscriber database and planning to increase with future expansion plans under process.