With wireless carriers looking to extract more revenues from their networks through the implementation of more dynamic pricing models, the deep packet inspection market is set to remain robust, according to a new report from Infonetics Research.
Citing potential in the mobile space, Infonetics reports operating spending on DPI solutions increased 23% in 2013 to $728 million, in its way to toping $2 billion in spending in 2018.
“The deep packet inspection market, particularly the mobile opportunity, remains a dynamic one, with momentum driven by not only basic traffic management requirements, but also by the need to support new pricing and service offerings,” said Shira Levine, directing analyst for service enablement and subscriber intelligence at Infonetics Research. “As this occurs, we’re seeing continued interest in embedding DPI functionality in applications such as security, video optimization, and revenue and service assurance, which is driving demand for embedded solutions that provide advanced packet classification, such as Qosmos’ ixEngine and Procera’s NAVL.”
Of the companies taking advantage of the space, Infonetics singled out Sandvine as leading the market in 2013, followed by Allot, Cisco and Procera. As for technology, Infonetics noted that virtualization could potentially “significantly change DPI deployment strategies over time, enabling DPI technology to be deployed more cost-effectively throughout the network.”
RCR Wireless News recently released a report on the impact virtualization is having on policy control and charging, including a look at DPI.
One issue that could trip up DPI growth is net neutrality, which requires broadband service providers from Internet traffic blocking or throttling. While net neutrality issues are more prevalent in the wired Internet world, Infonetics noted that the European Union has a much stronger stance on the subject than other regions and could remain a barrier to DPI investments.
The EU recently passed a package of telecom reforms that included net neutrality rules. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission recently circulated a proposal that all Internet service providers “must transparently disclose to their subscribers and users all relevant information as to the policies that govern their network; that no legal content may be blocked; and that ISPs may not act in a commercially unreasonable manner to harm the Internet, including favoring the traffic from an affiliated entity.” The FCC has so far refrained from strictly enforcing net neutrality regulations against wireless carriers, many of which have data plans that call for consumers to have their network speeds reduced once they hit the limit of their data bucket or are found to be “abusing” network privileges.
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