Nokia unveils Corteca’s home connectivity software to enhance, monetise broadband experiences
Justin Doucette of Nokia
Nokia has announced the launch of Corteca, a new end-to-end home connectivity software for broadband devices. This will enable service providers to enhance customer experiences, generate new revenues and reduce operational costs.
Service providers are bringing multi-gigabit speeds to the home, but more than 40% of households are reporting issues with in-home connectivity. Operators remain challenged by in-home Wi-Fi solutions, plagued by complex installation proced sses, limited interoperability, inconsistent coverage andead zones that lead to frustrated subscribers. Nokia’s Corteca addresses these challenges, providing a combination of advanced Wi-Fi performance and devices in the home along with customer support tools and monitoring in the cloud. In recent customer trials, Nokia’s Corteca solution increased peak hour Wi-Fi throughput by 70% and reduced average handling time of helpdesk calls by 50%.
Nokia Corteca home connectivity software consists of:
- Corteca cloud: an intelligent controller with a “single pane of glass” interface to manage both home Wi-Fi networks, and network-wide broadband device deployments.
- Corteca applications: a marketplace with value-added applications so service providers can generate new sources of revenue.
- Corteca device software: powering Nokia’s line-up of broadband devices for fibre and FWA (fixed wireless access) gateways and mesh Wi-Fi beacons.
The Corteca Cloud, formerly known as the Wi-Fi Cloud Controller, introduces a new marketplace to deliver Corteca Applications. This gives service providers access to a catalogue of value-added, revenue generating services. The marketplace allows operators to try applications before purchasing and centrally manage what is made available to their subscribers. Corteca Applications cover a variety of uses cases, including enhanced security, intelligent device fingerprinting, gaming optimisation, and more. In addition, Nokia has opened up the marketplace to an eco-system of 3rd party developers to bring additional value-added applications to the market.
Nokia’s Corteca Device Software runs on the in-home broadband and Wi-Fi devices and works in real-time with cloud-based operations to monitor and manage the end-user experience. Nokia combines open-source software with industry standards and is the first vendor to provide communications and management for multi-vendor mesh Wi-Fi and devices. The Corteca Device Software also provides a container application framework to isolate and applications from the underlying operating system. It allows operators to run, manage, and dynamically update applications independent of the device software to reduce costs.
Michael Philpott, research director, digital consumer services at Omdia, says, “Providing an unparalleled broadband user experience in the home has long been a challenge that operators continue to grapple with today. Navigating the complex terrain of single Wi-Fi interfaces, device compatibility and user behavior requires a harmonious symphony of technical expertise and customer-centric solutions. Having the ability to both manage the devices in the home and deliver value applications that can be targeted to each customer can be a game changer for operators seeking to drive enhanced user experiences and generate additional revenue.”
Justin Doucette, head of Wi-Fi for fixed networks broadband devices at Nokia, says, “Similar to what the PC market and the mobile phone market did in the past, the CPE (customer premises equipment) market is separating the application from the operating system in order to empower developers, enable operators, and delight users. The key is a unique and truly open approach with no vendor lock-in and the ability to onboard and integrate with 3rd parties.”
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