How Throttling Works

Throttling is a key feature that enables granular control over data usage. By setting rules and thresholds, administrators can automatically reduce the data speed of SIM cards when predefined limits are reached. This ensures fair use, prevents unexpected overage charges, and optimizes network resource allocation.

Key Concepts

A description of the key concepts related to throttling is provided in this table.

Term	Definition
API Throttling Control	Programmatic management of SIM throttling through API interactions.
CMP Throttling Method	Use of the CMP interface to set throttling usage and speed limits for SIMs.
Fair Use	Policies that define acceptable usage limits for "unlimited" data plans, often enforced through throttling.
IMSI Range Definition	Defining IMSI ranges helps identify subscribers, manage data usage, and organize accounts effectively.
PCF	The Policy Control Function is a critical component in 5G-SA for managing policy decisions for SIMs.
PCRF	The Policy and Charging Rules Function is a critical component in managing policy decisions and charging rules for SIMs.
Multi-Plan	A configuration that allows an account to have multiple active data plans simultaneously, potentially with different rules, allowances, and throttling settings for each plan. Multi-plans are ordered and configured according to priority. The priority of the multi-plan determines which Overage Plan is activated when a depletion rule is triggered.
Overage Plan	An "Overage Multi-Plan" is a secondary data plan that automatically activates when a subscriber exceeds the data allowance of their primary plan (as defined by a Depletion Rule). This plan typically offers continued data access, but potentially at a reduced speed or with different pricing.
PCRF Rule ID	Identifiers used by the CMP and API Control Method to specify different throttling speeds.
Plan Depletion Rules	Rules that dictate what happens when a data plan quota reaches a preconfigured value of remaining balance activating an appropriate throttling action
Plan Expiration Rules	Rules that dictate what happens when a data plan reaches its expiration date activating an appropriate throttling action.
Remaining Balance	The amount of unused data or monetary credit left on a subscriber active plan (e.g., MB/GB or currency). When it reaches zero or the configured threshold the CMP triggers a Plan Depletion action (throttling/overage) or prompts top‑up/renewal.
Rules and Alerts	A service enabling users to define rules for monitoring periodic data usage related to specific plans.
SIM Throttling Control	Management of data speed based on user-defined thresholds to ensure adherence to plan usage allocation.
White-List Control	Enables user to access a specific URL or IP address even when data has been throttled. This function is often used for SIM top-up or for additional purchase of data plan.

Throttling Methods

The floLIVE SIM Throttling Control can be implemented using these methods:

• CMP Method: This method offers the ability to set usage limits for an IMSI via the CMP web portal. When a specified threshold is met, data speed is automatically reduced until the next reset (e.g. monthly plan renewal) or user self-top-up action. Alternatively, an IMSI can be set up with data access only for a whitelisted IP.

• API Control: Enables programmatic management of SIM throttling or IP whitelisting through API interactions. This method requires more technical expertise but allows for greater flexibility and automation.

Throttling Requirements

The implementation of the floLIVE CMP Throttling mechanism is based on these functional requirements and limitations:

• Throttling requires the presence of a PCRF network element that is not universally supported across all IMSI providers or Packet Gateways (PGWs).
• Throttling policies are applied at the IMSI level, not directly to SIMs. When a data plan is depleted for a SIM card, the associated throttling rule is applied to all IMSIs active on that SIM.
• Newly provisioned SIMs on the platform do not have any default throttling settings applied.

PGW/GGSN/SMF Interface to PCF/PCRF

The PGW/SMF/GGSN nodes need to be configured with the IMSI ranges that will be managed by the PCRF/PCF.

PCRF Throttling Engine

The Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF/PCF) is a core network module within the floLIVE platform. It dynamically enforces throttling policies based on predefined rules and subscriber profiles.

When a throttling rule is triggered (via Plan Depletion or Expiration Rules), the PCRF/PCF receives a notification and adjusts the subscriber data speed according to the defined PCRF/PCF Rule ID. This real-time decision-making mechanism ensures efficient network resource use and fair user experience

NOTE:NOTE: Throttling Rule IDs are globally consistent across all IMSI providers, meaning the same Rule ID will enforce the same throttling parameters (e.g., data speed) regardless of the IMSI or core network.

PCRF Rule IDs

The system defined PCRF Rule IDs are listed in this table.

PCRF Rule ID	Speed	PCRF Rule ID	Speed
1	Unlimited: No throttling (default)	14	2Mb/s
2	10Kb/s	16	3Mb/s
4	512Kb/s	18	5Mb/s
6	1Mb/s	20	7Mb/s
8	256Kb/s	22	10Mb/s
10	320Kb/s	24	20Mb/s
12	1.5Mb/s	26	100Kb/s

NOTE: The PCRF Rule ID for White List URLs is specific to each customer. To configure the PCRF ID value for Expiration Rules you need to contact technical support

Throttling Rules

FloLIVE enforces throttling by implementation of two CMP rules:

• Depletion Rule: This rule triggers an action when an IMSI data usage plan reaches a preconfigured value of remaining balance.

• Expiration Rule: The rule triggers an action when a data plan reaches its expiration date (e.g. data plan valid for 30 days).