Subscriber Data Management (SDM)

The recent global rollout of 5G has introduced unprecedented operational complexities for network operators (data volume, velocity, variety, security, and real-time demands). A key challenge is the vast amount of diverse subscriber data across a landscape of legacy 2G/3G/4G and new cloud-native 5G core architectures. This requires a Subscriber Data Management (SDM) solution that not only meets the 3GPP standards but also seamlessly bridges network generations, enables easy service innovation, and ensures carrier-grade reliability in the new dynamic, virtualized environment. For operators it is crucial to discover new revenue streams from 5G while at the same time optimize costs and simplify operations in the increasingly intricate ecosystem.

Nokia Subscriber Data Management (SDM) is a comprehensive solution designed to centralize and secure all user data within telecommunications networks. It achieves this by:

• Unified Data Repository (UDR): A single, robust repository that stores all subscriber information, ensuring compliance with 3GPP User Data Convergence and 5G standards. The UDR hosts essential applications and guarantees SDM security.
• Unstructured Data Storage Function (UDSF): This component enables control applications to store their session data, allowing them to operate in a stateless manner. This improves scalability and resilience.

Nokia SDM, powered by Nokia Registers, provides unified subscriber access management across all network generations:

• For 5G Networks: The Unified Data Management (UDM) and Authentication Server Function (AUSF) handle 5G subscriber authorization, registration, and mobility management. Nokia AUSF_UDM offers true cloud-native capabilities for 5G.
• For 2G/3G/4G Networks: The Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and Home Location Register (HLR) manage legacy network access. These interwork seamlessly with the 5G UDM to support domain-spanning use cases and ensure continuous service.
   

• Suite of data and stateless, cloud-native applications, such as Nokia Advanced Registers (NAR), with support for all accesses, all network domains and all IoT verticals, integrated with a common User Data Repository for storing and sharing data.
• Highest services availability and robustness due to geo-redundant deployment with separation of service logic and data storage.
• Full support of new 5G service-based architecture with service-based interfaces enables a fast introduction of new services and devices.
• Unified and real-time data provisioning via single provisioning interface prevents redundant and inconsistent data.
• Open and standardized interfaces enable fast 3rd party application integration.
• A consolidated view of all subscriber profile data, shared across any application, enables an easy data exposure and monetization.
• Automated software delivery, test and deployment via a continuous integration and continuous delivery pipeline accelerates the introduction of new functionality for new services and saves operational cost.
• Robust security architecture, featuring telco-level access controls and multi-layer data encryption, ensures data confidentiality and integrity.
• More than 8 billion subscribers managed globally, 280+ customers across 130 countries.

 With Nokia SDM, user data is centralized in a secure, highly scalable repository. As a single point of provisioning, this saves costs and substantially shortens the time taken to launch new technologies and services or to activate new customers.

The database is held in Network Directory Server (One-NDS) and Shared Data Layer (SDL) which provide a resilient and distributed data and application-hosting environment.

By combining several back-end repositories into one multi-use one, there are significant cost savings and minimised risk for down-time.

Nokia SDM is open and flexible to easily integrate third-party applications that meet new customer demands. Operators gain the reliability, scalability and flexibility they need to address a wide range of requirements when deploying IoT or new services for vertical markets.