This situation is not only inefficient—it poses a threat to service quality, customer loyalty, and the operator’s financial stability.
What is PCEF and why does it need DPI?
PCEF (Policy and Charging Enforcement Function) is an executive system for network policies and billing. It controls who can use network resources, when, and with what priorities.
DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) is a deep traffic analysis technology used in VAS Experts solutions that allows you to detect and modify protocols, applications, and packet behavior down to the content level.
Together, they provide real-time network transparency, control, and manageability. These are not just filters and counters — they are an intelligent decision-making layer.
How it works
DPI – scanning at the start
- Analyzes every incoming packet.
- Identifies applications even with changing headers, HTTPS, or VPN usage.
- Allows the operator to distinguish between a Zoom conference stream and a TV series stream, even if both are encrypted.
PCEF – control, billing, protection
- Assigns priorities: business traffic and real-time applications are higher, background activity is lower.
- Applies tariff policies: overage is paid, selected traffic is discounted.
- Filters unwanted traffic, stops attacks, and blocks illegal content.
Integration with PCRF
PCEF receives rules from PCRF (Policy and Charging Rules Function) – a system that determines how specific traffic should be processed. This ensures flexibility and a personalized approach.
Benefits for business and networks
- Per-use billing: Video, messengers, IoT, and critical traffic can have different financial coefficients.
- Effective QoS: The network no longer behaves the same for everyone. Important traffic is prioritized, while secondary traffic is treated on a residual basis.
- Information security: DPI recognizes threats based on behavior patterns, even if malicious traffic is disguised.
But today, a single hard configuration is no longer enough. This is where AI and ML come in—they enable PCEF and DPI to not only enforce rules, but also learn, adapt quickly, and make decisions on the fly, making network management much more efficient.
AI/ML capabilities: when PCEF truly becomes “smart”
Modern traffic management systems are no longer limited to rigid rules and manual scenarios. With the application of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) methods, PCEF and DPI gain the ability to adapt to changes in the network and make decisions in real time.
DPI with ML: Behavioral analysis instead of signatures
Detection of new protocols
Whereas DPI used to recognize applications only by known signatures, it now analyzes the structure and behavior of packets, identifying even previously unknown formats. This is especially critical with the growth of custom, encrypted, or masked applications.
Early detection of attacks (including zero-day attacks)
ML models are trained to find deviations from normal network behavior—even when malicious traffic mimics legitimate traffic. This approach allows threats to be detected before signature updates or manual rules are available.
Predictive analytics: forecasting load and managing resources
Machine learning helps identify load peaks in advance, whether it’s the launch of a new game, software updates, or the start of active streaming. This allows the system to prepare optimal QoS settings before peak activity occurs.
By analyzing historical data and taking into account seasonal fluctuations and user behavior patterns, the network distributes resources more accurately during periods of increased demand, providing a better experience for users.
Automated management: policies that adapt themselves
Dynamic response to anomalies
If an IoT device suddenly changes its behavior—increases traffic volume or starts using non-standard ports—the system can temporarily isolate it or change the policy without waiting for an engineer to intervene.
Personalized tariff offers
Analysis of subscriber behavior allows for the creation of individualized offers. For example, if a user actively uses streaming platforms, the system can automatically offer a suitable tariff or additional service package.
Technical features of the VAS Experts solution
Support for 6200+ protocols: DPI covers a wide range of modern and legacy network protocols, including rare and custom solutions.
Even non-standard applications with atypical behavior can be correctly identified, regardless of encryption or masking.
Compliance with standards: The solution fully complies with 3GPP and other key specifications. This ensures correct operation in a multi-vendor environment and facilitates integration into carrier-class infrastructure without the need for manual adaptation.
Rule flexibility: Access and billing policy administration can take into account not only traffic categories, but also the context of use. For example, the system allows you to provide priority access to educational platforms while limiting traffic from social networks—even if both resources use the same protocols or operate over HTTPS.
AI in traffic management
Automatic traffic recognition: Algorithms identify hidden patterns in traffic—without predefined rules or tags.
Auto-Policy Engine: The system generates QoS rules itself, adapting to current conditions and application behavior.
Graph analysis: AI tracks abnormal connections between devices and identifies hidden threats at the network level.
Why regulators will be happy
You are fighting piracy – DPI recognizes illegal streaming, and PCEF quickly blocks such traffic. This is a big plus in the eyes of rights holders.
You comply with personal data laws and close leaks through secure channels. That means no fines from regulators.
Why engineers will like AI (even if they are a little wary)
It is becoming easier to update DPI rules—artificial intelligence will suggest optimal changes, and engineers will only have to approve their application on the network.
Reports are generated automatically: algorithms now analyze data and provide clear conclusions, such as identifying that most problems are related to torrent traffic.
Preventive technical support work with subscribers: the system informs the support service about potential inquiries and suggests ready-made answers.
Conclusion
PCEF with DPI and AI is not just another part of the network. It is a smart assistant that organizes traffic to maintain high service quality, helps to manage resources efficiently and increase revenue, and constantly monitors the network, preventing potential problems before they arise.
Simply put, it is a tool that makes the network smarter, more profitable, and more reliable.
