The primary responsibilities of the PCEF
Policy Enforcement: The PCEF enforces Quality of Service (QoS) and flow-based charging policies as required by the PCRF.
Formation of Billing Data: The PCEF ensures that data usage is accurately recorded to facilitate precise billing for subscribers.
PCEF Evolution
With the emergence of 4G LTE networks, the demand for high-speed data services has surged exponentially. The PCEF has assumed a pivotal role in managing this data traffic, guaranteeing subscribers the quality of service they have paid for.
Interaction of PCEF with Other Network Functions
The PCEF collaborates with various other network functions:
PCRF: While the PCRF formulates policy decisions, the PCEF enforces them in real-time.
AF (Application Function): The AF provides essential information to the PCRF, which then conveys policy decisions to the PCEF for execution.
Comparison of PCEF and PCRF
Decision vs. Execution: The PCRF determines policy rules based on subscriber profiles and service criteria, while the PCEF implements these rules at the user plane level.
Interaction with AF: Although both the PCEF and PCRF interact with the AF, the PCRF primarily receives information, whereas the PCEF makes policy decisions.