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PCRF Offload

Offloading PCRF without replacing it or stopping the network

What is PCRF Offload and why do operators need it?

PCRF Offload is a practice of moving part of the decision-making logic and Diameter/Gx message processing to an intermediate node (proxy) in order to reduce the load on the main PCRF.

PCRF Proxy is embedded in a break in the Gx interface between PCEF and PCRF as a transparent node, without modifying existing equipment, and helps when:

  • a heavily loaded PCRF cannot keep up with subscriber base/traffic growth
  • replacement or an upgrade from the vendor requires months of approvals and high CAPEX
  • there is a risk of Gx session degradation and PCRF failure under peak loads.

Why can PCRF become a bottleneck?

Growing signaling load

Growth in the subscriber base, IoT devices, and Gx/Gy sessions overloads a PCRF sized for smaller volumes.

HOL blocking in Diameter

Diameter's TCP transport creates Head-of-Line blocking – delays in one session slow down processing of the others.

Long and expensive modernization

Upgrading or expanding the capacity of a legacy PCRF takes months of approvals, integration, and a significant budget.

Risk of service degradation

PCRF overload leads to authorization delays, billing failures, and degraded subscriber QoE.

How PCRF Proxy Offloads an Existing PCRF

PCRF Proxy is transparently inserted into the Gx interface between the PCEF and PCRF – both elements continue to operate normally and require no modifications.

Some requests and decisions are handled at the proxy level (policy caching, local routing, reusable rules) without contacting the PCRF for every event. The Diameter bridge converts TCP sessions to multithreaded SCTP (multistreaming), eliminating HOL blocking and increasing the throughput of the signaling path.

Gx traffic can be routed and load-balanced between multiple PCRFs/destinations to reduce peak load on the primary node.

PCRF Offload based on PCRF Proxy

How PCRF Offload is deployed

Signaling load audit

Signaling load audit Analysis of the current load on PCRF, the volume of Gx sessions, and points of degradation.

Embedding PCRF Proxy into the Gx break

Installation without stopping the network and without changes to PCEF/PCRF.

Configuring offload rules

Defining which types of requests and policies are handled by the proxy and which are forwarded to the existing PCRF.

Monitoring and balancing

Real-time monitoring of the reduced load on PCRF, fine-tuning of routing rules.

What PCRF Offload gives an operator

Deployment in 1 day: without stopping the network, without modifying PCRF/PCEF, without involving the vendor of the existing system.

Extended PCRF service life: reducing the load postpones the need for a costly replacement/upgrade.

Elimination of HOL blocking: a Diameter bridge that converts TCP to multi-threaded SCTP.

Lower CAPEX/OPEX: no need to buy a new PCRF or expand licenses from the vendor.

Gx interface fault tolerance: load balancing and redundancy of the signaling path.

Flexible deployment: works with existing network infrastructure and can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise.

Why PCRF Offload instead of PCRF replacement or upgrade?

Criterion
PCRF replacement/upgrade by the vendor
SKAT PCRF Proxy
Deployment speed
Months of approvals and integration
1 day
Equipment modifications
Required
Not required
Costs
Significant CAPEX
Minimal
Elimination of Diameter HOL blocking
Not guaranteed
Built-in
Dependence on the PCRF vendor
High
None

When is PCRF Offload relevant?

Operators with a legacy PCRF that cannot handle the current volume of subscribers or traffic.

Networks where replacing the PCRF from the original vendor is economically unfeasible or technically difficult, for example, because the manufacturer has left the local market or product support has ended.

Operators preparing for load growth, such as the launch of new tariffs, M2M/IoT services, or MVNO partnerships, without an immediate core network upgrade.

Networks with frequent Gx session degradation due to HOL blocking in Diameter.

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FAQ

How does PCRF Offload differ from replacing or upgrading PCRF?
PCRF Offload does not replace the existing PCRF but reduces the load on it. Part of the Diameter/Gx requests are processed at the intermediate PCRF Proxy node. This makes it possible to avoid buying a new PCRF, vendor integration, and stopping the network, unlike a classic upgrade, which takes months.
What are the infrastructure requirements for deployment?
PCRF Proxy is deployed on a standard x86 server and supports bare-metal, virtualization (VM), and containerization. Minimum configuration: 4 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 100 GB disk for a load of up to 10,000 sessions. The solution works both in the cloud and on-premise, including in a closed environment without internet access.
Does deploying PCRF Offload require stopping the network or modifying PCEF/PCRF?
No. PCRF Proxy is embedded in a break in the Gx interface between PCEF and PCRF as a transparent node. The equipment continues to operate normally without modifications.
How does PCRF Proxy behave in the event of a failure?
If the PCRF Proxy node fails, traffic switches directly to the existing PCRF, which prevents a complete stop of session authorization. For mission-critical networks, clustering is available to eliminate a single point of failure.
How does PCRF Proxy integrate with the operator's monitoring and NMS?
Load metrics, statistics on proxied requests, and Gx session status are available via SNMP and Zabbix for integration with an external monitoring system. A built-in dashboard shows the reduction in PCRF load in real time.
How long does deployment take and what stages does it consist of?
The deployment goes through four stages: a signaling load audit, embedding PCRF Proxy into the Gx break without stopping the network, configuring offload rules (which requests are handled by the proxy and which are forwarded to the PCRF), and monitoring with routing fine-tuning. The deployment itself takes 1 day, while further configuration of the offload rules takes from several days, depending on the complexity of the network.
How is PCRF Proxy licensed: per subscriber, per traffic, or per node?
Licensing depends on the scale of the network and is selected individually based on the volume of Gx sessions and the required fault tolerance. VAS Experts engineers calculate the exact model and cost after a signaling load audit. Submit a request on the page to get a calculation for your network.
Do I need to expand the license for my existing PCRF vendor?
No, and this is precisely the economic point of the solution. PCRF Offload reduces the number of requests reaching the legacy PCRF, so expanding licenses or capacity from the original vendor is not required. Only the PCRF Proxy itself is licensed, from VAS Experts.
Who is PCRF Offload suitable for and when should it be deployed?
The solution is relevant for operators whose legacy PCRF cannot handle the current load, where replacing the PCRF from the original vendor is economically unfeasible, for example, due to import substitution or end of support, or where the network is preparing for traffic growth, such as new tariffs, M2M/IoT, or MVNO partnerships, without an immediate core upgrade. It is also applicable in cases of frequent Gx session degradation due to HOL blocking in Diameter.

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