What is TR-069?
Although the Broadband Forum first published TR-069 in 2004, and most consumers probably have several devices in their home that use it daily, many people have still never heard of the protocol.
TR-069 is a management protocol for communication between a CPE (customer premises equipment) and an Auto Configuration Server (ACS). Some common examples of CPEs include residential gateways, Wi-Fi routers, set-top boxes, and VoIP phones. Using an ACS, internet service providers (ISPs) can remotely set and query device parameters, such as passwords or diagnostic values.
The value of TR-069
Put simply, TR-069 ACS allows remote and safe lifecycle management of broadband devices, with specific benefits including:
- Improved control over device settings: Offers better management than manual processes and configuration files.
- Shortened device installation time: Facilitated by automatic initial configuration like zero-touch provisioning.
- Reduced requirement for service calls and truck rolls: Performs crucial operations remotely, including changing configuration, turning services on/off, and diagnostics.
- Simplified, more flexible maintenance work: Schedules lengthy operations like firmware upgrades or configuration backups for off-peak hours.
- Fewer failures: Optimizes network device setting (e.g., sets the best Wi-Fi channels).
- Better network state control: Enabled by automated monitoring.
It's fair to say TR-069 shaped the broadband experience of today by laying the foundation for the global mass adoption of broadband and serving as a vital ingredient in the early development and growth of the Internet of Things (IoT).
What is TR-369?
Jump ahead by more than a decade, and not only has IoT technology become firmly entrenched in most people's lives (and houses, workplaces, and cars…), there is no end in sight to the demand for "smart" versions of almost everything.
While it's true that this explosion in growth brought opportunities, it's also presented many challenges, including:
- Rising usage with stagnant or decreasing ISP revenue – driven by new competitors seeking control of the connected home and increased OPEX.
- Higher customer expectations – customers want more smart devices with always-on availability and often blame providers when devices don’t work.
- Lack of subscriber insight – different types of devices accessed by multiple networks and disparate systems make it hard for providers to get the insights they need to offer the most marketable services.
- Increased security challenges – more IoT devices and a more complex ecosystem mean increased security vulnerabilities.
That’s why, in 2018, the Broadband Forum introduced TR-369, improving access to smart devices and allowing service providers to reduce complexity, increase performance, and enable new service offerings for multi-vendor, connected home environments.
In a nutshell, the Broadband Forum's User Services Platform (USP) TR-369 reshaped the way the broadband experience is delivered and measured in homes and businesses, driving a shift from reactivity to proactivity and allowing providers to enjoy benefits including:
- Robust support for today and tomorrow: As a centralized platform, USP supports both existing TR-069 ACS services and devices while providing next-generation support for TR-369 protocols and devices.
- Enhanced in-home Wi-Fi visibility: By alleviating the need for device agent-based solutions, operators can manage and optimize services across TR-369 devices from different vendors.
- Proactive QoE (quality of experience): With always-on, real-time communication to devices, operators can enable machine learning and predictive analytics, facilitate proactive issue diagnosis and resolution, and gain valuable subscriber insights.
- Automated home IoT management: Real-time configuration management and new specifications allow operators to optimize in-home IoT support.
- Improved security, authentication, and privacy: Facilitated by always-on connectivity featuring end-to-end application-layer encryption and well-defined access control rules.
- Accelerated monetization opportunities: By simplifying the deployment process of virtualized services on gateways and set-top boxes, USP can get you quickly offering services like parental controls, network security, Wi-Fi optimization, gaming applications, and more.
As devices continue to multiply and consumer expectations continue, TR-369 USP can help your business keep pace.
Incognito's Digital Experience Solution (DX) can support you in taking advantage of this faster, scalable, and more secure way of managing the full lifecycle of connected devices, which is expected to become the target architecture for remote device management over the next decade.
Contact us to learn how to reduce complexity, increase performance, and enable new service offerings for multi-vendor, connected home environments with TR-369 USP enabled by Incognito's DX.
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