Common use of Network Operator Clause in Contracts

Network Operator. The Network Operator has a trust relationship with several entities (including the subscriber in the common case of the Network Operator being the same entity as the Service Provider) and can thus be seen as the central entity in the trust model. The Satellite Network Operator (SNO) or Mobile Network Operator (MNO) owns and is responsible for maintaining, managing, deploying and operating the (satellite) network. The network operator trusts a roaming partner to authenticate subscribers correctly if they are using an UICC but if the authentication is done using Wi-Fi for example then an IPSec tunnel is used so that the network operator itself can perform the authentication. The root of trust between the roaming partners is a contract, i.e., a roaming agreement. The roaming partner itself then allows a roaming subscriber to use its network as it trusts the corresponding network operator (also known as home network operator) to pay for this service. The network operator and the subscriber also trusts the roaming partner to correctly report network usage. There is no way for the network operator to verify the usage reports originating at a roaming partner and there is no mechanism for the roaming operator to prove the presence of a subscriber. There are two other entities strongly related to the (satellite) network operator:  The interconnection provider who provides a network linking one network operator to another. The network operator trusts that the interconnect provider connects to other operators so that calls can be made between users with different network operators. The root of trust in this case is a contract between network operator and interconnection provider.  The network access provider who uses the services from one or more Satellite/Mobile Network Operators to provide bulk transmission resources to the Service Providers (SPs) for use by their subscribers. There do not really exist any (standardized) security mechanisms specifically targeting (dis)trust between network operators sharing the infrastructure. A Service Provider (i.e. a telecommunications company) has a contract with the Network Operator to supply a suitable system capacity with a certain SLA (some QoS guarantees) to be used by its end subscribers. The SP offers pre-paid/post-paid services, needs to ensure that the Network Operator is providing the required SLA towards the Service Provider, and performs some control tasks (such as management of system bandwidth and power to optimize system efficiency, configuration of network components, etc). The space industry is moving to more open and efficient mission operations enabling multiple missions to share ground and space based resources to reduce mission development and sustainment costs. This additional sharing of network resources (both physical and virtual ones) may raise additional trust and security issues. Today network operators are basically assumed to fully trust each other, regulated through contract. However, abuse of personal data from dishonest operators is an important threat to these networks. This implicit trust is also built upon the knowledge that the MNOs are nationally regulated entities that have to guarantee certain functional, security/privacy, legal and business-related conditions/regulations to the corresponding national controlling bodies and also legal organizations.

Network Operator. The Network Operator has a trust relationship with several entities (including the subscriber in the common case of the Network Operator being the same entity as the Service Provider) and can thus be seen as the central entity in the trust model. The Satellite Network Operator (SNO) or Mobile Network Operator (MNO) owns and is responsible for maintaining, managing, deploying and operating the (satellite) network. The network operator trusts a roaming partner to authenticate subscribers correctly if they are using an UICC but if the authentication is done using Wi-Fi for example then an IPSec tunnel is used so that the network operator itself can perform the authentication. The root of trust between the roaming partners is a contract, i.e., a roaming agreement. The roaming partner itself then allows a roaming subscriber to use its network as it trusts the corresponding network operator (also known as home network operator) to pay for this service. The network operator and the subscriber also trusts the roaming partner to correctly report network usage. There is no way for the network operator to verify the usage reports originating at a roaming partner and there is no mechanism for the roaming operator to prove the presence of a subscriber. There are two other entities strongly related to the (satellite) network operator:  • The interconnection provider who provides a network linking one network operator to another. The network operator trusts that the interconnect provider connects to other operators so that calls can be made between users with different network operators. The root of trust in this case is a contract between network operator and interconnection provider.  • The network access provider who uses the services from one or more Satellite/Mobile Network Operators to provide bulk transmission resources to the Service Providers (SPs) for use by their subscribers. There do not really exist any (standardized) security mechanisms specifically targeting (dis)trust between network operators sharing the infrastructure. A Service Provider (i.e. a telecommunications company) has a contract with the Network Operator to supply a suitable system capacity with a certain SLA (some QoS guarantees) to be used by its end subscribers. The SP offers pre-paid/post-paid services, needs to ensure that the Network Operator is providing the required SLA towards the Service Provider, and performs some control tasks (such as management of system bandwidth and power to optimize system efficiency, configuration of network components, etc). The space industry is moving to more open and efficient mission operations enabling multiple missions to share ground and space based resources to reduce mission development and sustainment costs. This additional sharing of network resources (both physical and virtual ones) may raise additional trust and security issues. Today network operators are basically assumed to fully trust each other, regulated through contract. However, abuse of personal data from dishonest operators is an important threat to these networks. This implicit trust is also built upon the knowledge that the MNOs are nationally regulated entities that have to guarantee certain functional, security/privacy, legal and business-related conditions/regulations to the corresponding national controlling bodies and also legal organizations.