Why every fibre ISP needs TR-069 (and what it saves)
TR-069 is the standard that lets an ISP manage customer routers and ONTs remotely. The device connects to a server run by the ISP, called an ACS, which can read and change its settings. Most ONTs on the market support it. Many ISPs still don't use it, and pay for that in site visits.
What you can do with it
- Wi-Fi: change the network name and password while the customer is on the phone. This is the most common support request of all.
- Internet settings: set or fix the PPPoE username and password, VLAN and routing without a technician.
- DNS: change DNS servers for one customer or thousands at once.
- Troubleshooting: see connected devices, LAN ports and Wi-Fi channels, and run a ping or traceroute from the customer's own router.
- Security: find routers with open Wi-Fi or default web passwords and fix them in bulk.
What it saves
Take an ISP with 5,000 customers. If only 2% of them need a Wi-Fi or settings change each month, that is 100 site visits. Each visit costs fuel, a technician's time and a day of waiting for the customer. With TR-069 most of those become a two-minute call.
It also improves installs. The installer no longer types settings into each router; they are pushed automatically when the ONT comes online.
What you need
- An ACS server, reachable from your ONTs' management network.
- A management network for the ONTs, separate from customer traffic.
- ONTs pointed at your ACS, which a good OLT management system does for you.
- Someone to keep the ACS running, updated and backed up.
The easy way
PonPilot includes a hosted ACS in the price of every OLT. Your ONTs are pointed at it as part of authorization, and Wi-Fi, PPPoE, DNS, devices and diagnostics appear on each customer's page, with bulk changes for thousands at once. See pricing.