Service differentiation in a network sharing architecture

1. A method for service differentiation in a network sharing architecture for a mobile network wherein an access network is shared by different service providers, wherein a service provider is identified by a service provider identity that does not require this service provider to own a public land mobile network identity, the method comprising:

determining said service provider identity based on information including policy and charging rules function policies, and

using said service provider identity for service differentiation between service providers in said access network.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

an access gateway adapting a service of the access gateway based on said service provider identity.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

an access gateway determining policies of the access gateway based on said service provider identity.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said service provider identity is determined based on information including an international mobile subscriber identity.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said service provider identity is determined based on information including an access point name.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said service provider identity is determined based on information including subscription information.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

a policy and charging rules function determining said service provider identity.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising at least one of:

a policy and charging rules function providing said service provider identity to a packet data network gateway,

a packet data network gateway providing said service provider identity to an access gateway, or

the access gateway providing said service provider identity to a radio access network entity.

9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

a policy and charging rules function using said service provider identity as an input parameter to determine at least one of quality of service policies and charging policies.

10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

a radio access network entity adapting a service of the radio access network entity based on said service provider identity.

11. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

a radio access network entity determining policies of the radio access network entity based on said service provider identity.

12. A policy and charging rules function, for a mobile network comprising an access network shared by different service providers, said policy and charging rules function comprising:

a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said policy and charging rules function to:

determine, based on information including policy and charging rules function policies, a service provider identity, said service provider identity identifying a service provider without requiring this service provider to own a public land mobile network identity;

wherein said service provider identity is configured to be used for service differentiation between service providers in said access network.

13. The policy and charging rules function according to claim 12 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said policy and charging rules function to:

send said service provider identity to a packet data network gateway.

14. The policy and charging rules function according to claim 12 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said policy and charging rules function to:

use said service provider identity as an input parameter to determine at least one of quality of service policies and charging policies.

15. A packet data network gateway, for a mobile network comprising an access network shared by different service providers, said packet data network gateway comprising:

a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said packet data network gateway to:

receive, from a policy and charging rules function, a service provider identity identifying a service provider without requiring this service provider to own a public land mobile network identity;

wherein said service provider identity is configured to be used for service differentiation between service providers in said access network.

16. The packet data network gateway according to claim 15 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said packet data network gateway to:

send said service provider identity towards an access gateway.

17. An access gateway, for a mobile network comprising an access network shared by different service providers, said access gateway comprising:

a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said access gateway to:

receive from a packet data network gateway a service provider identity, said service provider identity identifying a service provider without requiring this service provider to own a public land mobile network identity;

wherein said service provider identity is configured to be used for service differentiation between service providers in said access network.

18. The access gateway according to claim 17 , wherein said at least one processor is configured to execute said computer-readable instructions to cause said access gateway to:

send said service provider identity towards a radio access network entity.