Bridgewater Systems

About Bridgewater Systems

Bridgewater Systems, established in 1997 by co-founders Doug Somers and Russ Freen, was a Canadian technology firm specializing in network management solutions for the telecommunications industry. The Ottawa-based company provided software to phone and cable companies, enabling them to manage subscriber data and control network access.

The company's core business revolved around providing intelligent broadband controls and subscriber data management (SDM) solutions to mobile and converged network operators globally. Its client base included major service providers such as Verizon Wireless, Bell Mobility, Sprint, and Telstra. Bridgewater Systems generated revenue by selling its portfolio of carrier-grade products, which helped operators optimize the exponential growth in mobile data and create new services. This business model proved successful, with revenues growing from $13.7 million in 2004 to $39 million in 2007.

Bridgewater's product suite included the Service Controller (AAA) for real-time management of subscriber access, the Policy Controller (PCRF) for dynamic policy implementation, and a Home Subscriber Server (HSS). These tools were anchored by a unified identity and device management system. A key benefit for operators was the ability to move away from flat-rate data plans and implement value-based pricing models. This allowed them to offer personalized packages, such as shared data plans for families or promotions based on customer usage patterns and network status.

A significant milestone for the company was its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2007, which raised $35 million. This was followed by a major three-year, $30 million contract with Verizon Wireless in 2008. In June 2011, a takeover bid from Amdocs, a provider of customer experience systems, was unanimously approved by Bridgewater's board. The acquisition was completed in August 2011 for approximately CAD$211 million. The deal aimed to combine Amdocs' BSS/OSS and convergent charging technology with Bridgewater's policy control capabilities to help service providers better monetize the growing demand for data.