Provision of services over a common delivery platform such as a mobile telephony network

A method of controlling access to services provided by a network operator, the network operator using a system which supports the provision of a plurality of different services to multiple subscribers, and comprises a first processing unit which provides a first execution environment for a first set of software applications and a second processing unit which provides a second execution environment for a second set of software applications, the method comprising:

• receiving a request from the subscriber at a gateway within the system, the request using first identification information for the subscriber and relating to services hosted by one of the first and second processing units;
• interrogating a data structure which stores data associated with subscribers of the system, the data structure providing a common identity for association with a subscriber which is recognized by the first and second processing units of the system;
• associating the common identity with the request and forwarding the request to the processing unit associated with the request.

A data structure for use in a system for providing services to subscribers of a network, wherein the system supports the provision of a plurality of different services to multiple subscribers,

• wherein the data structure stores data associated with subscribers, the data structure providing a common identity for association with a subscriber which is recognized by multiple processing units of the system, each processing unit providing a respective execution environment for a respective set of software applications for implementing a service.