One of the big challenges of moving to more virtualized networks is how operators will migrate their back office systems, and many accept they will need entirely new platforms if they are to get the best returns from their investment in new network architectures. Once they take the plunge, many will opt for a cloud-based ‘as a service’ approach rather than managing the whole transition, and the new systems, inhouse, so we will see a sharp increase in the suppliers offering such capabilities.
Ericsson tends to be in the vanguard here, though for IT-based BSS systems, some of the IT services giants like Hewlett-Packard and IBM are also active. However, a newer trend is for operators to look to outsource their OSS (operations support systems) too. Traditionally seen as more critical to the network, and more firmly within the carriers’ comfort zone in terms of inhouse skills, the OSS has tended to stay in house. But it will nevertheless become a candidate for the economies of ‘as a service’ as carriers need to focus their energies on service delivery and customer care, and as OSS converges with BSS.
This will open up a big opportunity for network-skilled service providers, and Nokia has pipped them all to the post in this respect, claiming the first OSS as a Service proposition. Like all outsourcing options, this enables carriers to shift capex to opex and make costs more predictable and, in some respects, lower. Initially, Nokia will offer two OSS elements on a managed service basis – Nokia Performance Manager for 2G, 3G and LTE networks; and Nokia Service Quality Manager, which gives operators a real time view of service quality across mobile broadband and IT networks.
The tools will be hosted and supported by Nokia’s Global Delivery Centers and come with various tiers of services, from maintenance and basic KPT modelling, up to a fully outsourced services operation center. The vendor claims that overall operator costs can be slashed by 19% by eliminating the installation, integration and operational costs of an inhouse deployment.
“Software as a Service models are used widely in the IT industry, but in the telco market most operators still buy software solutions as an upfront investment. We are first to offer telco OSS software and related expertise as a service,” said Amit Dhingra, head of managed services .
Another take on the move of critical operator functions into the cloud or the outsourced data center is seen at Openwave Mobility, which has deployed a mobile data optimization system in the public cloud on behalf of a north American service provider. It says this is the first time the public cloud has been used for a mobile optimization effort, but that this approach save operators the cost and time of infrastructure planning and supports ‘pay per use’ pricing.
The service is based on Openwave’s DynaMO solution, which is NFV-ready and supports both context and congestion awareness in carrying out its optimization of video, audio and web content.
Indranil Chatterjee, VP of product management, marketing and strategy, said in a statement: “We seamlessly deployed our virtualized DynaMO solution for a North American service provider with zero disruption, and in a fraction of the time required for a bare metal deployment … allowing operators to benefit from a SaaS model leveraging their own private cloud or a public cloud.”