Modernizing B/OSS systems

Telcos all over the world are aspiring to be Tech-Cos. There is a flurry of campaigns around being digital, leveraging AI, moving to a platform operating model, etc. However, at the heart of all these “new age” paradigms are the age-old B/OSS systems. The advancements in Edge computing, 5G, and Gen AI have opened opportunities for new revenue streams beyond traditional telco services making it imperative for telcos to review the capabilities of their existing B/OSS.

Here’s a list of some of the areas worth considering during a B/OSS modernization.

Breaking the monolith – Embracing ODA and Open APIs: Many telcos are finding that their legacy B/OSS system that they had developed painstakingly over many years has become a monolith and is restricting their ability to take advantage of the new opportunities.

The revised architecture needs to embrace TMForum’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA), which provides the ability to create modular systems, simplify architecture, add flexibility and improve operational efficiency. TMForum has also helped develop the Open APIs to ensure standardization and interoperability across the industry. ?Adherence to ODA and implementing Open APIs has become a mandatory requirement for any B/OSS modernization exercise.

Leveraging 5G - Monetizing assets: In the 4G era, it was the OTTs who were the real beneficiaries with their innovative service offerings. With 5G, telcos clearly aspire for a larger piece of the pie as new monetizable assets e.g., slices, APIs, data, device types, number of devices, apps, latency, partnerships, etc. are being developed. These also have the ability to expand enterprise offerings which is a critical growth engine for all telcos. The B/OSS systems must have the ability to manage these new services including the ability to track the associated SLAs and KPIs.

On-demand Scalability – Being Cloud Native: Legacy systems have grappled with performance issues while encountering a spike in traffic and the ramp-up of infrastructure resources has required advanced capacity planning, involving long waiting periods. The advent of Cloud computing has changed the scenario. Additionally, the microservices-based architecture has made scalability simple and easy and any new B/OSS sub-systems must have a clear road map for moving to the cloud.

Data Security and Privacy: TSPs need to be even more careful concerning Data Security and Privacy as the monolith is broken. ?The B/OSS products must adhere to the latest security standards and the telco’s security policies.? No TSP can afford legal, regulatory, or customer dissatisfaction if security breaches are exposed and hence data security and privacy considerations are core to any modernization.

From “Near" Real-time to Real time–Whether it is campaigns or addressing faults, current capabilities are limited by “near” real-time action. However certain use cases in 5G demand real time action; specially those involving human lives. While a microservices-based architecture addresses performance issues, the “event-based” architecture gives systems the power to respond to real-time events. ?The new age B/OSS must have the provision to take action in real-time

Platforms instead of plain systems – Given that the services being offered are not necessarily a typical “telco” offering, the ability to collaborate and have easy partner onboarding and offboarding is critical. Platforms provide standard APIs, are secure, scalable and provide avenues to monetize non-traditional products and services. Platforms therefore empower telcos and provide new revenue streams and must be considered during transformations.

IoT and Edge Computing – TSPs are expanding their offerings to include “Smart” solutions for Homes and enterprises. These solutions leverage IOT devices and Edge computing, and this area is predicted to witness massive growth. The new age B/OSS systems need to have the capability to support IOT devices and Edge to provide faster response time and enhanced customer experience.

Low code - no code – One of the key differentiators is the ability to offer innovative products and services rapidly. In the past, product launches have been a long-drawn affair involving developers and long testing cycles. Using low code – no code would provide TSPs the dual benefits of reducing their dependency on large technical teams and reducing the time to develop the product or service reducing time to market. Compliance with low code – no code would, therefore, add to the overall efficiency of the B/OSS products.

AI/ML and Generative AI – Combining data with AI /ML can bring significant efficiencies for the TSP. New predictive models can be developed across the B/OSS systems, providing hyper personalization, improving predictability, and providing the ability to “self” execute processes and workflows, making the deployment inherently cognitive. Use cases, especially in inventory management, trouble ticketing, and customer experience, can benefit immensely from AI/ML.

Generative AI can lift these efficiencies to an entirely different level. Users have found their patience tested over IVRs and Chat Bots. Generative AI has the potential to address these challenges and alleviate the levels of customer satisfaction. Specific use cases in OSS - assurance and inventory management can leverage Gen AI to make a big difference. ?Adoption of Gen AI is likely to become a necessity in the times to come.

Conclusion:

B/OSS systems have a critical role in a telco's journey to becoming a TechCo, and upgrading existing legacy systems or migrating to a new one is a complex transformation exercise. At EY, we specialize in assisting Telcos in this journey. The EY Future Network Now (FNN) solution is aimed at assisting telcos around the globe modernize their networks and operations, meet changing customer needs and offer services beyond the traditional Telco offerings. B/OSS modernization is one of the critical towers of the FNN program, and we are already helping telcos in their journey to becoming a cognitive enterprise.