Posted: 03/15/2000
Solving the OSS has never been an easy task, and it's only grown more puzzling as network services and providers converge, customers become more demanding and time to market becomes paramount.
Services providers are working to link the various OSSs--such as billing, customer care, network management, service management, provisioning, trouble ticketing and more--within their own organizations to allow for more cohesive customer management and less duplication of duties within their businesses.
At the same time, carriers such as CLECs that order network elements such as unbundled local loops from incumbent carriers are beginning to tie their OSSs with the OSSs of the Bell companies for more efficient and expedited provisioning.
Despite all the talk about OSS integration and network convergence, many management systems in operation today were built to monitor single devices from single vendors. However, the goal is to move to larger network management systems that provide a view of the entire network or, at least, all elements involved in providing a particular service.
Part of that discussion is building integrated OSSs that can manage by the service--not just by the element. That's key as carriers begin to offer multiple services over single networks--such as voice and high-speed Internet access over DSL.
In the pages that follow, X-CHANGE looks at the issues carriers face and strategies they can follow as they attack the OSS puzzle in an attempt to win market share.
Until next time,
Paula Bernier
Editor-in-Chief
