Various OSS and network standards have evolved somewhat independently in addressing the needs of specific services, networks and systems. However, these standards must come together to enable service providers to more effectively offer converged services. The convergence of these standards promotes simplicity and efficiency in the integration of diverse OSS systems, reduces compliance costs for OSS vendors and telecom network equipment vendors, and decreases standardization efforts and related timelines.
The ICON Catalyst demonstration taking place in booth CS-6 at TeleManagement World this week focuses on implementing NGOSS Contracts in a Next-Generation Network (NGN) with a view to compare and contrast with 3GPP integration reference points (IRPs). This will be done with an ordering and service activation scenario in an NGN providing VoIP services.
The Catalyst project explores the application of the following TeleManagement Forum specifications:
• NGOSS principles to create plug-and-play architecture
• eTOM framework to design business process flows
• Shared Information/Data model (SID) to build an information model that represents IP services
• Services-over-IP (SoIP) requirements and specifications in VoIP and video services over IP
Through the use of these specifications and NGOSS design principles, the project showcases the reusable architecture that enables the integration of diverse NGOSS-based components. For demonstration capabilities, this project will implement applications from multiple vendors integrated through standards-based interfaces to roll out new service deployments, monitor the health of the network and its components, and support and monitor the service level compliance of the network as well as perform rating and billing functions.
“As global service providers accelerate their efforts to offer converged services over heterogeneous network infrastructures that have evolved over time, the ability to tie together and unify standards such as NGOSS TMF Contracts, NGN OSS Service Interfaces and 3GPP IRPs is going to be critical. The ICON Catalyst project demonstrates how these standards can be glued together to simplify integration of diverse OSS components for fulfilment of next-generation services,” says Jeff Davies, director of software architecture and standards at Covad Communications.
The Catalyst project is sponsored by France Telecom and Covad Communications. Participants include BEA, Ceon Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Cognizant Technology Solutions, Pantero and WebMethods.
