Survey results highlight communications service providers’ (CSPs’) priorities for driving automation in the era of 5G and cloud networks according to Menachem Konorty, Head of Solutions, Amdocs Open Network.
Automation and OSS enabling new networks, new journeys
At the same time, these changes are driving new complexity in operations. To unleash the new networks’ potential and drive growth, CSPs understand the imperative to transform key systems and process areas, while viewing network-facing operations support systems (OSS) as a top priority for modernization.
Meanwhile, 36% highlighted the importance of improving the experience of enterprise customers, an attractive growth segment for CSPs worldwide. Some 32% viewed automation as critical to rapidly innovating, launching and scaling new services.
The top issue identified by 72% of respondents was the lack of real-time contextual information for orchestration and assurance. This was closely followed by the prevalence of closed and monolithic systems, cited by over 70% of the execs. Over 50% said their OSS solutions are not capable of handling the proliferation of multiple network technologies and domains.
The survey revealed a strong willingness by CSPs to embrace new OSS solutions and technologies to automate their operations and highlighted several key areas for investment. The top priority, pointed out by 62% of respondents, was closed-loop operations and ‘zero-touch’ lifecycle automation. Additionally, 40% viewed federated inventory and 5G network management solutions as important. This reflects the desire to capture growth opportunities provided by deployment of the latest network technologies.
Interestingly, 76% of respondents highlighted tighter integration of BSS and OSS as a key priority, indicating strong demand from decision-makers for flow-through service management and monetization capabilities to automate and integrate operations from the user-engagement layer all the way to the network.
The survey results make it clear that in the era of 5G and cloud networks, CSP executives have high and diversified expectations for automation of their service operations and OSS. Next-gen OSS, such as the Amdocs NEO Service & Network Automation Platform, can help CSPs transform these expectations into reality.
Its key capabilities include: