Sample Whitepaper: Taking convergence to the next level

 

With the telecommunication industry evolving at a rapid pace and competition between service providers getting stiffer, companies have been finding ways to add value and improve revenue. In the light of these developments, the concept of convergence has gained immense value. Convergence can be viewed at different levels; usage of the same network for voice and data transmission, integration of various services like mobile and internet into one package, partnership between network operators and service providers to simplify operation for customers, and so on.

Having achieved convergence at multiple levels, the challenge that lies ahead is combating the complexities caused by convergence to the network architecture. To get a clear understanding of the technical problem that we are trying to address, we have introduced the following concepts:  

Service: A service is a platform from which a customer can receive one or more functional outcomes. An example of a service could be internet or a virtual private LAN or a virtual private network.

Access: An access or access platform provides the connectivity from the customer’s equipment to the service. An example could be a mobile network, an ADSL connection, or a fibre connection.

Product: A product is a customized package of one or more services and accesses. A product is priced and the price varies based on the services and accesses chosen.

Organic network growth caused by convergence has led to inconsistencies and complexities in the interaction between the service and the access platforms. Some of the complexities encountered are:

• Discrete network instances which provide singular access and service combinations. For example: A service that provides internet for DSL customers. 
• Discrete network instances which provide services for one customer segment. For example: Services that provide internet for business customers or internet for consumer customers.
• Variation in the service or access platform used for the same customer. This variation can be due to factors like time lapse, better performance of a new network design etc. For example: a customer is connected to a new network design today; whereas the same customer was connected to an old customer design a year ago.

These complexities increase cost, as the variations and increase in the access and service permutations and combinations directly affect business process efficiency. Also, there is an increased reliance on qualifying tools to ensure that we deliver as per our customers’ needs.

 

 In some cases where the service platform and network platform are not compatible with each other, an appropriate interface needs to be installed on either of the platforms.  

Given the current operation scenario, the next logical step for the telecommunication industry is to take convergence to the next level by simplifying the network process while at the same time taking advantage of all the integrated benefits that technology convergence has to offer.

 

Access and Service Decoupling

Access and service decoupling is a concept of having an integration layer that acts as a mediation platform between the access platform and the service platform. This platform handles complexities, eliminates inconsistencies, enables compatibility and improves efficiency

 

 

The advantages of the access and service decoupling unit can be summarized within the following key points:

• Cost reduction in terms of configuration when a new access or service platform is introduced. All logic for communication resides within the mediation platform. Hence, any new communication protocol for a platform can be coded within this layer.
• Communication consistency can be maintained as both the services platform and the access platform communicate with the integration layer. All communication issues are resolved by the integration layer and smooth mediation is ensured.
• Improved performance when handling the network complexity caused by varied and numerous discreet network connections.
• Provision of more options for organizations while handling service requests.

With the consistent mediation platform in place, organizations will be more adept to handle market change, optimize convergence and continue to revolutionize customer experience in the telecommunication industry.