June 2010

Author: Kaustubha Parkhi
pages:93
Single-user $ 1,995
Company-wide $ 4,995

Overview

Service Delivery Platform (SDP) can be loosely defined as a standards based framework that facilitates the design, development, implementation and management of services required to run the operations of network services providers. The services could range from the basic voice connectivity to the state-of-the-art rich multimedia services. The most critical value-addition offered by the SDP methodology lies in its ability to abstract controlling parameters such as location, media control, integration and others. SDP interface with the network elements, OSS/BSS, telco IT infrastructure and partners such as application developers and content providers.

With research starting in 2007, this report evaluates the potential for SDP as a dependable, scalable and flexible platform for core business functions, next generation applications, and independent services. SDP is examined within the context of its relationship to the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the objectives to respond more rapidly to shifts in market conditions, customer demands, new revenue opportunities, and competitive threats. The report includes revenue forecasts by geography, function, and media type from 2010 through 2016.

Along with updated forecast, company analysis, SDP vendor and operator case studies, and SOA maturity model, this 2010 edition of the report includes the following updated material:

• SDP analysis of TeleDNA
• SDP analysis of Telcordia
• Evaluating IMS and its impact on SDP
• Discussion about content and its criticality to SDP
• Discussion about the impact of slowdown on SDP
• Discussion about related IMS protocols and interfaces

Key Findings

• The downturn and the subsequent recovery have augured well for SDP prospects. Operators are now able to more clearly able to visualize the importance of quick roll out and thus early monetization of their investments and the handiness of SDP in achieving that objective.
• SOA and SDP have gained significant traction in the overall IT and telco environments respectively. SOA and SDP share considerable synergy as the architectural framework of SOA can help in achieving the end-result desired by SDP.
• APAC and CALA constitute the most promising markets for the SOA and SDP solutions respectively. The promise is directly attributable to the gap between the existing level of technology sophistication and the potential optimal level of technology sophistication. APAC region has demonstrated that it does constitute the largest market for telecommunications while the CALA region is the least tapped among all regions.
  o SDPs find greater appeal among wireless telcos because of the following reasons:
  o Wireless technology has already overtaken wireline technology in terms of subscriber numbers
• The relationship between the telcos and the subscribers is closer in the wireless domain wherein the telco has a decisive say in the character and extent of services deployed.
• SI is an important component of the SDP solution. SOA specialists as well as Network infrastructure specialists maintain expertise in implementation methodologies and often tout this expertise as the differentiator with respect to competition.
• Although, there are contrasting opinions about the value of SDP in the context of IMS, the overwhelming view is that at the very least, SDP does provide a framework for smooth transition from legacy to IMS.
• By and large, content will continue to drive the prospects of SDP with all major vendors taking extra pains in ensuring that the key foundation of SDP - service delivery works smooth enough for content and application providers to interwork seamlessly with the operators. There is a growing realization that service delivery is largely related to the efficient management of content.

Companies in Report

• 3 Italia
• Accenture
• AEC
• AePona
• Aircel
• Amdocs
• Andrew Corporation
• Appium
• AT&T Wireless
• Avea
• Azercell
• BEA Systems
• Bell Canada
• BH Telecom
• Bharti Airtel
• BITE Group
• BlackBerry Partners Fund
• Bridge Mobile Alliance
• BSNL
• BT
• Casema
• Celcom Malaysia
• ChangingWorlds
• Cibenix
• COLT
• Contec Innovations
• CoreMedia
• Cricket
• Datatronics
• Eircom
• E-Plus
• Ericsson
• ESRI
• ETRI
• Exodus
• Fast
• Fiorano
• France Telecom/Orange
• Geocell
• Google
• Homisco
• HP
• IBM
• ICEC
• Inteltek
• InterCall
• Italtel
• jNetX
• KKTCELL
• Korea Telecom
• KPN life:)
• Madacom
• Magticom
• Microsoft
• MobileOne
• Mobilitec
• mobilkom Austria
• Mobiltel Bulgaria
• Mobinil
• Mobixell
• Moldcell
• Motorola
• MTC Kuwait
• MTN
• Nawras
• Nayana Communications
• Nokia
• Nokia Siemens Network
• Nortel
• NTT DoCoMo
• O2 UK
• OpeNet
• Oracle
• Orascom
• Providence Equity Partners
• Qualcomm
• Qwest Communications
• SaskTel
• SBC
• SFR
• SingTel
• Skype
• Software AG
• Sprint
• SUN Microsystems
• Swisscom Mobile
• Telcel
• Telcordia Technologies
• Telecom Italia
• TeleDNA
• Telefonica Moviles
• Telefonica Moviles Espana
• Telenity
• TeliaSonera
• Telstra
• TelstraClear
• TELUS
• Tibco
• Time Warner
• TMN Portugal
• TSTT
• Turk Telekom
• Turk.Net
• Turkcell
• UTStarcom (Telos)
• Vantrix.
• Verizon
• VimpelCom
• Vitria
• Vodafone
• Vodafone Hutchison Australia
• Vodafone Netherlands
• Volantis
• Warburg Pincus
• Wataniya Telecom
• webMethods
• w-Ha
• Wireless Matrix

Target Audience:

• Wireless and wireline telcos will gain insights into the value provided by SDPs and how its implications to their business
• Telecom network infrastructure vendors will assess the importance of establishing or maintaining their presence among SDP stakeholders
• SOA specialists will get an idea of the drivers and challenges for the SOA paradigm in the telecom domain in addition to accessing the market size and distribution for SDPs
• SDP specialists can map the size of their target market and the importance of services and product components in their portfolios
• System integrators will be able to ascertain the value of the installation and upgrade market size for SDP solutions

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary 5
2 Introduction to SOA and SDP 7
2.1 IMS: Definition and Evolution 7
2.2 Business and Technology Drivers for IMS 9
2.2.1 Value-Added Services 9
2.2.2 Transparency in Access 9
2.2.3 Scalability 9
2.3 Business and Technology Challenges for IMS 10
2.3.1 Supporting Legacy Framework 10
2.3.2 Unmet Expectations 10
2.4 SDP and its Appeal 11
2.4.1 Definition 11
2.4.2 Evolution 12
2.4.3 Benefits of SDP 13
2.5 SOA 15
2.5.1 Definition 15
2.5.2 Evolution 16
2.6 Conclusion 17
3 Value Propositions of SDP and SOA 18
3.1 Functional Modules of OSS/BSS 18
3.1.1 OSS 18
3.1.2 BSS 19
3.2 Middleware - The Glue that Binds the SDP with the Applications 20
3.3 The Structure of SDP 21
3.3.1 SDP Architecture 21
3.3.2 Java and JAVA EE - The SDP Fabric 22
3.3.3 OMA Service Environment (OSE) - The Quest for the Elusive SDP Standardization 23
3.4 SOA - Enabler for SDP 24
3.4.1 SOA Drivers 24
3.4.2 SOA Workflow and Concepts 26
3.4.3 SOA Implementation Methodologies 32
3.4.4 SOA implementation methodology - the HP way 33
3.4.5 Challenges Confronting SOA 41
3.5 SOA in Telco Environments 43
3.6 Piecing together SDP 44
3.6.1 The SOA-SDP Interplay 45
3.6.2 SDP Case Studies 45
3.6.3 SDP as a Progression to IMS 47
3.6.4 Challenges Confronting SDP 48
3.7 Conclusions 49
4 Vendor Analysis 51
4.1 Telecom Network Infrastructure Vendors 51
4.1.1 Key Players and their Strategies 52
4.2 Software SOA Specialists 52
4.2.1 Key Players and their Strategies 53
4.3 SDP Focused Start-ups and Specialists 54
4.3.1 Key Players and their Strategies 55
4.4 Summary of Key Facts of Selected Vendors 56
4.4.1 Accenture 56
4.4.2 AePona 58
4.4.3 Ericsson 59
4.4.4 Fiorano 60
4.4.5 Hewlett Packard 62
4.4.6 IBM 62
4.4.7 jNetX (Acquired by Amdocs) 64
4.4.8 Microsoft 65
4.4.9 Motorola 66
4.4.10 Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) 68
4.4.11 Oracle 69
4.4.12 Software AG / webMethods 70
4.4.13 Telcordia 71
4.4.14 TeleDNA 72
4.4.15 Telenity 73
4.4.16 Tibco 75
4.4.17 Vitria 75
4.5 Conclusions 77
5 Numerical Analysis and Forecasts 78
5.1 Methodology 78
5.2 Markets for SDP Solutions 79
5.3 Functional Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenue 79
5.4 Mediawise Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenue 81
5.5 Geographical Break-up of Mediawise SDP Solutions Revenues 83
5.6 Markets for SOA Platforms 89
5.7 Conclusions 92

List of Figures

Figure 2 1: IMS Components 8
Figure 2 2: The Position of SDP in Telco Environment 13
Figure 2 3: The network simplification achieved by SDP 14
Figure 3 1: SDP Block Diagram 22
Figure 3 2: OSE Schematic 24
Figure 3 3: Web service protocol stack 29
Figure 3 4: IBM SOA foundation 33
Figure 3 5: SOA maturity - Top Level 37
Figure 3 6: Computation of Assertion Score 38
Figure 3 7: Enterprise Target Maturity Profile 39
Figure 3 8: HP SOA Agility Assessment Analysis 39
Figure 3 9: HP SOA Maturity Model After Consolidation 41
Figure 3 10: SOA in Telco Environment 45
Figure 3 11: SDP Scope 50
Figure 4 1: Position of SDP in the Telco Infrastructure
Figure 4 2: AePona Universal Service Platform suite 59
Figure 4 3: Fiorano SOA 62
Figure 4 4: IBM SPDE 64
Figure 4 5: Microsoft CSF 66
Figure 4 6: Motorola GAMA 67
Figure 4 7: GAMA Components 68
Figure 4 8: NSN Service Core and Applications 70
Figure 4 9: Schematic of TeleDNA's SDP 73
Figure 4 10: Canvas CSP 75
Figure 5 1: SDP Solution Revenues 80
Figure 5 2: Functional Break-up of SDP Solution Revenues 81
Figure 5 3: % Share of Functional Components 82
Figure 5 4: Mediawise Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenues 83
Figure 5 5: % Mediawise Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenue 84
Figure 5 6: Geographywise Distribution of Wireline SDP Solutions Revenues 85
Figure 5 7: % Break-up of Wireline SDP Platform Revenues 86
Figure 5 8: Geographical Distribution of Wireless SDP Solution Revenues 87
Figure 5 9: % Break-up of Wireless SDP Solutions Revenues 88
Figure 5 10: Geographical Distribution of SDP Solution Revenues 89
Figure 5 11: % Geographical Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenues 90
Figure 5 12: Market for SOA Platforms 91
Figure 5 13: Geographical Distribution of SOA Revenues 92
Figure 5 14: % Geographical Break-up of Overall SOA Revenues 93