December 2009

Author: Kaustubha Parki
Pages: 112
Pricing: Single-user License: $ 1,995 USD, Company-wide License: $ 4,995 USD, Team License (Up to 5 Users): $ 3,465 USD

Keywords: IMS, IP Multimedia Subsystem, Next Generation Network, NGN, OSS, BSS, OSS/BSS, Operational Support Systems, Business Support Systems, SDP, Service Delivery Platform, BOSS, Business and Operational Support System

Overview:

IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is slated to have a profound impact on Next Generation Network (NGN) Operational Support System and Business Support System (OSS/BSS) stakeholders. While network operators are taking measured but decisive steps towards IMS-enabling their networks, it is critical to assess the impact on their OSS/BSS infrastructure and operations.

This report introduces IMS and OSS/BSS concepts and contextually maps them. It addresses the implications of IMS implementation on individual components of OSS and BSS and evaluates institutionalized and individual efforts to standardize. The report analyzes stakeholder initiatives and products. Finally, it breaks down the individual component market for IMS and non-IMS criteria.

Key Benefits:

• Overall assessment of the drivers NGN OSS/BSS due to IMS implementation and operation
• Evaluation of major vendors including IMS initiatives, products and solutions, customers and strategies
• Quantitative forecast for years 2009 - 2014 including:
• Global Market for IMS-OSS broken down by Functional Module
• Global Market for IMS-BSS broken down by Functional Module
• Global Market for non-IMS OSS/BSS broken down by OSS and BSS
• Global Market for non-IMS-OSS broken down by Functional Module
• IMS and non-IMS OSS and BSS Functional Module Analysis by Network Planning and Engineering (NPE), Fault Management (FM), Performance Management (PM), Provisioning and Service Activation (PSA), Inventory Management (IM), Billing and Customer Care (B&CC), Mediation (MD), and Revenue Assurance (RA)

Audience:

• Network operators that are deploying IMS, considering IMS, or have made the decision to deploy an IMS network
• Service providers that are making plans to utilize IMS core network to provide services to subscribers
• Hardware, software, and solution vendors for IMS and related technologies such as Service Delivery Platforms (SDP)
• Network operator managers tasked with making long-term architecture and support system decisions including vendor decisions
• Product management personnel concerned with the impact of OSS and BSS systems on next generation application and services rollout such as IP
• Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and technology and/or application frameworks or platforms
• Managers and Directors tasked with OSS responsibilities and anyone that is involved in OSS/BSS decision making
• Vendors and service providers to network operators interested in their prospects for selling NGN OSS/BSS

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary 9

2 The mechanics of IMS and NGN10
2.1 Background 10
2.2 What is NGN 10
2.3 Introduction and history11
2.3.1 Timeline 11
2.4 What is IMS? 12
2.4.1 Background 12
2.4.2 HSS 13
2.4.3 Application and media servers 13
2.4.4 CSCF 13
2.4.5 Interconnection protocols 13
2.5 Drivers behind IMS 14
2.5.1 Value-Added Services 14
2.5.2 Transparency in Access14
2.5.3 Scalability 15
2.5.4 Industry Consortia 15
2.6 Conclusion 15

3 NGN OSS/BSS: Components, IMS Implications and Frameworks 16
3.1.1 Network Planning and Engineering 16
3.1.1.1 IMS Implications 17
3.1.1.2 Market Size 17
3.1.2 Fault Management 17
3.1.2.1 IMS Implications 17
3.1.2.2 Market Size 17
3.1.3 Performance Management 18
3.1.3.1 IMS Implications 18
3.1.3.2 Market Size 18
3.1.4 Provisioning and Service Activation 18
3.1.4.1 IMS Implications 19
3.1.4.2 Market Size 19
3.1.5 Inventory Management 20
3.1.5.1 IMS Implications 20
3.1.5.2 Market Size 20
3.1.6 Billing and Customer Care 20
3.1.6.1 IMS Implications 20
3.1.6.2 Market Size 21
3.1.7 Mediation 21
3.1.7.1 IMS Implications 21
3.1.7.2 Market Size 22
3.1.8 Revenue Assurance 22
3.1.8.1 IMS Implications 22
3.1.8.2 Market Size 22
3.2 Approaches towards IMS-enabling OSS/BSS 22
3.2.1 OSS/J 22
3.2.2 OSA/Parlay 25
3.2.3 MDA 30
3.2.4 Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) 31
3.3 The Dichotomy of SDP in Context of IMS 32
3.3.1 SDP Evolution and its Overlap with IMS34
3.3.2 Benefits of SDP 34
3.3.1 SDP Architecture 36
3.4 SOA-The Bedrock for SDP and OSS/BSS 37
3.5 Pointers to the Anatomy of OSS/BSS 39
3.5.1 Middleware 39
3.5.2 Service Oriented Application Protocol (SOAP) 40
3.5.3 Web Services (WS) 40
3.5.4 Extensible Markup Language (XML) 41
3.5.5 Telecommunication Management Network (TMN)42
3.5.6 FCAPS44
3.5.7 Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) 46
3.5.8 Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP) 46
3.5.9 Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) 47
3.5.10 Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) 47

4 Vendor initiatives 48
4.1 Vendor Landscape Observations 48
4.2 Vendor Summary 48
4.2.1 Amdocs 48
4.2.1.1 Introduction 48
4.2.1.2 Product Names48
4.2.1.3 Product Features 49
4.2.1.4 Major Customers 49
4.2.1.5 Revenues 49
4.2.1.6 Qualitative Assessment49
4.2.1.7 IMS Strategy 50
4.2.2 CBOSS50
4.2.2.1 Introduction 50
4.2.2.2 Product Names50
4.2.2.3 Product Features 51
4.2.2.4 Major Customers 51
4.2.2.5 Revenues 52
4.2.2.6 Qualitative Assessment52
4.2.2.7 IMS Strategy 52
4.2.3 Cerillion 52
4.2.3.1 Introduction 52
4.2.3.2 Product Names52
4.2.3.3 Product Features 53
4.2.3.4 Major Customers 53
4.2.3.5 Revenues 53
4.2.3.6 Qualitative Assessment53
4.2.3.7 IMS Strategy 54
4.2.4 Comarch 54
4.2.4.1 Introduction 54
4.2.4.2 Product Names54
4.2.4.3 Product Features 54
4.2.4.4 Major Customers 55
4.2.4.5 Revenues 55
4.2.4.6 Qualitative Assessment55
4.2.4.7 IMS Strategy 55
4.2.5 Comptel Corporation 55
4.2.5.1 Introduction 55
4.2.5.2 Product Names56
4.2.5.3 Product Features 56
4.2.5.4 Major Customers 56
4.2.5.5 Revenues 57
4.2.5.6 IMS Initiatives 57
4.2.5.7 Qualitative Assessment57
4.2.6 Comverse 58
4.2.6.1 Introduction 58
4.2.6.2 Product Names58
4.2.6.3 Product Features 58
4.2.6.4 Major Customers 58
4.2.6.5 Revenues 58
4.2.6.6 IMS Initiatives 58
4.2.6.7 Qualitative Assessment58
4.2.7 Evolving Systems Inc 59
4.2.7.1 Introduction 59
4.2.7.2 Product Names59
4.2.7.3 Product Features 59
4.2.7.4 Major Customers 59
4.2.7.5 Revenues 60
4.2.7.6 IMS Initiatives 60
4.2.7.7 Qualitative Assessment60
4.2.8 Formula Telecom Solutions 60
4.2.8.1 Introduction 60
4.2.8.2 Product Names60
4.2.8.3 Product Features 60
4.2.8.4 Major Customers 61
4.2.8.5 Revenues 61
4.2.8.6 IMS Initiatives 61
4.2.8.7 Qualitative Assessment61
4.2.9 Hewlett-Packard Company 62
4.2.9.1 Introduction 62
4.2.9.2 Product Names62
4.2.9.3 Product Features 62
4.2.9.4 Major Customers 63
4.2.9.5 Revenues 63
4.2.9.6 Qualitative Assessment63
4.2.9.7 IMS Initiatives 63
4.2.10 Intec Telecom Systems 63
4.2.10.1 Product Names63
4.2.10.2 Product Features 64
4.2.10.3 Major Customers 64
4.2.10.4 Revenues 64
4.2.10.5 Qualitative Assessment65
4.2.10.6 IMS Initiatives 65
4.2.11 LHS 65
4.2.11.1 Introduction 65
4.2.11.2 Product Names65
4.2.11.3 Product Features 65
4.2.11.4 Major Customers 66
4.2.11.5 Revenues 66
4.2.11.6 Qualitative Assessment66
4.2.11.7 IMS Initiatives 67
4.2.12 Metratech 67
4.2.12.1 Introduction 67
4.2.12.2 Product Names67
4.2.12.3 Product Features 67
4.2.12.4 Major Customers 67
4.2.12.5 Revenues 67
4.2.12.6 IMS Initiatives 68
4.2.12.7 Qualitative Assessment68
4.2.13 MindCTI Ltd 68
4.2.13.1 Introduction 68
4.2.13.2 Product Names68
4.2.13.3 Product Features 69
4.2.13.4 Major Customers 69
4.2.13.5 Revenues 69
4.2.13.6 IMS Initiatives 70
4.2.13.7 Qualitative Assessment70
4.2.14 Oracle 70
4.2.14.1 Introduction 70
4.2.14.2 Product Names70
4.2.14.3 Product Features 71
4.2.14.4 Major Customers 71
4.2.14.5 Revenues 71
4.2.14.6 IMS Strategies 71
4.2.14.7 Qualitative Assessment71
4.2.15 Redknee 72
4.2.15.1 Introduction 72
4.2.15.2 Product Names72
4.2.15.3 Product Features 72
4.2.15.4 Major Customers 72
4.2.15.5 Revenues 72
4.2.15.6 IMS Initiatives 73
4.2.15.7 Qualitative Assessment73
4.2.16 Subex Limited 73
4.2.16.1 Introduction 73
4.2.16.2 Product Names73
4.2.16.3 Product Features 74
4.2.16.4 Major Customers 75
4.2.16.5 Revenues 75
4.2.16.6 IMS Initiatives 75
4.2.16.7 Qualitative Assessment75
4.2.17 Telcordia Technologies Inc 76
4.2.17.1 Introduction 76
4.2.17.2 Product Names76
4.2.17.3 Product Features 76
4.2.17.4 Major Customers 76
4.2.17.5 Revenues 76
4.2.17.6 IMS Initiatives 76
4.2.17.7 Qualitative Assessment77
4.2.18 VPIsystems Inc77
4.2.18.1 Introduction 77
4.2.18.2 Product Names77
4.2.18.3 Product Features 77
4.2.18.4 Major Customers 78
4.2.18.5 Revenues 78
4.2.18.6 IMS Initiatives 78
4.2.18.7 Qualitative Assessment78
4.2.19 Xius-BCGI 79
4.2.19.1 Introduction 79
4.2.19.2 Product Names79
4.2.19.3 Product Features 79
4.2.19.4 Differentiators 80
4.2.19.5 Revenues 80
4.2.19.6 IMS Strategy 80
4.2.19.7 Qualitative Assessment80
4.3 Conclusions 81

5 Quantitative forecast 82
5.1 Forecast Methodology 82
5.2 Overall OSS and BSS Solutions Market 82
5.3 General Observations 86
5.4 IMS OSS and BSS Functional Module Analysis 87
5.4.1 NPE 87
5.4.2 FM 88
5.4.3 PM 90
5.4.4 PSA 91
5.4.5 IM 92
5.4.6 B&CC 94
5.4.7 MD 95
5.4.8 RA 96
5.5 Non-IMS OSS and BSS Functional Module Analysis 98
5.5.1 NPE 98
5.5.2 FM 99
5.5.3 PM 101
5.5.4 PSA 102
5.5.5 IM 103
5.5.6 B&CC 105
5.5.7 MD 106
5.5.8 RA 107
5.6 Overall Analysis 109
5.7 Conclusions 111
5.8 Recommendations 112

List of Tables

Table 5 1: Global Market for OSS and BSS Solutions 82
Table 5 2: Global Market for OSS and BSS Solutions by Network Element Type 82
Table 5 3: Global Market for IMS OSS/BSS Solutions broken down by OSS and BSS Classes 83
Table 5 4: Global Market for IMS-OSS broken down by Functional Module 84
Table 5 5: Global Market for IMS-BSS broken down by Functional Module 84
Table 5 6: Global Market for non-IMS OSS/BSS broken down by OSS and BSS 85
Table 5 7: Global Market for non-IMS-OSS broken down by Functional Module 85
Table 5 8: Global Market for non-IMS-BSS broken down by Functional Module 86
Table 5 9: IMS OSS NPE by Region 87
Table 5 10: IMS OSS NPE by Solution Component 88
Table 5 11: IMS OSS FM by Region 88
Table 5 12: IMS OSS FM by Solution Component 89
Table 5 13: IMS OSS PM by Region 90
Table 5 14: IMS OSS PM by Solution Component 91
Table 5 15: IMS OSS PSA by Region 91
Table 5 16: IMS OSS PSA by Solution Component 92
Table 5 17: IMS OSS IM by Region 92
Table 5 18: IMS OSS IM by Solution Component 93
Table 5 19: IMS BSS B&CC by Region 94
Table 5 20: IMS BSS B&CC by Solution Component 95
Table 5 21: IMS BSS MD by Region 95
Table 5 22: IMS BSS MD by Solution Component 96
Table 5 23: IMS BSS RA by Region 96
Table 5 24: IMS BSS RA by Solution Component 97
Table 5 25: Non-IMS OSS NPE by Region 98
Table 5 26: Non-IMS OSS NPE by Solution Component 99
Table 5 27: Non-IMS OSS FM by Region 99
Table 5 28: Non-IMS OSS FM by Solution Component 100
Table 5 29: Non-IMS OSS PM by Region 101
Table 5 30: Non-IMS OSS PM by Solution Component 102
Table 5 31: Non-IMS OSS PSA by Region 102
Table 5 32: Non-IMS OSS PSA by Solution Component 103
Table 5 33: Non-IMS OSS IM by Region103
Table 5 34: Non-IMS OSS IM by Solution Component 104
Table 5 35: Non-IMS BSS B&CC by Region 105
Table 5 36: Non-IMS BSS B&CC by Solution Component 106
Table 5 37: Non-IMS BSS MD by Region 106
Table 5 38: Non-IMS BSS MD by Solution Component 107
Table 5 39: Non-IMS BSS RA by Region107
Table 5 40: Non-IMS BSS RA by Solution Component 108

List of Figures

Figure 2 1: IMS Components 12
Figure 3 1: OSS and BSS Positions 16
Figure 3 2: Kabira PSA 19
Figure 3 3: NGOSS and OSS/J Synchronization 23
Figure 3 4: TMF/Prosspero 24
Figure 3 5: OSA/Parlay Framework 26
Figure 3 6: The Position of SDP in Telco Environment 33
Figure 3 7: The network simplification achieved by SDP 35
Figure 3 8: TMN Layers 44
Figure 5 1: IMS OSS NPE by Region 88
Figure 5 2: IMS OSS FM by Region 89
Figure 5 3: IMS OSS PM by Region 90
Figure 5 4: IMS OSS PSA by Region 92
Figure 5 5: IMS OSS IM by Region 93
Figure 5 6: IMS BSS B&CC by Region 94
Figure 5 7: IMS BSS MD by Region 96
Figure 5 8: IMS BSS RA by Region 97
Figure 5 9: Non-IMS OSS NPE by Region 99
Figure 5 10: Non-IMS OSS FM by Region 100
Figure 5 11: Non-IMS OSS PM by Region 101
Figure 5 12: Non-IMS OSS PSA by Region 103
Figure 5 13: Non-IMS OSS IM by Region 104
Figure 5 14: Non-IMS BSS B&CC by Region 105
Figure 5 15: Non-IMS BSS MD by Region 107
Figure 5 16: Non-IMS BSS RA by Region 108
Figure 5 17: Global Market for OSS and BSS - By Functions 109
Figure 5 18: Global Market for OSS and BSS - By Components 110
Figure 5 19: Global Market for OSS and BSS - By Components 111