OSS/BSS

Self-organizing networks: To LTE and beyond…

The “self-organizing network” sounds like the stuff of science fiction, or at least the futuristic utopia of The Jetsons. Just the sound of it makes me think of conveniences I would enjoy: self-organizing closets, self-organizing garages, self-organizing remote controls.

In their 2062 setting, George and Jane Jetson lived lives of incredible leisure because of their labor saving devices. Yet the concept of self-organizing networks is already being discussed as a key technology requirement for LTE networks.

The self-organized Jetsonian concept would vastly reduce network operations costs by automating process to handle high-volume, low-cost services efficiently, possibly separating OSS from BSS forever.

But why should self-organizing networks be limited to 4G? In this week’s featured article, CIMI Corp. President Tom Nolle - Jetsonesque in his futuristic visions - ponders extending the concept of self-organizing networks beyond LTE.

Read it. It will expand your mind.

Management World heads to Nice for the global view

Everyone at the TM Forum, as well as service providers from around the world are heading to Nice….as in France….early in May for Management World 2009 to talk about IP transformation and where service providers are going with it, or not. So I checked in with TM Forum President and CTO Martin Creaner as he prepared for Strategies & Tactics for Tough Times.

As we’ve heard since the recession officially began, the telecom industry isn’t getting the worst of the recession’s fallout, but it’s still tough times, Creaner says. He’s right, and to deal with that, ManagementWorld 2009 has scheduled five separate summits talking about business and technology transformation challenges. I hope attendees will be at least be drinking good coffee or sipping wine while wearing berets as they debate the multitude of issues. The five summits pretty much sum up the industry’s pain points: the business transformation, the technology transformation, the digital media value chain, revenue management, managing the customer experience.

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