A head start, Bellcore tailors OSS offering to fit newcomers

Bellcore is targeting new telecom market entries in the U.S. and abroad with an operations support system suite derived from its MediaVantage full service network product.

The suite, MediaVantage/Core Telephony, is a scalable, modular system intended for networks with as few as 50,000 access lines. For license fees under $20 per line, the suite provides all the components for local exchange telephony, said Michael Kret, vice president of telecom solutions at Bellcore.

"We're targeting those companies just getting into the local exchange business," said Kret. "We're also looking at incumbent carriers in smaller markets that will need to implement an efficient OSS infrastructure to improve their productivity and services in the face of competition. These are customers that need to upgrade their OSSs but couldn't afford to do so before because those systems were designed for very large telecommunications providers.

The Core Telephony product uses object-oriented technology and a modular Telecommunications Management Network architecture to allow carriers to quickly assimilate it into their networks. The product includes software solutions to manage order and trouble entry and tracking, service activation, number selection and administration, workforce management and optional Internet and intranet extensions.

The system is aimed at improving productivity in four areas: customer care, service delivery, service assurance and network inventory.

Bellcore's modular approach will let new players in the telecom market expand their OSS capabilities as their companies grow, Krat said. "With Core Telephony, these new companies could scale up to the size of a local exchange carrier or even a [Bell regional holding company] if that's what eventually happens.

"That is one of Bellcore's greatest strengths in this market," said Jeffrey Cotrupe, research manager of global network business strategies for Northern Business Information, a New York-based market research firm. "Bellcore can always play the 'hardware-independent' card, which allows the smaller carriers some flexibility in their choice of network equipment.

This contrasts with other companies' startup market offerings, particularly Ericsson and Andersen Consulting, Cotrupe said.

"Those two have put offerings similar to this on the market. But Bellcore's announcement is significant because it's the first big announcement by a major software-focused company, and it's the company that's been king of the hill for as long as the OSS business has been around.

The Core Telephony product is substantially the same as the MediaVantage Full Service Solution, which is already used by carriers such as SNET, Pacific Bell and U S West, said Cotrupe. "The differences lie in the software techniques for opening and closing windows. The system is certainly not cut to the bare bones," he said.