IP challenges carrier OSSs

As Internet protocol plays an increasingly important role in carrier networks, carriers are beginning to consider what type of operations support system they will need to support IP-based services

Carriers' top priority, in the short term, will be network management, while billing and provisioning will be longer-term goals, said Jason Donahue, vice president of marketing for Beechwood.

Beechwood last week announced an OSS solution for carrier IP networks, which combines products, services, systems integration and custom development. Solutions, which will emphasize third-party software, will differ from one type of carrier to another.

"For the most part, incumbents will reuse part or all of their billing and customer care systems and potentially parts of their provisioning systems," said Donahue. "The systems that will need the most work are network management and provisioning."

But competitive local exchange carriers often are still developing their initial OSSs and may have more flexibility. A CLEC that might have budgeted $60 million for an OSS might need to invest only an additional $10 million to support IP, Donahue said.

ICG Communications has used Beechwood to help integrate software from various vendors, primarily Architel, to support its circuit-switched network, said Ken Hunter, vice president and chief information technology architect for ICG Telecom Group. The CLEC is considering using Beechwood to do the same for the IP network it obtained when it acquired Internet service provider Netcom.

"We have the exact same set of issues on the IP side," said Hunter, referring to the need to support a range of functions, including provisioning, service assurance and network management.

ICG plans to eventually move many services it supports on its circuit-switched network to its IP network, Hunter said.