build it and they may not come − why automation is critical to effectively operate and monetize new networks

We see it in the press everyday – CSPs are investing billions of dollars in next generation networks – fiber broadband, 5G, cloud, edge, IoT, satellite, enterprise. But building super-capable networks won’t, on their own, grow revenues. We all want to be connected, and at faster speeds, but as well as that, we want a digital ‘cloud-like’ experience, and a raft of new digital services. So CSPs are transforming to be Digital Service Providers. This requires a high degree of automation – not only in customer interaction, but in network operations. If we only digitize and automate the front of house, the experience and the service quickly breaks down, when it reaches a manually operated network. And with the network becoming even more complex the vision of a digital experience and a digital service is becoming harder to achieve.

CSPs recognize the importance of automation and have begun to automate. But the starting point has been ‘islands’ of automation for specific tasks, specific network domains or for an individual service. This has led to a proliferation of automation solutions for different process and network domains. Some benefits have been achieved in automating repetitive tasks and in managing new technologies – but the end to end network and the services it carries are still managed by legacy and largely manual OSS silos.

Instead of this siloed automation approach, CSPs should first select a strategic automation platform – one that will enable them to automate the hybrid network end-to-end and form the basis for new service launches. Network organizations are really good at defining a strategic network architecture and deploying it over time. Success in automation will require the same strategic approach.

Hear from Angela Logothetis, Amdocs Open Network CTO and Jim Hodges, Chief Analyst – Cloud & Security at Heavy Reading on why OSS automation is vital to avoid a disconnect between a highly performing network and disjoined operational support systems, and where to get started.

Managing growing complexity

Next-generation networks are complex. Public, private, and hybrid clouds interact with legacy and next generation network and with a whole ecosystem of application and content partners to deliver new types of services. With 5G deployments accelerating globally, this will only get more intricate. Managing this kind of infrastructure with partial, siloed automation forces CSPs to use often convoluted “workarounds” to make it all gel together. These ad-hoc approaches are driving even greater dependency on time-consuming manual steps and long lead-time break-fix activities.

Not only does this approach make it hard to have end-to-end visibility, it’s also challenging to launch, deliver and assure new types of services along with the old. Eliminating the risk of disjointed experiences, widespread outages and missed monetization opportunities will require urgently taking steps to better automate service and network operations with a unified platform.