It also needs to be applied to BSS if operators are going to go down the path of agility and be in the best shape to deal with the new opportunities that we’ll see in the next few years as more and more data enabled services are rolled out and operators develop new business models.

The ETSI Network Functions Virtualisation White Paper #3 has some interesting comments on how NFV impacts BSS. It recognises that current network operations models and OSS solutions are not prepared for emerging new technologies like NFV. It suggests new thinking is required on OSS/BSS that will open up opportunities to gain significant operational benefits and how legacy OSS/BSS systems will need to evolve in order to support NFV.

This sentiment is continued in the latest Architectural Framework document (NFV 001) which proclaims that simply extending existing OSS/BSS models to account for virtualisation will not be sufficient, because this approach will not support the new value-added capabilities and services provided by NFV. It also highlights the need for real-time processing of a huge amount of data, including data analytics, based on several data sources structured, and unstructured data from the infrastructure as a further key challenge in the OSS/BSS and NFV context.

The focus of NFV ISG on BSS in its latest Group Specification documents, confirms Openet’s long term belief that, on its own, network functions virtualization is not enough. NFV concepts need to be applied in the OSS/BSS to deliver on the promises of NFV such as agility, reduced TCO, increased elasticity and greater service availability. This is particularly important for policy and charging functions. There is little point in having a dynamic network if the monetising, access control, and revenue handling systems are not similarly endowed.

That is why Openet has virtualised its full BSS capability. Openet can offer a highly agile and flexible system capable of developing, testing, launching and amending new services and business models much more quickly. This will accelerate the availability of innovative new use cases and applications enabling operators to generate faster ROI for their network technology investments.

If you plan to attend Mobile World Congress 2105 in Barcelona, (March 2-5), please drop by our booth ((2F36) and see our Innovative ETSI NFV Proof of Concept. We will demonstrate how NFV concepts can be applied to OSS/BSS to deliver on the promises of NFV, such as increased system agility, faster time to market, reduced TCO, increased elasticity, and greater service availability.

This proof of concept, endorsed by Vodafone, brings together two leaders in virtualised OSS/ BSS, Openet and Procera, working with leading virtualisation company Red Hat, leading server platform and technology company Intel, along with Amartus, a provider of runtime programmable NFV Service Orchestration solutions.