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1、REPORTclosing the loopFebruary 2024Sponsored by:Author:Dean Ramsay,Principal AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor CSPs aim to automate service orchestration and assuranceFebruary 2024|www.tmforum.orgsponsored by:Author:Dean Ramsay,Practice Lead,TM ForumEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing EditorREPORTclosing

2、the loopFebruary 2024Sponsored by:Author:Dean Ramsay,Principal AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor CSPs aim to automate service orchestration and assurancecontents03 the big picture06 section 1:the new service operations paradigm13 section 2:orchestrated operations for 5G 20 section 3:5G SA and t

3、he benefits of network slicing 25 additional feature by Ericsson:Service orchestration and assurance is the engine of innovation30 additional resourcesWe hope you enjoy the report and,most importantly,find ways to use the ideas,concepts and recommendations detailed within.You can send your feedback

4、to the editorial team at TM Forum via editortmforum.orgbigpicturethe3inform.tmforum.orgThere are many drivers for pushing towards fully automated service operations,including:Business diversification and service evolution.End-to-end orchestration and automation across operational and business suppor

5、t systems(OSS/BSS)is essential for delivering the next generation of telecoms services.Innovation.The ability to innovate is enabled entirely by a CSPs service delivery mechanism.Removing repetitive tasks from the workload of operations staff increases the ability to drive new ways of working.This s

6、hifts the mindset from reactive fire-fighting to proactive innovation and towards new revenues.Operational efficiency and financial optimization.Driving return on investment from 5G networks and realizing 5G standalone(5G SA)ambitions relies entirely on closing the loop in service operations.Operati

7、onal efficiency gains from taking humans out of the process entirely result in opex savings in the 20%range,according to our estimates.After more than a decade of collective work by the telecoms industry we are starting to see real-world implementations of fully automated end-to-end service operatio

8、ns in communications service providers(CSPs).This inflection point gives us a glimpse of the next phase of IT-centric operations and the business model possibilities that it unlocks.In this report we look at the heart of that automated service operations architecture,closing the loop of service orch

9、estration and assurance.4inform.tmforum.orgRemoving repetitive tasks shifts the mindset from reactive fire-fighting to proactive innovation.Agility.Composable open architectures empower CSPs to design,introduce and deliver new services in hours rather than months.Mirroring the agility of digital-nat

10、ive companies is high on the agenda for all progressive CSPs and brings them in line with customers recently adjusted expectations.Eradicating faults.Removing repetitive manual processes eliminates many avoidable errors.CSPs still report a large number of faults from network and IT which result from

11、 poor data quality,inefficient processes or suboptimal systems integration.Future intent-based operations.Orchestrated,automated service operations are the central component of the future vision of intent-based operations.Without major evolution of the IT ecosystem within CSP operations,intent-based

12、 operations is impossible.5inform.tmforum.orgAny one of the above would make the evolutional effort worthwhile for CSPs,so we have seen a growing focus on closing the loop around fulfillment and assurance.In the past year alone we have seen the industry start to move from 5G non-standalone networks

13、towards 5G SA and the prospect of being able to deliver network slices commercially,at scale.In this report we look at what the drive towards 5G SA ultimately means for CSPs businesses.But first we look at the current key focus for many transformation of their IT functions in service operations.This

14、 industry-wide initiative is complex,but the steps needed are now well understood.As well as conducting interviews with senior executives for this report we carried out a survey of 69 decision-makers at CSPs globally.Read this report to understand:Why combining service fulfillment and assurance func

15、tions is essential for CSPs Why a modular IT architecture can enable this transformation How the move to 5G SA can be empowered by service operations transformation What evolutional goals CSPs are mapping out for themselves.PersonalizedservicesAutomatedO&MReal-?meexperienceOpera?ons EfficiencyBusine

16、ss GrowthUsersCommer-cializa?onProduc?onSmart CitySmart homeSmartmanufacturingBusiness intentService intentResource intentResource intentUser closed-loopPEPEAutonomous domain XResource closed loopVEVEResource opera?onsResource opera?onsAutonomous domain YResource closed loop14Business closed loopSer

17、vice closed loopBusiness opera?onsServices opera?ons23TM Forum,2023A vision of future intent-based operationsthe new service operations paradigmsection 16inform.tmforum.orgIt is essential for CSPs to address the shortcomings of their IT and process setup if they are to simultaneously optimize servic

18、e operations.CSPs are now approaching service design,fulfillment,orchestration and assurance as a consolidated transformational element.Automating processes across these consolidated closed-loop service operations is the overarching goal of many of the IT transformation projects in the industry curr

19、ently.However,service fulfillment and assurance have many components that make up a complex multivendor architecture of systems performing these functions.The message TM Forum is hearing from the industry,while building on Open Digital Architecture work,is that the next generation of production syst

20、ems need to be quite different from legacy OSS(see also chart on p.10):Plug-and-play modular systems built to industry standards Microservice-oriented and AI-ready Decoupled functionally,but developed with a closed-loop ecosystem in mind Intelligent management and orchestration native Inherently awa

21、re of the open autonomous network processes downstream.In this section we look at the importance of each of these functional areas to start to build a picture of how they could interact in a modernized closed loop,and explore what is currently being done to move towards that vision.7inform.tmforum.o

22、rgTM Forum,2024Does your OSS/BSS evolution strategy include service orchestration and assurance within a single system to achieve enhanced integration,streamlined processes and closed-loop automation?Yes It is something we are considering No we do not see the need for convergence55%30%15%8inform.tmf

23、orum.orgOur survey shows that an evolutionary strategy is already being adopted by much of the industry.Some 85%of respondents to our survey said their organization already has,or is considering,a converged OSS/BSS strategy that includes service orchestration and assurance for closed-loop automation

24、(see pie chart on previous page).ORCHESTRATED SERVICE FULFILLMENTThe service fulfillment function within CSPs encompasses many key components,each critical to ensuring that the services ordered by customers are driven through to delivery in the most efficient and expeditious way possible.Here we det

25、ail some of them and how they are likely to evolve.Order management.This involves receiving and managing customer orders.It includes order capture,validation,decomposition and status tracking.Order management(OM)ensures that customer requests are accurately recorded and tracked through the fulfillme

26、nt process.Evolution:OM is typically the hub of information related to a specific customer order,and automating this process has been an ongoing quest for CSPs for many years.Service orchestration and assurance has the potential to overcome complexity and drive automation.We are starting to see full

27、 automation of OM and the whole fulfillment process in some B2C telco settings,but automating processes for B2B and B2B2X service lines is much more complex.Service orchestration is driving automation strategies for workflows that are driven out of OM.Service configuration and activation.Once an ord

28、er is processed,the requested service needs to be configured and activated.This includes setting up the necessary parameters,allocating resources such as bandwidth or network components and activating the service so that it is available for customer use.Evolution:The move towards virtualized and clo

29、ud-based networks has made configuration and activation more complex,but service orchestration has the potential to overcome that complexity and still drive automation.CSPs are moving towards a configuration and activation state where a single dynamic platform handles this function across multiple n

30、etwork domains and integrates flawlessly with the service orchestrator northbound.Network inventory management.This involves managing the physical and virtual resources such as network equipment,servers and software licenses required to deliver services.Effective resource inventory management is cru

31、cial to ensure there are adequate resources to fulfil customer orders without over-provisioning.Over-provisioning of resources is one of the most common inefficiencies in OSS which directly impacts the cost structure associated with providing a service.Being accurate in this process is a major focus

32、 of transformation activities for CSPs globally.9inform.tmforum.orgIncreasingly,network provisioning is becoming automated,which demands that the data used is extremely accurate.Evolution:Bringing together the many inventory data sources is a key OSS modernization strategy for many CSPs,including th

33、e quite disparate worlds of physical inventory(equipment,cables,ports and so on)and logical inventory(resources within the network management systems).Because of the differing ages and formats of many of these systems,it has been difficult for service orchestrators to interact with inventory systems

34、 and break automated workflows.Centralized catalog management.CSPs maintain a catalog of the products and services they offer.Management of these catalogs involves creating detailed definitions and managing these service offerings,including their specifications,pricing,and any associated bundles or

35、promotions.Evolution:In the past there has been a tendency for a proliferation of catalogs,which is being addressed by many CSPs as they centralize this function,creating a“single source of truth”for the OSS/BSS to use.Network provisioning.Rather than a separate system,provisioning is the process of

36、 setting up and configuring network elements and systems so that the requested service can be delivered.Evolution:Provisioning can be complex,particularly for advanced services that require the co-ordination of multiple network components,and it has traditionally been quite a manual discipline carri

37、ed out in a network operations center.Increasingly,network provisioning is becoming automated,which demands that the data used is extremely accurate.Change management.Over the lifecycle of a service changes may be required due to upgrades,customer requests,or other factors.Change management ensures

38、that these are implemented efficiently and without disrupting service quality.We will come back to why change management is important when we look at the new aims of service assurance.Service decommissioning.When a service is no longer needed or is being replaced,it needs to be decommissioned proper

39、ly.This involves ensuring that the resources are freed up and can be allocated to other services,and that the customers account is updated accordingly.DATA-DRIVEN SERVICE ASSURANCEService assurance for CSPs also encompasses a wide range of functions.These are evolving because of the need for functio

40、n change in the wider IT ecosystem,but they are also under the influence of technology advancements such as AI-enabled data analytics.The main functions and their evolutions include:Network monitoring and management.The primary function of assurance has been to continuously monitor the network to en

41、sure it is functioning optimally.This involves tracking network performance,capacity usage,congestion and other key performance indicators(KPIs)to detect any issues that could impact service quality across the network.10inform.tmforum.orgEvolution:The move to real-time monitoring has been a major am

42、bition for CSPs globally,enabling them to detect and react to issues as they occur in order to minimize the impact on customers from service downtime or impaired quality of service.Performance management.Analyzing and managing the performance of network components and services to ensure they meet pr

43、edefined standards and service level agreements(SLAs)is essential for CSPs.This function involves monitoring KPIs and quality of service(QoS)metrics and is done not only to stay on the right side of any legal obligations,but also to drive customer experience.Evolution:The integration of AI,and speci

44、fically machine learning,allows modern performance management systems to be able to provide predictive analytics,anomaly detection and automated optimization.This improves the ability to foresee and mitigate potential performance issues.While we dont see a huge amount of automated self-optimizing an

45、d self-healing capabilities being used in real world deployments at the moment,it is the next step on the evolutional path for this function.Fault management.Identifies,diagnoses and resolves network faults or issues as quickly as possible.This includes detecting outages,failures or degradations in

46、the network and implementing fixes to minimize service disruption to customers.Evolution:Fault management is traditionally a key assurance function,but as service models become more complex this function needs to be able to track many more data points and cross-reference them to specific customer se

47、rvices.Modernizing the fault management function allows CSPs to move from detecting faults in the network,knowing that customers will soon call in to report them,to being able to proactively remediate and keep customers up to date on the restoration of services.This approach has been shown to greatl

48、y improve customer satisfaction ratings.Which aspects of OSS transformation are most urgent to fully leverage the potential of 5G network slicing?TM Forum,202433%22%19%9%17%Incorporating automation across end-to-end business and IT/network operations processesOSS/BSS software stack modernizationIntr

49、oduction of open APIs and architecturesLarge-scale replacement of existing OSS/BSS software stacksHarmonizing network and IT operations end to end (to eliminate silos)11inform.tmforum.orgConfiguration management.Manages the configuration of network elements and systems to ensure they are correctly s

50、et up to deliver services.This involves keeping track of how network components are configured and making changes as needed to optimize performance and service delivery.Evolution:Increased use of automation and orchestration has had an impact on managing network configurations.Configuration and acti

51、vation in service fulfillment can now apply configuration changes across multiple devices and sites simultaneously,reducing manual effort and the risk of human error.Service orchestration can then co-ordinate these changes across various components of the network,ensuring consistency and efficiency,

52、while configuration management checks this configuration is correct for live services.SLA management.Ensures that all services are delivered in accordance with service level agreements.This involves monitoring SLA compliance,reporting on service levels,and taking corrective actions if levels are not

53、 met.Evolution:Later in this report we look at specific scenarios for closed-loop service operations for 5G network slicing.One of the most illustrative shortcomings of current telco operations can be found in SLA management.When a CSP provides a 5G network slice for a customer to certain characteri

54、stics it must also adhere to SLAs.But SLA information stored in support systems often has no automated linkage to the Do you see service orchestration and assurance as a key enabler to monetize network slicing services for consumers and enterprises?Yes dynamic network slicing is necessary to secure

55、monetization in the near term Yes but we dont see it as a short-/medium-term step.Business cases with static network slices will need to be demonstrated first No,supporting static slices is our approach currentlyTM Forum,202422%67%11%provisioning system,so the slice cannot be provided in real time.T

56、hese missing links should be a focus for CSPs implementing closed-loop service operations.Our survey found that 89%of respondents believe the combined power of orchestrated fulfillment process functions and service assurance is a key enabler of monetizing 5G network slicing(see pie chart above).12in

57、form.tmforum.orgMaking an impact on the cost of running a network relies on understanding the granular data coming into assurance.Network planning and optimization.Anticipates future network demands and ensures there is sufficient capacity to meet these demands without compromising service quality.T

58、his involves analyzing trends,predicting growth and making necessary investments in infrastructure.Evolution:Network planning and optimization is an OSS function that has been separate to service assurance for many CSPs in the past.However,being able to make a serious impact on the cost structures o

59、f running a network relies heavily on understanding the granular data coming into assurance.Feeding that information into planning and optimization in a way that outlines actionable insights is often the problem.We are seeing the planning and optimization function coming closer to assurance in recen

60、t years,primarily because of the data analytics function on top of assurance being more readily able to process vast amounts of network data and glean actionable insights for optimization strategies.In the next section we look at how orchestration has taken mature telco IT functions and transformed

61、them into a service operations ecosystem that is greater than the sum of its parts.orchestrated operations for 5G section 213inform.tmforum.orgService orchestration is the process of designing,creating,delivering and monitoring service offerings in an automated way using all of the functions and pro

62、cesses we detailed in the previous section.Service orchestration solutions are implemented in every major CSP,and they must be capable of operating in increasingly hybrid and complex environments.They are also essential to the evolution of the 5G story in telco operations.In this section we look at

63、CSPs strategies to automate their processes through service fulfillment and service assurance,and the work TM Forum is involved in to promote this evolution.And we look at the next major phase of telecoms business 5G standalone.Ticking off the tasksThe implementation of a closed-loop IT ecosystem,ce

64、ntered around the production systems,can be seen as the final operational evolution investment for CSPs moving to 5G SA.Investments in,and trialing of,new RAN developments were the first big focus for the industry.In the last year we have seen the mass deployment of cloud-native 5G core networks,com

65、pleting the majority of the evolutionary work that must happen in the network.Now we are seeing a focus from a large number of operators on their IT transformation to drive return on investment from those network investments and push towards new service models and the 5G SA business transformation p

66、hase.Building the 5G ecosystem RAN,core,IT and business models has been an extremely complex journey for many CSPs,with hundreds of steps to modernize,simplify and automate.However,respondents to our survey are 14inform.tmforum.orgIs it possible to generate revenue profitably from 5G network slicing

67、 without fully automated end-to-end service operations?TM Forum,20246%36%3%No Extremely difficult and not at scale Somewhat possible,but problematic Yes55%15inform.tmforum.orgclear that generating revenues from 5G SA in an efficient manner is very difficult,if not impossible,without end-to-end autom

68、ated service operations(see pie chart on p.14).Our survey showed emphatically that the largest single challenge that CSPs perceive in using 5G network slicing technology is addressing the end-to-end lifecycle management for cross-domain services(see chart opposite).While undertaking a transformation

69、 of OSS,the ambition must be to establish an IT architecture that can address the complexity of delivering services across network domains.Service orchestration boosts 5G SAFor many operators,the move to 5G SA is the culmination of nearly a decade of work,realizing their ambitions for new ways of op

70、erating,being able to offer an entirely new set of services and to be able to deliver those services in significantly shorter timeframes.The key to much of this will be full end-to-end automated operations.And to fully understand the changes being made in IT,we must consider how achieving this state

71、 of automation impacts network evolution and strategy and how CSPs are also implementing technology such as 5G core cloud networks.5G SA will provide new use cases around network slicing and edge computing.As a consequence a CSPs network needs an effective co-ordinating function which can plan,desig

72、n and instantiate the offered and ordered services.Addressing the complexity of end-to-end lifecycle management for cross-domain services,specifically encompassing configuration and service topology management47%23%4%26%Managing end-to-end service assurance complexity spanning diverse service and ne

73、twork domainsSecurely isolating network slices for differentiated useSeamless end-to-end integration between IT and network operational processesTM Forum,2024What is the primary challenge for CSPs seeking to use 5G standalone network slicing technology?16inform.tmforum.orgIn terms of the benefits th

74、at CSPs see in making the leap to 5G SA,our survey shows that business diversification is top of the list,with greater accuracy and agility coming a close second(see chart opposite).The dual benefits of net new business and greater operational agility have long been seen as the holy grail for 5G SA,

75、but we are only now seeing the prospect of realizing that goal.With several critical roles to fulfil,service orchestration needs to achieve the following in 5G operations:Ensure robust workflows are followed through the whole lifecycle without the need for human intervention Deliver network slice ma

76、nagement including lifecycle management and configuration by using standardized templates Enable cross-domain orchestration across the network(RAN,transport,and 5G core);it does this by interfacing network orchestration and subsequently the different domain managers and transport software-defined ne

77、tworking(SDN)controllers,harmonizing the relationship between network and IT in operations Provide multi-vendor and multi-cloud support with both built-in adaptors and a framework to create custom adaptors for special cases Take service definitions created in the product catalog right through the or

78、dering process for fast and effective service orchestration,alleviating many telco problems caused by conflicting service definitions from multiple sources.What is the primary benefit of evolving IT service operations for 5G standalone?TM Forum,2024Reducing manual touchpoints with automation for gre

79、ater accuracy and agilityBusiness diversification new service models,new revenuesOperational simplification and efficiencySupporting differentiated service experiences for enterprise customersFurthering cloud-native IT strategy29%37%13%16%5%17inform.tmforum.orgHarnessing actionable insightsOne key s

80、ervice assurance advancement has been the development of vastly more capable data analytics functions to further empower orchestration.Creating actionable insights from the petabytes of data arriving from various network feeds has been a genuine challenge in the past.However,recent developments in d

81、ata analytics platforms(some enabled by AI)have allowed CSPs to do more than just store network data.The goal is to generate automated workflows in real time from network data which can be used to optimize the whole service operations ecosystem,in effect forming an automated feedback loop.The operat

82、ional advantages of this development are clear,but the customer experience improvement also should not be underestimated.If a CSP can identify network congestion affecting services and proactively communicate that information to its customers in real time,or even optimize the network to remediate th

83、at situation,it is a clear improvement on current reactionary measures.Our survey shows that more than half of CSPs have started along the path to make this improvement,with almost a third more having plans to do so(see chart).A customer-centric approachService orchestration facilitates a more custo

84、mer-centric approach by enabling CSPs to provide very tailored service experiences using new network technology.Several CSPs told us that their long-term goal is a single network that can simultaneously deliver low-latency connections for vertical opportunities such as autonomous vehicles and high-b

85、andwidth content for media streaming,as well as enabling their massive IoT connectivity ambitions all with optimized performance and a radically improved cost structure.Malin Fransn-Kronberg,Director Service Assurance and Chief Quality Officer at Telia,told us that her role has changed in many ways

86、as service assurance has evolved and quality has become a priority.“The focus has moved to a more proactive role instead of reactive quality and resilience culture,and reshaping how the organization works and boosts the importance of quality,”she says.“It is about building further relationships,impr

87、oving processes,and guiding tech changes that enhance quality across the whole system.”TM Forum,202451%29%20%Yes we have initiated efforts in this directionNo but there are plans in place to address and enhance this aspectService assurance insights depend significantly on human expertise and manual

88、processesDoes your assurance system have the capability to derive actionable insights from network data and monitor and ensure optimal service quality?18inform.tmforum.orgThe shift in her role is in line with the technology changes taking place in network and IT systems.Services have traditionally b

89、een delivered within dedicated technology domains.Now that networks are being virtualized and moved to the cloud,services use shared resources that span multiple tech domains and processes,she explains.This makes services more enhanced and complex,which drives the need for real-time data analytics a

90、nd automation to ensure service quality and resilience.“We use technology to manage the more complex service value chains so that we can support the users better by delivering more proactive actions and faster resolutions by leveraging automation,”says Fransn-Kronberg.Scale could be a challengeOur s

91、urvey shows that CSPs have a spread of concerns about the challenges of bringing 5G network slicing to market,and that supporting slices at scale with guaranteed performance levels is foremost of these.The second biggest challenge is full service lifecycle automation,which is not surprising given th

92、at these results are the culmination of more than a decade of collaborative industry work.Managing the complexity of multi-cloud environments is a concern for 46%of respondents,and speed to market for new product offerings challenging for 37%(see chart).What are the biggest challenges to bringing 5G

93、 network slicing to market(select all that apply)?TM Forum,20240%20%30%40%50%60%70%Supporting network slicing at scale with guaranteed performance levelsManaging the complexity of multi-cloud environmentsFull service lifecycle automationSpeed to market of new product offerings80%10%66%46%51%37%19inf

94、orm.tmforum.orgNavigating legacy technologySeveral CSPs we spoke to outlined the importance of not deploying 5G SA in a silo just for ease of implementation.They are actively leveraging the transformational effect to drive optimization of service lines and operations domains.Our survey shows,however

95、,that the issue of the complex tangle of existing multivendor IT environments is perceived as a major challenge by many respondents(see chart).Many of the CSPs heavily engaged with TM Forums Open Digital Architecture(ODA)and the Running on ODA initiative are driving interoperability measures into th

96、eir legacy OSS/BSS systems to combat this effect as we outline in their success stories.In the final section we look at the progress of 5G SA deployments and outline some of the benefits of network slicing.What are the technical challenges to ensuring orchestration and assurance of 5G services encom

97、passing network slicing?TM Forum,2024Multi-domain and intent-based service assign&designDynamic service orchestration including model-driven service configuration managementThe complexity of multivendor environments in both networks and OSS/BSS environmentsClosed-loop automation and assurance of cro

98、ss-domain services19%43%19%18%5G SA and the benefits of network slicingsection 320inform.tmforum.orgA primary strategic goal for many CSPs is monetizing the considerable investments they have made in 5G over the past decade.By leveraging new connectivity capabilities provided by 5G SA,operators will

99、 have the possibility of offering a network experience that more exactly matches what an application requires.21inform.tmforum.orgAccording to the GSA,46 operators have now launched public 5G SA networks worldwide,with 121 operators in 55 countries investing in infrastructure.Recently we have seen p

100、rogressive CSPs announcing the completion of 5G SA rollouts for specific geographies.For example,Reliance Jio has deployed more than 1 million 5G cell sites in India for its standalone network and is pushing ahead with commercializing services delivered over a network slice.So far,the company,which

101、has a total of 470.9 million customers,says it has migrated approximately 90 million to its 5G SA network.And in the US,T-Mobile CTO Jon Saw announced at MWC Las Vegas 2023 that the operator would launch a nationwide beta trial of its 5G network slicing technology for developers.The business opportu

102、nities afforded to CSPs by having 5G network slicing capabilities fall broadly into three categories:Cost saving opportunities New revenue streams from service innovation Maximizing existing revenue streams.Cost saving opportunitiesThe chance to address operations cost structures directly has been a

103、 key part of redesigning network capabilities to use network slices for example,in the use of technologies such as software-defined networking and network functions virtualization in addition to 5G.This seeks to drive economies of scale for network resources,making them on-demand to meet optimal res

104、ource usage requirements.The business benefits of combatting costs are clear,but a critical measurement will be CSPs opex bills.Currently,opex spending is still high as a percentage of revenue MTN Consulting estimates that typically it is as high as 85%.We estimate that a fully automated service ope

105、rations implementation will allow CSPs to typically knock 20%off this total,which translates to millions of dollars for many operators.A fully automated service operations implementation could typically knock 20%off CSPs opex.22inform.tmforum.orgNew revenue streamsFrom a network slice perspective ne

106、w revenue streams are likely to come from three broad service options:Supporting industry vertical network requirements for example,new business models such as autonomous vehicles and delivery of IoT services over slices Slice-as-a-service,or network resources exposed as data pipes with slice manage

107、ment capabilities On-demand network slice allocation,based on triggers such as application(for example,gaming),device on so on.Vertical markets that are likely to be the most promising for 5G network slicing in the first wave of commercial 5G SA include automotive,gaming and industrial applications.

108、Our survey shows that we can expect to see the positive effects of 5G network slicing on revenues over the next 3-4 years,although more than a third optimistically expect to see revenues in two years(see chart).As we saw in the chart on p.16,the survey also shows that,according to respondents,busine

109、ss diversification is the leading driver of service operations transformation towards 5G SA.For example,the potential for CSPs to deliver cloud gaming on smartphones is a much-discussed new revenue opportunity.To deliver this use case,CSPs need to have both edge capabilities and 5G SA in place along

110、 with a series of partnership integration agreements.From a technology point of view,the component which could trigger applications such as mobile cloud gaming is the 5G network slice.Multiple new service opportunities like this could be enabled by bringing together technology and business models.Wh

111、at timeline is realistic for 5G network slicing to start generating positive revenue contribution?10%41%12%1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years or moreTM Forum,202437%23inform.tmforum.orgMaximizing existing revenue streamsThis falls into two main and related perspectives:Improving margins re-envisaging ex

112、isting services to be delivered over network slices,saving on resources Using network slices to enhance the customer experience.Vincenzo Procopio,Head of IT Production at Telia,says there are many opportunities to deliver existing B2B services,that are currently delivered over 4G or fiber,over a 5G

113、network slice.In migrating those services over to the new network technology,Telia says it can simultaneously open up more service expansion options for the customer lower latency,guaranteed bandwidth characteristics and so on and also make margin improvements on revenue.Many operators are currently

114、 scoping this strategy and are making very positive estimates on improved profits for the coming five years.Closing the loop the road to 5G SAAs we have seen in our survey responses and in this research more broadly,CSPs are now getting on board with the aim of closed-loop service operations in thei

115、r IT architectures.The path to future modes of operations is dependent on this evolutionary step,and this is the main focus for many progressive CSPs currently.We are seeing many different strategies for making these changes,but the broad approach is to disaggregate the functional areas within tradi

116、tional OSS and make individual evolutions,while simultaneously building a robust orchestration and data strategy on top.Once complete,we will quickly start to see business outcomes transformed and a genuine inflection point in the 5G story.Our survey shows that those business outcomes are expected t

117、o be felt first in metrics such as time to market for new services,and then in improving cost structures as orchestration improves the return on network investments like 5G-specific assets(see chart above).Other significant benefits are likely to follow around customer experience,reducing churn and

118、streamlining sales interactions.Which aspects of service orchestration do you need to improve(select all that apply)?TM Forum,20240%20%30%40%50%60%70%Reduce time to market for new servicesImprove return on investment by reducing operational costsIncrease sales by scaling service lifecycleReduce chur

119、n by providing service quality with service assurance80%10%74%56%40%47%24inform.tmforum.orgMoving towards intent-based networksMany major operator groups have declared their commitment to drive towards intent-based operations.Given the large investment the industry has made in 5G,moving to standalon

120、e networks is not totally dependent on intent-based operations in the short term,but it is certainly dependent on the service operations component being completed.Bringing together network and IT domains is a major strategic milestone as respondents to our survey make clear(see chart).The proposed f

121、ramework for intent-based operations,as set out by TM Forum members,emphasizes the importance of process integration as part of the evolutionary journey,something which is cited as a main consideration by our survey respondents.This needs to be done with a holistic attitude to network and IT in orde

122、r to ensure that the two are aligned;the future of CSP operations must have an end-to-end approach.As we have seen throughout this report,the next evolutionary stage of 5G is to be part of an innovation platform for the industry.The standalone phase is not something that CSPs customers will be aware

123、 of,but they will notice a significant step change in capabilities from those operators and the way they can interact with other digital-native entities.At the heart of that new,evolved CSP is a drive towards greater automation and simplification,which if executed carefully will lead to a leaner,mor

124、e agile and more profitable era.How can you achieve cohesive interactions between network and IT to ensure new service experiences,including network slicing(select all that apply)?TM Forum,20240%20%30%40%50%60%70%We need a holistic approach toward continuous improvement across network and IT operati

125、onsSpecialized assistance is required throughout the strategy and design stagesWe need comprehensive expertise during build,implementation,integration and rollout of servicesWe need support to ensure end-to-end performance including process integration within OSS/BSS ecosystems10%55%34%43%67%Service

126、 orchestration and assurance is the engine of innovationAdditional feature by ERICSSON25inform.tmforum.orgWith the introduction of 5G SA,networks are going through a transformative era providing many new opportunities for communication service providers(CSPs)and their customers.With capabilities suc

127、h as low latency,high data speeds,and improved network reliability,doors to innovation of new services and applications open.Service orchestration and assurance makes it possible to provide advanced 5G services swiftly and effectively at scale spanning across application and network domains.In today

128、s environment,all businesses must identify and capture emerging opportunities proactively.Industries ranging from healthcare,manufacturing to entertainment and finance will benefit from the transformative potential of 5G SA.Rapid adoption of the new technological paradigm is essential to gain a comp

129、etitive edge and grow revenues profitably.Being an active player in the ecosystem is also key for future innovation possibilities.The complexity of businesses,services,and operations is growing.Services are becoming more heterogeneous,dynamic,distributed,and broadened.Simply put,the variety and volu

130、mes of services to be orchestrated and assured is increasing potentially exponentially.Automation is a necessity to operating todays open and programmable networks efficiently.Service orchestration and assurance is multi-domain-spanning access,transport and core.By interfacing the network with domai

131、n managers and controllers,it provides multi-vendor,multi-cloud and multi-technology support with built-in adaptors and a framework to create customer adapters.An example of a multi-domain service could be an end-to-end“smart campus”offering,based on 5G-enabled fixed wireless access,network slices a

132、nd SD-WAN.Service orchestration and assurance is needed to deliver and manage complete offerings efficiently.The need for multi-domain service orchestration and assuranceAdvanced 5G services are multi-domain,spanning across telco and enterprise applications deployed on hyperscale cloud provider infr

133、astructure and private cloud.Swiftly and effectively deploying advanced services requires multi-domain service orchestration and assurance.Service orchestration and assurance is the engine of innovationAdditional feature by ERICSSON26inform.tmforum.orgService orchestration and assurance platforms ne

134、ed to use model-driven service templates,automated intent-based design,and dynamic workflows.These capabilities are made possible because in the architecture,operational domains publish their services to a catalogue and perform lifecycle orchestration,service assurance and service level management,s

135、eparating concerns and maintaining independence of service capabilities.Service composition should be defined in a declarative template in TOSCA(Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications)-an open and de-facto modelling language for service design.The service orchestration and a

136、ssurance platform automatically designs a service based on specified parameters such as latency,then instantiates,modifies,or terminates the service using workflows generated from the service template.It also provides end-to-end management and visibility of services.Services can be defined,published

137、,and orchestrated via TM Forum Open APIs.Closed-loop operation enables maintenance of the required service level throughout the lifecycle.Built on open and standards-based architectureService orchestration and assurance platforms need to be underpinned by an open and standards-based architecture ens

138、uring flexibility and agility to create and manage network slices seamlessly across diverse domains.The following standards apply:3GPP compliant:Enable end-to-end orchestration across RAN,transport,and core.CSPs can orchestrate network slices ensuring a holistic and optimized network service deliver

139、y.GSMA GST/NEST based modelling:Incorporate GSMA Global System for Telematics(GST)and Network Slicing Template(NEST)based modelling of service characteristics for network slicing.Empowers CSPs to define the characteristics of network slices.ETSI compliant:Ensure network slices can run in virtualized

140、 environments and have seamless end-to-end resource management.Guarantees compatibility with virtualized infrastructure and efficient resource allocation.TM Forum:Leverage TM Forum standards to interact seamlessly with the BSS layer allowing the exposure of capabilities towards the commercial catalo

141、gue and fulfilling orders.It simplifies the commercialization of CSPs network services.IETF for transport domain:Utilize standards for managing network slices across the transport domain.This ensures a consistent and effective approach to slice management,regardless of the domain.Design services wit

142、h ease across network and IT improving time to marketMany CSPs are struggling to integrate the service order management function with service orchestration.This problem can be solved by combining the two into a single platform.TM Forum Open APIs should integrate with the other parts of the BSS stack

143、.Furthermore,service orchestration and assurance platforms must have intuitive and collaborative service design environments.The service design supports all modeling approaches in a consistent user experience that melds the design of the TM Forum Information Framework(SID)and TOSCA models together.S

144、ervice providers need to look at the aggregated benefits and monetization potential of 5G in a bigger context to justify,but also monetize,their initial investments in 5G SA while setting the base for further innovation and expansions to follow.From the Ericsson report:Unlocking the potential of 5G

145、differentiated connectivity-5G standalone business opportunities in urban environments.Service orchestration and assurance is the engine of innovationAdditional feature by ERICSSON27inform.tmforum.orgA centralized service/resources runtime catalog should be included.It stores specifications and arte

146、facts to be consumed at runtime for service orchestration and configuration.A key capability is to keep the SID model in sync automatically with the TOSCA template specifications,making it easy to onboard and re-use TOSCA implementations in the service model design.While different approaches to mana

147、ging complexity are possible,valid and relevant here,its important that the end result enables a service design user experience that makes definition,onboarding,versioning and lifecycle management of service models and templates simple.Accelerate service creation and life-cycle management with inten

148、t-driven orchestrationAs CSPs onboard new customers,the number of business requirements grow.Managing requirements is a challenge.Business intent orchestration enables CSPs to automate the delivery of business intents in a way that is agile,optimized,and scalable.When instantiating a service dynamic

149、ally,several critical factors must be considered.These include the incoming request(the intent),the specifications in the declarative model represented using TOSCA,the current state of services,service topology,resource availability,and their attributes.The outcome of this process is a dynamically g

150、enerated execution flow that deals with possible conflicts and that aligns with model specifications.Implementing business requirements is the key achievement here and its also about ensuring that they are delivered while maximizing network resource utilization.Close the loop with automation for sup

151、erior service experiencesService orchestration and assurance platforms should guarantee service level agreement(SLA)assurance by implementing closed loop automation and facilitate data-driven operations.Orchestration automates processes,enabling swift responses to changing conditions.Service orchest

152、ration and assurance is the engine of innovationAdditional feature by ERICSSON28inform.tmforum.orgAssurance continuously monitors and assesses service performance,identifying areas for improvement or intervention.For example,the service assurance function needs to ingest,process and combine the netw

153、ork function raw performance metrics into slice and sub-slice KPIs and exposes the KPIs northbound to the commercial level.In this closed-loop model,assurance should feed insights and feedback to orchestration,facilitating automatic adjustments and optimizations.If a performance degradation is detec

154、ted,orchestration dynamically allocates additional resources or adjusts configurations to maintain service quality.Service orchestration and assurance in actionService orchestration and assurance will be able to power dynamic network slicing solutions.Consider how you would operationalize the deploy

155、ment of a 5G slice-enabled video streaming boost service from design to assurance of the slice service.The service design function must provide a collaboration environment to a network slice design architect and a service design engineer.The network slice template and service specification are desig

156、ned,validated,and distributed to the centralized service/resources runtime catalog.Once both slice template and service specification are designed and available in the catalog,the network slice is ordered and configured across the network which makes dynamic customer onboarding and provisioning poss

157、ible.A model-driven service orchestration function provides the service ordering handler,life-cycle management and orchestration function for end-to-end services,for example SD-WAN,multi-cloud interconnect and network slice-based services and their specific service components.Once the customer servi

158、ce is provisioned,the assurance function must take care of the monitoring of the service health to guarantee that the requested associated SLAs are met.Service orchestration and assurance is the engine of innovationAdditional feature by ERICSSON29inform.tmforum.orgThe assurance function collects dif

159、ferent counters from several network nodes belonging to different domains and the counters gathered are used to execute KPIs computation according to pre-configured calculations.Critical success factors for service orchestration and assurance Service orchestration and assurance enables cross-domain

160、orchestration spanning access,transport and core.It addresses CSPs needs of simplification of open and programmable networks through automation of the service lifecycle and growing revenues profitably.An open and standards-based architecture fosters innovation and multi-vendor.A well-designed platfo

161、rm for multi domain service orchestration and assurance should:Make it possible to design services with ease across network and IT Enable testing and launching new services faster in multi-vendor environments with intent-driven orchestration Improve SLA commitments through closed loop automationMore

162、 information on Ericssons approach to closing the loop on service orchestration and assurance can be found at:Service orchestration for better service quality-EricssonAMF:Access and Mobility Management FunctionDNN:Data Network NameNSSAI:Network Slice Selection Assistance InformationOS:Operating Syst

163、emPCF:Policy Control FunctionSES:Secure Entitlement ServerSMF:Slice Management FunctionUDM:User Data ManagementUPF:User Plane FunctionURSP:User Equipment Routing Selection Policytm forum open digital framework30inform.tmforum.orgThe TM Forum Open Digital Framework provides a migration path from lega

164、cy IT systems and processes to modular,cloud native software orchestrated using AI.The framework comprises tools,code,knowledge and standards(machine-readable assets,not just documents).It is delivering business value for TM Forum members today,accelerating concept-to-cash,eliminating IT and network

165、 costs,and enhancing digital customer experience.Developed by TM Forum members through our Collaboration Community and Catalyst proofs of concept and building on TM Forums established standards,the Open Digital Framework is being used by leading service providers and software companies worldwide.Cor

166、e elements of the Open Digital FrameworkThe framework comprises TM Forums Open Digital Architecture(ODA),together with tools,models and data that guide the transformation to ODA from legacy IT systems and operations.Open Digital Architecture Architecture framework,common language and design principl

167、es Open APIs exposing business services Standardized software components Reference implementation and test environmentTransformation tools Guides to navigate digital transformation Tools to support the migration from legacy architecture to ODAMaturity tools&data Maturity models and readiness checks

168、to baseline digital capabilities Data for benchmarking progress and training AIGoals of the Open Digital FrameworkThe Open Digital Framework aims to transform business agility(accelerating concept-to-cash from 18 months to 18 days),enable simpler IT solutions that are easier and cheaper to deploy,in

169、tegrate and upgrade,and to establish a standardized software model and market which benefits all parties(service providers,vendors and systems integrators).A blueprint for intelligent operations fit for the 5G eraLearn more about collaborationIf you would like to learn more about the project or how

170、to get involved in the TM Forum Collaboration Community,please contact George Glass.31inform.tmforum.orgtm forum research reports32inform.tmforum.org33inform.tmforum.orgREPORTAuthors:Sponsored by:Dean Ramsay(Principal Analyst)Editor:Ian KempISBN:000 from toautonomous networks:August 2022|www.tmforum

171、.orgAuthor:Dean Ramsay,Principal AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editorsponsored by:August 2022|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Ed Finegold,Contributing AnalystEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editorsponsored by:Ed Finegold,Contributing Analyst,TM ForumIan Kemp,Managing Editor,TM ForumAnnie Turner,Contributin

172、g Analyst,TM ForumEditors:Author:Sponsored by:September 2022|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Ed Finegold,Contributing AnalystEditors:Ian Kemp,Managing EditorAnnie Turner,Contributing Editorsponsored by:Ed Finegold,Contributing Analyst,TM ForumIan Kemp,Managing Editor,TM ForumAnnie Turner,Contributing Analyst,

173、TM ForumEditors:Author:Sponsored by:BENCHMARKAuthors:Sponsored by:Mark Newman,Chief Analyst,TM ForumDean Ramsay,Principal Analyst,TM ForumEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor,TM Forumgrowth:taking it tothe next leveltelco revenueTM Forum|October 2022October 2022|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Teresa Cottam,Contri

174、buting AnalystEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editorsponsored by:from transformationDIGITAL OPERATIONS MATURITY:achieving business valueREPORTAuthors:Dean Ramsay,Principal Analyst Rahul Gupta,Senior AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing EditorSPONSORED BY:November 2022|inform.tmforum.org5Gcore:exploring

175、CSPapproachesREPORTAuthor:Mark Newman,Chief AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing EditorSponsored by:Supported by:evolvingfor future servicesbusiness support systems December 2022|inform.tmforum.orgREPORTAuthor:Joanne Taafe,Editor in Chief,InformEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor,TM ForumSponsored by:thesust

176、ainable telco:engineeringnetworks for net zeroDecember 2022|inform.tmforum.orgOctober 2022|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Rahul Gupta,Senior AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editorsponsored by:mainframemodernization:charting a course to cloud nativeREPORTAuthors:Mark Newman,Chief Analyst,TM ForumDawn Bushaus,

177、Contributing Analyst,TM ForumSponsored by:Editor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor,TM Forumestablishing links:platform models in the Open API economy March 2023REPORTAuthor:Sponsored by:Teresa Cottam,Contributing AnalystDawn Bushaus,Contributing Editorcounterusing AI to improve customer experienceintelligenc

178、eBENCHMARKAuthors:Mark Newman,Chief Analyst,TM ForumDawn Bushaus,Contributing Analyst,TM ForumJoanne Taafe,Editor in Chief,InformEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor,TM ForumSponsored by:a roadmap fortelecomsgrowthTM Forum|March 2023Asia-PacificREPORTAuthor:Ed Finegold,Contributing AnalystDawn Bushaus,Co

179、ntributing EditorTM Forum|May 2023who does what and can CSPs compete for more?partner ecosystems:REPORTEditor:Author:Sponsored by:Dean Ramsay,Principal Analyst,TM ForumIan Kemp,Managing Editor,TM Forummakingwaves:the future for Open RAN technologyJune 2023|inform.tmforum.orgREPORTDigital Transformat

180、ion Tracker 7 with automation and Author:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing EditorEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing EditorSponsored by:TM Forum|June 2023cutting complexity AICSPs take key steps to modernize network inventoryREPORTAuthor:Mark MortensenEditor:Dawn BushausISBN:Sponsored by:June 2023|www.tmforum.orgAutho

181、r:Dr.Mark H.Mortensen,Contributing AnalystEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editorsponsored by:Sponsored by:Author:Editor:ISBN:REPORTtransformingBSS:racing to a flexible,customer-focused futureJune 2023|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Teresa Cottam,Contributing AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editorsponsored b

182、y:Sponsored by:Author:Editor:ISBN:REPORTstandout strategies:how telcos are innovating in a crowded marketJune 2023|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Mark Newman,Chief AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editorsponsored by:August 2023|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Ed Finegold,Contributing AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing Edi

183、torsponsored by:how software-as-a-serviceis reshaping business support systemsReignitingtelecoms growthAugust 2023|www.tmforum.orgsponsored by:Authors:Sangeet Paul Choudary,Platform Thinking LabsNik Willetts,CEO,TM ForumAnthony Rodrigo,CIO,AxiataDean Ramsay,Principal Analyst,TM Foruma Playbook for C

184、EOsSeptember 2023|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Mark Newman,Chief AnalystEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor sponsored by:wholesalechanges:rethinking support systemsfor new fiber operatorsSponsored by:Author:Mark Newman Chief Analyst Editor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor REPORTrethinking support syste

185、ms for new fiber operatorsSeptember 2023|URL TBCwholesalechanges:Sponsored by:Author:Mark Newman Chief Analyst Editor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor REPORTrethinking support systems for new fiber operatorsSeptember 2023|URL TBCwholesalechanges:BENCHMARKAuthors:Mark Newman,Chief AnalystDean Ramsay,

186、Principal AnalystEditor:Ian Kemp,Managing EditorTM Forum|September 2023telcorevenuegrowth:time foroperators toplace new betsSeptember 2023|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Patrick Donegan,Principal Analyst,HardenStanceEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor,TM Forumsponsored by:Sponsored by:Author:Patrick Done

187、gan Principal Analyst HardenStanceEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor TM Forum REPORTrisk management moves firmly into the telco spotlightcybersecurity strategies:September 2023|URL TBCrisk management moves firmly into the telco spotlightCybersecurity strategies:REPORTSponsored by:leveling up:Au

188、thor:Mark Mortensen,Contributing AnalystEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor achieving Level 3 autonomous networks and beyondAugust 2023September 2023|www.tmforum.orgAuthor:Dr.Mark H Mortensen,Contributing Analyst,TM ForumEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor,TM Forumsponsored by:REPORTSponsore

189、d by:leveling up:Author:Mark Mortensen,Contributing AnalystEditor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor achieving Level 3 autonomous networks and beyondAugust 2023REPORTTM Forum|December 2023operators take their first stepsAuthor:Mark Newman,Chief Analyst Editor:Ian Kemp,Managing Editor Sponsored by:gene

190、rativeAI:REPORTTM Forum|December 2023Author:Ed Finegold,Contributing Analyst Editor:Dawn Bushaus,Contributing Editor Sponsored by:BSSfor B2Boperators diverge on the path to cloudREPORTTM Forum|December 2023the sustainable telco:navigating the maze of scope 3 emissionsmeet the research&media team34in

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