"This will be a validation of real-time and end-to-end capabilities of Service Level Management for combined service of IP networks with 2.5/3G wireless services, according to NGOSS principles," said SLM Catalyst Team Leader Hans-Ruedi Stucki of Smartrek, a catalyst sponsor. "The real-world orientation, using real networks for wireless access and IP transport and real end-user services promises an exciting demo."
The project will show how combined services of IP networks with 2.5/3G wireless services work in an "NGOSS Powered" way. NGOSS compliance is ensured through the implementation of a common information bus including a process management and shared data model repository. Telecom equipment manufacturers, telecom service providers and independent software vendors will supply the infrastructure and services. The scenario will consist of multiple subscribers using a wireless handset unit, connected with a service offering video on demand (video streaming). The demonstration network will consist of a wireless LAN access, GPRS simulation, an IP network connection and a content server.
This set-up is used to demonstrate customer implementation and activation within an NGOSS model, using eCare/ self-service capabilities. In case of service quality degradation, a business intelligence and optimization function will recommend changes to the network based on multiple customer value components (e.g. contract/SLA value, historical usage, value of the current session, etc.). Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring will be based on both, network performance data and in-session information provided by IPDRs. Quality degradation, SLA violations and impacts on billing will be made available to the customer through eCRM functionalities.
In the first phase, the catalyst project demonstrated real-time information requirements for provisioning and management of services within a GPRS network in the areas of Service Level Agreement (SLA) Contracting, Service Reconfiguration, Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration, SLA and QoS Compliance Verification and Customer Impact, and resulted in a successful NGOSS implementation at the TeleManagement World Conference, May 2001 in Nice. The project was called "Plug & Play Contract/SLA Management within UMTS" and was the first catalyst project in TM forum's history granted the `NGOSS Powered' award. Succeeding the award winning first phase of the project, the follow-up project "Service Level Management for Wireless IP" has been granted the `NGOSS Powered' award for the second time.
SLM
For Wireless IP Catalyst Participants:
Amdocs -- Contract & Order Management, IPDR
Mediation, eCRM (customer interface), Rating & Billing
cVidya networks, Inc. -- Optimization, Policy Management
edocs, Inc. -- Online Account Management and e-Billing,
eCRM (self-service care)
Enition -- Content Valuation
Ericsson -- GPRS simulation
Lucent Worldwide Services -- Liaison to TM Forum WBSM
Team & eTOM, Project support
Narus -- Traffic Analysis and Mediation
Sirius Software -- Network Performance Mediation,
Problem Handling, Service Quality Management (SQM),
Contract/SLA Compliance Verification (CQoS), Business Intelligence
Sodalia -- Service Provisioning, Network Reconfiguration
Vitria, Inc. -- Process Management, Shared Data
Repository, Communications Infrastructure (information bus)
Catalyst Sponsors:
Deutsche Telekom: T-Systems: T-Systems is one of the four pillars of the Deutsche Telekom with the business sectors mobile-communication (T-Mobil), internet service provider (T-Online), data-communication and business solutions (T-Systems) and fixed line-communication (T-Com). The four pillars are positioned in the growing, "TIMES" markets telecommunication, information technology, multimedia, entertainment and security services. T-Systems acts on the market as a leading supplier for convergent solutions for national and international key accounts with global solution competence. The strength of T-Systems is based on convergent TK and IT solutions. The "service offering" covers the activities of system integration, software development, migration services, professional services and applications management including undertaking the business responsibility for the whole project.
In this catalyst project T-Systems performs the tasks of the technical team leader and systems integrator. This includes the design and implementation of the overall communication structure and workflows using the Vitria BusinessWare product.
Smartrek: Smartrek is a supplier of Service Management services and solutions with a proven track record and years of expertise in the converging areas of telecommunication and information technology. Founded in 1999, Smartrek is privately held and located in Wabern near Bern, Switzerland. Smartrek is specialized in implementing, optimizing and supporting Service Level Management, performance, and quality monitoring solutions for Telecommunications and IT services and assists providers who want to become more competitive by introducing a high level of service assurance in their business - starting from network and service reporting, via service level verification, up to full service level management implementations.
In this catalyst project, Smartrek performs the tasks of the Team Lead and overall Project Management. Additionally, Smartrek brings its expertise in service level management solutions into the project.
Swisscom: Swisscom is Switzerland's leading telecommunications provider. The innovative customer-driven and highly competitive company provides comprehensive solutions in mobile and fixed-line voice and data communications, as well as in e-business.
Swisscom operates a Corporate Technology unit (CT), with a staff of currently 150 employees, devoted to technology exploration, and promoting innovation and technology transfer. Expert knowledge is systematically built up by exploratory work in programmes covering all areas relevant for the emergence of the information society. Corporate Technology has a tradition in participating in international RTD projects (like TM Catalyst, IST, ACTS, and Eurescom). In this catalyst project, Swisscom is hosting the integration week and delivers the end-user service & content infrastructure, mobile terminal equipment, the access and IP network.
Telecom Italia Mobile: TIM (Telecom Italia Group) is the first GSM mobile operator in the world. With over 41 million customers. TIM today is the star of an entirely Italian success story founded on a blend of advanced technology, dynamism and entrepreneurship. TIM's strategy is aimed at maintaining and reinforcing its leadership in Italy and abroad through the acquisition of market shares, thus contributing to the technological development of telecommunications in Italy and worldwide. TIM continues to be at the core of the Telecom Italia Group's international strategy for mobile telephony, maintaining its position as global player. Today TIM is present in Austria, France, Greece, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Venezuela.
About TeleManagement Forum: TeleManagement Forum is an international non-profit group of information and communications service providers, software developers, equipment suppliers and systems integrators focused exclusively on management and operations issue.
By bringing together the entire "value chain" of the information and communications services industry, TM Forum provides a collaborative environment in which buyers and suppliers of business operations support systems can develop pragmatic solutions to pressing problems. Its latest initiative to design new Generation Operations Systems and Software (NGOSS) is aimed at taking advantage of off-the-shelf systems that can plug and play far more easily than today. For more information visit www.tmforum.org.
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CONTACT:
Sirius Software
Ken Davis, 817/441-8673
ken.davis@sirius-eos.com
or
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sally@sssmith.com
or
TeleManagement Forum
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ndibene@tmforum.org