IDC Whitepaper Addresses The Challenges Of Cost-Effectively Deploying 5G At Scale

• What’s the News: Industry analyst firm IDC explains how iconectiv® TruOps Common Language® will play a larger role in the evolution of networks—particularly in support of accelerating 5G rollouts—while continuing to support ongoing network operations and maintenance.
• Why it Matters: The greatest challenge communication service providers face is keeping pace with technology advancements—like 5G—that allow new revenue-generating services to be introduced profitably and at scale. One big hurdle to achieving this is the deployment, management and interconnection of physical and virtual assets that support these services.
• Who’s it for: Network operators, hosted network service providers, communications platform-as-a-service (CPaaS) operators, fixed and mobile virtual network operators, wholesale connectivity providers, operations support systems (OSS) vendors and business support systems (BSS) suppliers.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – APRIL 29, 2021 – The greatest challenge communication service providers face is keeping pace with technology advancements—like 5G—that support the rollout of new revenue-generating services in a way that is both profitable and scalable. One of the main hurdles to achieving this is the deployment, management and interconnection of physical and virtual assets that support these services.

To address this challenge, IDC has released a new whitepaper, "Common Language Drives Customer Value for All Network Technology: 5G/MEC and Virtualized Networking," which explains how service providers can achieve business value by maximizing use of a standardized nomenclature. The paper discusses how a common naming strategy improves the effectiveness of real-time network operations and key business management functions while also bringing increased awareness when launching and managing new network-based services.

“While 5G is driving the industry forward and creating new and lucrative business opportunities, it is also introducing new complexities for network operations,” said Michael O’Brien, Chief Product Officer, iconectiv. “These complexities are simplified with a universal structure that identifies what network equipment is in operation—whether it be a physical or virtual asset—including where it’s located and its functionality. This ensures the network is operating as efficiently as possible, and allows providers to roll out services faster, ultimately reducing time to revenue for their innovation investments.”

In the whitepaper, IDC offers specific examples and use cases including:

• 5G and Network Edge Device Identification - Like network architecture of the past, deploying 5G and edge computing devices requires a unique way of identifying the communications equipment installed at different points of a network, including what is supplied by partners and network operators at these points, along with tracking the functional capabilities of the equipment and where it is deployed.
• Virtualized Network Function (VNF) License Management - Unlike physical components, VNF and Cloud Native Network Function (CNF), software will need to be tracked and traced more closely, which must include stipulations of how a VNF/CNF license can be used, exchanged or modified.
• Partner ecosystem management and accountability - A business management approach that can deliver a frictionless experience for partners and for customers is essential to enable chargeable solutions that provide high customer value and a profitable revenue flow.
• Real-time service assurance in a 5G/ Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC)/Internet of Things (IoT) World – In increasingly connected environments, the ongoing identification and management of millions of network assets is highly complex. Automated service assurance—fueled by customer-centric network intelligence—plays a significant role in maintaining 5G and other next generation services that involve various stages of partner engagement.

“Service providers have counted on Common Language to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of their network operations and key business management functions, which is becoming increasingly important in the 5G era,” said Karl Whitelock, IDC's Research Vice President, Operations and Monetization industry practice. “It may seem simple, but consistent and accurate naming for operations and asset tracking not only relieves a big headache for service providers but also serves as a competitive advantage in the race to expand into key markets with new technology and services.”

The complete report can be found here.