Telecom operations are on the verge of a huge inflection point. Will your OSS/BSS systems help ensure your organisation not only survives but thrives through it?
The future of telecom OSS/BSS is being shaped by rapid technological advancements, regulatory shifts and evolving customer demands. In 2025, the five key trends that follow will redefine how telecom operators manage networks, services and customer experiences.
As the value of information traversing global telecom networks increases, their attractiveness as cyber-targets also escalates. Networks face increasing threats, not just from cyberattacks and data breaches but from associated service disruptions. These challenges demand counter-measures - robust network assurance strategies that protect both operational integrity and data security. In this article, we explore how telecom operators can utilise network assurance and network inventory solutions in new ways to help combat rising cyber threats.
Change Management can be easily forgotten about by network operators and OSS/BSS vendors alike when embarking on a major OSS transformation project. In a recent Twitter post, Jason Fried posed a powerful question for those guiding a customer on an OSS transformation. Rather than simply focusing on what users will get or do with a new tool, as most project teams do, we should ask ourselves, what are customers going to stop doing once they start using it? This provides an entirely new perspective on the OSS transformation, one that shifts to the lens to the customer and their concerns, hopes, fears and dreams.
The focus of the OSS industry often raises questions about whether it is addressing the most relevant areas, particularly in relation to the Hierarchy of Insight. The Hierarchy of insight is an evolution of the DIKW Pyramid (Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom), which is shown in the diagram below.
One of the most important workflows any telco can perform is that of bringing a new product to market. New offerings can drive business growth, enhance competitiveness and address evolving demands or expectations of the market. In an industry where technological advancements and customer expectations shift constantly, failing to introduce new or updated offers can even result in loss of market share. Moreover, a new offering can allow telcos to capitalise on emerging technologies or network investments, opening up new revenue streams from those investments. Perhaps most importantly, a new offer can strengthen customer loyalty by being seen to offer innovative services tailored to the evolving needs of consumers.
Telecom network automation represents an exciting path of possibility in the way telecommunication networks are managed, operated, and maintained. As networks become more complex and customer expectations for reliability and service quality increase, the traditional, highly manual processes that have long underpinned network management are no longer viable. The adoption of more sophisticated automation technologies is not merely an operational choice but a strategic imperative that are required to supplement and enhance the capabilities of Operational Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS).
Maintaining robust network and service assurance is a non-negotiable requirement for any network operator. Every telecommunications customer expects their services to be reliable, especially as we become ever more reliant on our network connections and the apps that depend on them. Network operators have no choice but to ensure seamless service delivery, optimal performance, and customer satisfaction despite dealing with an increasingly complex service delivery environment. This is where Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) play a pivotal role. Advanced OSS/BSS solutions act like an insurance policy, allowing operators to rely on the availability of their network and the services that ride over them.
Network Lifecycle Management (NLM) is the systematic process of overseeing a network, and all of the components that it’s comprised of, evolve from its initial design and deployment through to its retirement or replacement. It encompasses a series of phases, including planning, designing, implementing, operating, optimising, and eventually decommissioning network components. Each phase plays a critical role in maintaining network performance, security and reliability. With margins seemingly diminishing within the telco sector year over year, optimal management of the network lifecycle is increasingly important.
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