Open RAN and private networks might grab many of the tech headlines in telecoms, but innovation in OSS/BSS systems shouldn’t be overlooked. They are vital to monetize 5G and other network investments.
Moreover, increasingly ‘intelligent’ next-gen support systems will underpin telco digital transformation. If mobile network operators and fixed-line players are to take full advantage of new technologies, such as software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV), the analyst consensus is they must adapt their OSS/BSS.
Mind Commerce, a market research firm, calculates strong growth in the global NGN OSS/BSS services market, going from a value of $39.8 billion in 2020 to $80.7 billion by 2028. An impressive 9.2% CAGR is calculated over the 2021–2028 forecast period.
Growth drivers
Mind Commerce analysts identify three key applications of NGN OSS/BSS systems that they think will drive growth in the market.
One of them is 5G. NGN OSS/BSS systems will be needed to support 5G network slicing, both in the administration of layer allocations – as well as making sure SLAs are met – and billing for the use of individual layers. Mass IoT systems supported by 5G networks will also need NGN OSS/BSS.
Another driver is the broader IoT market, which will require operational support for intermediation between networks and systems. IoT billing systems also represent, according to Mind Commerce, significant potential growth area for the NGN OSS/BSS market. Looking long-term, IoT authentication and authorization, along with the use of blockchain technology, is expected to emerge as a key area dependent on NGN OSS/BSS
The third growth driver flagged by Mind Commerce is next-generation applications and services. 5G networks create the possibility of introducing many next-generation services, including those based on virtual reality (VR) technologies. There will also be new business models for VR applications and services, as well as other next-generation applications, that will require support from NGN OSS/BSS systems.
ISPs, for example, will need to support virtual identity, and connect virtual and real worlds by offering mixed reality applications and services. None of this can be done efficiently without intelligent operational support.
Head for the cloud, use automation/analytics
Among the NGN OSS/BSS features seen as key by Mind Commerce is that support systems are ready to work in a cloud environment, allow greater automation of operations, and can harness analytics based on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
According to Mind Commerce’s forecasts, cloud platforms were the most common NGN OSS/BBS deployment are (77.8% in 2020) and are set for anticipated 10.3% CAGR over the 2021–2028 forecast period.
