The open architecture needed for a thriving 5G services market and seamless connectivity-as-a-service solutions

Commercial context

CSPs are making significant investments to capitalize on 5G, with an estimated $600 billion to be spent by 2025 according to McKinsey. These investments are not focused solely on enhancing raw connectivity, but also on creating architecture to make it as easy as possible to support creation and integration of new products and services for the wider ecosystem. This new generation of services relies on accessing CSPs’ connectivity-as-a-service (CaaS) offerings to cater to the specific requirements of each use case – meaning CSPs need a marketplace of partners to monetize network provision.

To facilitate this, CSPs are using solutions like CAMARA, TM Forum APIs, and TM Forum Open Digital Architecture (ODA) to improve provision and management of these new network capabilities. These are vital to enabling fully automated solutions that partners can seamlessly integrate into their applications. For example, network slicing allows the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single infrastructure, enabling CSPs to provide tailored services to various vertical industries. However, the current provisioning processes are not sufficiently advanced to commercialize these services, prompting the need for more sophisticated solutions.

The solution works

The CABOOM! Converged access B2B2C over ODA marketplace – Phase III Catalyst aims to resolve such difficulties. Its solution involves using TM Forum assets to fundamentally enhance the capabilities of CSPs’ operational support systems (OSS) to align with new 5G technologies. TM Forum assets including APIs, ODA components and standards play a critical role here in enabling CSPs to provide customizable and high-quality services efficiently.

ODA components provide a modular and flexible framework supporting rapid service deployment and scaling. The ODA’s engagement domain interfaces with customer-facing applications, ensuring that when a service is requested, the appropriate resources are allocated, and the service is delivered efficiently. By focusing on how the engagement domain can be utilized, the solution ensures that user interactions are seamless and that services can be quickly adapted to meet demand.

The TM Forum Open APIs are integral to automating and integrating various operational tasks, ensuring seamless communication between different systems and components. Key APIs include those for service order management, service catalog management, event management, service inventory management, service test management, resource inventory management, product inventory management, billing management, and service quality management. These APIs enable CSPs to automate the entire order-to-cash process, from service qualification and provisioning to assurance and billing.

For instance, when a user in a stadium orders an augmented reality (AR) experience via an app, the APIs handle the service order, manage network resources, and ensure quality service. The solution then streamlines the order-to-cash cycle, ensuring rapid and accurate billing, payment processing, and service activation. This efficiency minimizes delays and enhances customer satisfaction. The scalability and flexibility of the OSS enable CSPs to manage network resources effectively, ensuring seamless connectivity even during peak demand periods.

As a whole, these components ensure the seamless integration and operation of services, and provide a framework for delivering high-quality, on-demand products. The Catalyst also seeks to develop new ODA standards and use cases to address emerging requirements. These new standards enhance CSPs' ability to offer programmable network capabilities through standard APIs, fostering a dynamic and responsive service environment.

Wider application and value

By using these TM Forum assets, the solution enables CSPs to deliver network slicing services efficiently to various vertical industries, enhancing OSS to provide customizable communication quality of service (QoS). So far, the Catalyst has already been demonstrated its success in stadium applications. In this scenario, the solution has made it possible for attendees to use an app to order services such as AR experiences, live video and audio feeds, and more. Upon selecting these services, they receive an automatic communication service boost to ensure optimal performance. This tailored service model can be extended to various audiences within the stadium, such as referees, fans, and team managers.

The various applications and users accessing any given service at any one time is underpinned by monetization models, making it easy for third-party service providers to concentrate on developing their core service, rather than have to deal with every aspect of integration. As you would expect, this new form of dynamic OSS capabilities can be applied beyond arena use cases. There is significant potential in using this solution in a variety of high-demand environments. Ultimately, by enabling high-quality, on-demand communication boosts in specific locations, CSPs can enhance user experiences, create premium offerings and generate substantial revenues.

According to Tri Trinh, Research engineer for VNPT, “this Catalyst helps CSP open their ecosystems to third-party developers and enterprises, enabling them to tap into the rapidly growing immersive entertainment market, which is projected to reach $420 billion by 2030. Ultimately, this can provide the industry with new growth opportunities by offering programmable network capabilities through standard APIs. By automating CaaS fulfilment and assurance, CSPs can attract a new market of third-party developers, enabling innovative business models and unlocking the full potential of 5G technology.”