Colt selects NEC/Netcracker OSS, Service Orchestration solutions

NEC and Netcracker Technology announced that UK-based Colt has selected their technology for its large-scale OSS transformation, designed to equip the service provider to deploy next generation of infrastructure including virtualisation.

Under the agreement, Colt will leverage Netcracker's next-generation OSS and Service Orchestration solution, which forms a part of NEC/Netcracker's Agile Virtualization Platform and Practice (AVP).

Netcracker's OSS and Service Orchestration solution is designed to enable Colt to optimise its physical network and monetise new investments. The Netcracker solutions will also allow Colt to prepare its infrastructure for the use of both physical and virtualised environments.

NEC/Netcracker's Service Orchestration solution will provide Colt with increased provisioning automation and help to speed the delivery of new services to customers, as well as remove the risk of provisioning errors resulting from manual processes. The solution will also provide Colt with greater visibility into the network and thereby enable enhanced support and improved services.

http://www.nec.com/en/press/201706/global_20170606_03.html

• Recently, Colt announced newly optimised low-latency network routes linking stock exchanges in Tokyo and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, offering latency between Tokyo and Chicago as low as 121.07 ms between each endpoint after network optimisation. Colt noted at the time that it had also commenced optimisation of other key routes in the Asia Pacific region.
• Colt also announced recently the expansion of its Colt IQ Network to Helsinki, a growing focus for data centre investments. By extending its existing Nordic network to Helsinki, Colt can provide new network routes, including 10 Tbit/s capacity to Stockholm and a 100 Gbit/s-enabled connection that closes its fibre ring from Finland to Germany, linking Helsinki to Warsaw and Berlin.
• Colt is a global high bandwidth connectivity provider that delivers services to small, medium and large enterprises and wholesale carriers in nearly 30 countries in Europe, Asia and North America via its intelligent, cloud-integrated network, known as the Colt IQ Network. The Colt network connects over 700 data centres and over 24,500 on-net buildings.

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Netcracker 12 Targets Operation of Virtual and Cloud Infrastructure

Netcracker Technology announced the launch of Netcracker 12, a new technology platform featuring a comprehensive product suite designed to help service providers accelerate digitalisation and operationalise virtual and cloud infrastructures at scale.

The new Netcracker 12 provides an integrated platform with two-speed architecture and advanced agility layers designed to support rapid customer engagement, while optimising the digital business and operational domains.

The enhanced Netcracker product portfolio aligns to the business, operational and infrastructure needs of digital service providers and encompasses domains including:

1.         Digital customer enablement, leveraging a multi-speed architecture and analytics to enable omni-channel customer support and management, also offering an application and partner ecosystem.

2.         Digital business enablement, designed to transform legacy customer, partner and revenue management IT environments into cloud-based business systems.

3.         Digital operations enablement to help service providers rapidly create and deliver new digital, virtualised, cloud and value-added services over hybrid networks and including NFV management and orchestration and SDN controllers.

4.         Digital and cloud infrastructure, comprising virtual network functions (VNFs) including customer-edge, core and value-added VNFs, as well as data centre and NFVI and IoT and M2M modules.

5.         Advanced analytics that leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics modules that can be applied to internal and external operations.

6.         Cloud platform, a microservices-based, cloud-native platform that serves as the foundation for all Netcracker products and solutions, deployable in private, public or hybrid clouds using a DevOps approach.

7.         Business, operations and infrastructure agility layers, comprising an API ecosystem that enables the multi-speed IT architecture.

Netcracker noted that Netcarcker 12 is complemented by an expanded portfolio of professional services, designed to ensure that customers receive the support and guidance required to manage the complexities of a multi-speed IT architecture as they launch digital transformation and virtualisation initiatives.

https://www.netcracker.com/insights/press-releases/netcracker-at-tm-forum-live-2017.html

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Andorra Telecom Deploys Additional Netcracker BSS Capabilities

Andorra Telecom, the national telecommunications operator and regulator for the Principality of Andorra, has gone live with a BSS expansion by implementing Netcracker’s Online Charging System and Voucher Management solution to consolidate its pre-paid and post-paid customers onto a single converged billing platform. The BSS solutions will integrate with Andorra Telecom’s already extensive suite of end-to-end Netcracker BSS and OSS solutions.

http://www.Netcracker.com

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Ericsson to License its OSS interfaces to Cisco and NETSCOUT

Ericsson announced license agreements with both Cisco Systems and Tektronix Communications (a wholly owned subsidiary of NETSCOUT SYSTEMS) in alignment with the principles outlined in the OSS Interoperability Initiative (OSSii).

Specifically, Ericsson will license its OSS interfaces for integration with Cisco self-optimizing network (SON) products and Tektronix Communications TrueCall geoanalytics platform.

OSSii enables pre-verification of products for new network releases, and provides lifecycle management for interfaces. In addition, it allows both OSSii partners and third parties to support network releases without lengthy and complex integration projects.

Fredrik Gessler, Head of Network Analytics and Management, Ericsson, says: "With the rapid evolution of mobile networks, interoperability is becoming a major expense for operators. OSSii addresses this issue by delivering integration efficiencies, faster time-to-market and lower integration costs, and Ericsson's agreements with Cisco Systems and Tektronix Communications underline Ericsson's commitment to supporting interoperability and to providing flexibility for our customers."
Uzi Breier, Director of Business Development, Cisco, says: "Cisco's collaboration with Ericsson on the OSSii initiative helps both companies deliver superior service. Fine tuning Cisco's SON to the most updated Ericsson interfaces and specifications will help maximize the potential of our customers' Radio Access Networks."

Both agreements run from August 2015 and will initially cover three years.

http://www.ericsson.com

In February 2014, Ericsson has signed cross-license agreements with Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) and Huawei for multi-vendor interoperability, to simplify operators' use of Operations Support Systems (OSS).  In signing the agreements, Ericsson furthers the goals of the Operations Support Systems interoperability initiative (OSSii).

OSSii is an initiative led by major network vendors (Ericsson, NSN and Huawei), which aims to facilitate the interoperability between network management systems from different vendors. OSSii is promoting competition for network-level OSS systems by reducing the overall integration costs, as well as speeding up the time to market for new services. The licenses will be available to other OSS vendors on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) terms and conditions.

Cross-license agreements allow Ericsson and other vendors to develop and sell network management products and services based on each other's proprietary OSS-interfaces. As part of the initiative Ericsson will provide a remote testing service for interoperability testing.

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Sprint Chooses ItsOn's Virtualized OSS/BSS

ItsOn, a start-up based in Redwood City, California, announced that Sprint will use its Smart Services Platform to enhance mobile network capabilities and enable new types of mobile services.

Under the multi-year deal, Sprint will use ItsOn’s SaaS cloud solution to design and implement granular service policy control for various data, text and voice services. Sprint will be integrating the ItsOn cloud capabilities into its existing network architecture and the ItsOn Smart Services™ device software will be embedded in all new Sprint Android devices sold through all distribution channels going forward.

“The ItsOn solution provides an end-to-end mobile network policy design, deployment and management platform with intelligent and granular control of mobile network communications,” said David Owens, Senior Vice President Product Development at Sprint. “While other mobile operators stay with traditional solutions that require years to deploy new types of services, Sprint will reduce our deployment cycles down to a few weeks by virtualizing multiple service control capabilities with the ItsOn platform.”

http://www.itsoninc.com

• ItsOn is already being used by Zact Mobiles, an MVNO that runs on the Sprint networks. Zact provides the user with granular control over their monthly plan. http://www.zact.com/
  
• ItsOn is backed by Tenaya Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Vodafone Ventures, Verizon Investments, SV Angel and an investor group led by Jim Davidson.

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Alcatel-Lucent Builds Cloud-based OSS Solution

Alcatel-Lucent is preparing to launch a new cloud-based portfolio of OSS (operations support systems) capabilities within its Motive portfolio of customer experience solutions that could be deployed as an overlay to an existing OSS.

Alcatel-Lucent said this new portfolio innovates in three unique ways: a new foundation that can dynamically identify and track all network resources; fully automated, programmable OSS that can fulfill orders and assure services; and a "self-healing" environment driven by big data network analytics that evolves from automated recovery to predictive management.

By offering an overlay, the new Motive Dynamic Operations portfolio provides a path for service providers to migrate to the cloud by making their operational infrastructure as agile as the virtualized network and data center.

Alcatel-Lucent plans to integrated the virtualized OSS with its CloudBand NFV solution, Nuage Networks’ SDN solution, and virtualized network functions, including evolved packet core (EPC), IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and radio access network (RAN).

Telefónica is using Alcatel-Lucent’s OSS technology to drive automated operations and recovery. Alcatel-Lucent and Telefónica announced plans in 2012 to streamline the operator’s OSS into a single, global software platform for greater network management agility and efficiency. In February, the two companies followed up with the announcement they were joining forces to accelerate Telefónica’s move to NFV.

Andrew McDonald, Alcatel-Lucent, President, IP Platform Business Division: “It is imperative to fundamentally change the current OSS approach before operators will be able to realize the promise of NFV and SDN. After launching both an NFV platform in Cloud Band, an SDN solution through Nuage Networks and a compehensive virtualized packet core, IMS and wireless network functions, Alcatel-Lucent is now bringing innovation to the OSS space with the launch of Motive Dynamic Operation, which delivers the OSS agility required for operating networks in the cloud.”

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com

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T-Mobile US selects Ericsson for OSS/BSS Managed Service

T-Mobile has awarded a contract to Ericsson to improve business and IT billing processes for all branded T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers.  The long-term contract will leverage Ericsson's pre-integrated OSS/BSS software suite.  Ericsson's Service Agility solution includes charging, billing, order management, product catalog and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Ericsson will integrate and manage operations of the solution. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ericsson said T-Mobile customers will gain real-time billing visibility and full control over account service changes. This will result in a streamlined customer experience as well as reduced overall operational costs for T-Mobile.

"Ericsson and T-Mobile have a long-standing relationship and this expansion gives us the agility we need to continue growing our valued customer base," said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer for T-Mobile. "The work now underway with Ericsson will enhance our infrastructure and deliver an even better experience to our customers."

http://www.ericsson.com/oss-bss/

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CenturyLink to Implement Ericsson's Next Gen OSS/BSS

CenturyLink has selected Ericsson's next-generation OSS/BSS solution to simplify its business processes.  Ericsson's Service Agility solution will support CenturyLink's next-generation products such as Global Ethernet, Internet, Virtual Private Network and Optical Wavelength services to its enterprise customers. As part of this effort, CenturyLink will implement an open Application Program Interface (API) structure, allowing quicker delivery of new products and features. Rollout will begin at the end of 2014 and continue through 2015. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Ericsson's Service Agility will help support our goals to simplify our business and better serve our customers by enabling faster product delivery, enhancing service capabilities and providing back office support for the software-defined network and virtualized environment we are creating," said James Feger, CenturyLink Vice President of Network Strategy and Development. "We recognize the value of Ericsson's thought leadership and innovation and are excited that our collaboration on this new OSS/BSS solution will provide our customers with an enhanced service experience."

http://www.ericsson.com
http://www.centurylink.com

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Ericsson Joins NSN and Huawei in OSS Interoperability

Ericsson has signed cross-license agreements with Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN) and Huawei for multi-vendor interoperability, to simplify operators' use of Operations Support Systems (OSS).

In signing the agreements, Ericsson furthers the goals of the Operations Support Systems interoperability initiative (OSSii).

OSSii is an initiative led by major network vendors (Ericsson, NSN and Huawei), which aims to facilitate the interoperability between network management systems from different vendors. OSSii is promoting competition for network-level OSS systems by reducing the overall integration costs, as well as speeding up the time to market for new services. The licenses will be available to other OSS vendors on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) terms and conditions.

Cross-license agreements allow Ericsson and other vendors to develop and sell network management products and services based on each other's proprietary OSS-interfaces. As part of the initiative Ericsson will provide a remote testing service for interoperability testing.

"This initiative marks a positive step towards improving efficiency in the fragmented OSS market. By signing these agreements, we will achieve our goal of stimulating innovation in network management, as well as reducing costs for our customers," stated Thomas Norén, Vice President and Head of Product Area Radio.

http://www.ericsson.com

Earlier in February, NSN and Huawei announced a commitment to cross-license the OSS interfaces used for multi-vendor management as part of the OSS interoperability initiative (OSSii).

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NSN and Huawei Sign Bilateral OSS Interoperability Agreement

NSN and Huawei announced a commitment to cross-license the OSS interfaces used for multi-vendor management as part of the OSS interoperability initiative (OSSii) - a first between major vendors.

Under the OSSii agreement, NSN and Huawei will cross-license their proprietary Element Management System (EMS) interfaces. The agreement allows NSN and Huawei  to use the proprietary EMS interfaces for systems integration and provides the rights to develop, manufacture and sell the integrations as part of their OSS system. In the signed agreement, the two companies also define interoperability testing practices.

“This agreement will bring a whole new level of agility to multi-vendor integrations.” said Peter Patomella, vice president for CEM and OSS at NSN. “We have an industry-leading CEM and OSS portfolio, and OSSii will allow our customers to derive the best possible business value from it, with reduced focus on integration aspects.”

http://www.ossii.info

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NSN Virtualizes its NetAct OSS for Radio, Core and Transport Networks

Nokia Solutions and Networks introduced its NetAct 8, a virtualized, single Operations Support System (OSS) for managing radio, core and transport networks. It provides off-the-shelf management of Network Function Virtualization, simplifying network operations and reducing operational expenses.

The company said its NetAct 8 is able to provide a single, end-to-end view of multi-technology, multi-domain and multi-vendor networks. NetAct 8'd interface shows real-time performance information and powerful alarm correlation to reduce growing operational complexity. Virtualization enables NetAct 8 to deliver very high availability independent of any single hardware platform. Furthermore, future upgrades can be done almost instantly. A single OSS provides unique operational benefits. For example, integrated radio and transport configuration management simplifies the creation of VPN-secured connections between the LTE base station and the Core network.

“Operators need a simpler way to run ever-more sophisticated networks as technologies like LTE and small cells are added. In this latest version of our
With these insights, operators can prioritize fixes with the highest impact. A positive customer experience results in more revenue and happier customers, with fewer calls to the customer care center. The productized integration of SQM and CEM on Demand also enables faster deployment of customer-centric service operations.

Also new are an off-the-shelf integration of Customer Experience Management (CEM) and Service Quality Management (SQM) products as well as a Service Fulfillment Introduction Pack. While SQM proactively identifies the occurrence and causes of service quality degradation, CEM on Demand shows the impact on the individual customer experience.

http://nsn.com/portfolio/products/operations-support-systems

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VimpelCom Goes Live with the NetCracker OSS

VimpelCom has deployed NetCracker OSS for a single view of its fixed and mobile networks. The project was delivered as part of VimpleCom’s initiative, aimed at increasing operational efficiency through consolidation of IT systems and optimization of IT infrastructure. The companies said the deployment has enabled VimpelCom to achieve a dramatic decrease of the number of inventory systems.

NetCracker’s OSS solution provides VimpelCom with an up-to-date, end-to-end view of over 500,000 interconnected equipment units located on the company’s 45,000 sites and 85,000 customer premises as well as a deep insight into the entire network topology. In addition, NetCracker OSS allows for deeper integration with the company’s other support systems. This enhanced functionality greatly increases the efficiency of VimpelCom’s fulfillment and assurance processes and reduces OpEx and operational complexity. With this implementation, NetCracker’s OSS solution is planned to be the core platform for inventory and fulfillment.

NetCracker is a division of NEC.

http://www.netcracker.com/

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T-Mobile Poland Selects Ericsson for Billing

T-Mobile awarded a three-year contract to Ericsson for application development and maintenance for its billing system in Poland.  T-Mobile, Poland has previously selected the Ericsson BSCS iX, a billing system that is now complemented with a service to cost-efficiently develop and maintain the associated business-critical applications.

Ericsson noted that it employs over 12,000 consulting and systems integration professionals globally.  In addition, Ericsson is the global leader in Business Support Systems (BSS) with more than 1,000 billing and revenue management solutions supporting more than 2 billion subscriptions.

http://www.ericsson.com

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Deutsche Telekom Picks NetCracker for Fixed Network Billing

Deutsche Telekom awarded a long-term contract to NetCracker for the ongoing support and maintenance of the billing solution for its fixed network in Germany.

In addition, DT is using NetCracker’s Telecom Operations and Management Solutions (TOMS) suite to provide an end-to-end, next-generation solution that encompasses Order Management and OSS. Leveraging these NetCracker solutions and services enables DT to support new business models and reduce costs. Financial terms were not disclosed.

DT first incorporated NetCracker’s TOMS solution as part of its OSS architecture transformation that emphasized simplification and automation of the operations and management of its next-generation network.

http://www.NetCracker.com

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Tail-f Supplies Configuration and Automation Software for Pulsecom's Ethernet Line

Pulsecom has licensed Tail-f Systems’ multi-vendor configuration management and network automation software to develop its carrier-class Element Management System (EMS) for its SuperG family of Access and Network Interface Device (NID) products.

Tail-f’s NCS  is a network abstraction layer designed to accelerate EMS platform development.  Key features include automated service provisioning and transaction-safe configuration management as well as well as a seamless EMS-to-OSS/BSS interface.

Pulsecom’s SuperG Multiservice Access Switch is a CE 2.0-ready Ethernet and DS1 access solution supporting multiple generations of cell site backhaul and evolving business service requirements.  Its SuperG NID is a CE 2.0-ready Ethernet access solution optimized for cell site and customer premise applications requiring MEF-compliant Ethernet services.

"Tail-f’s NCS software is the backbone for Pulsecom’s NetPulse EMS and has the advanced feature set necessary for Tier 1 carriers. The model-driven development approach allows us to rapidly add and modify management capabilities to meet our customers’ evolving needs. In addition, northbound interfaces are standards-based for smooth integration with OSS/BSS platforms and automated provisioning enables consistent and accurate subscriber service turn-up," stated Paula DeCarlo, Director Pulsecom Engineering Operations.

http://www.tail-f.com
http://www.pulse.com

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Blueprint 2013: OSS/BSS Adapts for Complex Services

Customers are tough to get and easy to lose. The good news is that communications service providers (CSPs)have more and more options for attracting and retaining customers. Here are nine strategies that will play out in 2013.

1. Policy will evolve from a isolated defensive capability to business integral offensive measure. CSPs – particularly mobile operators – currently use policy to a large extent to protect their network. Increasingly they’ll use policy to differentiate their offerings and services based also on customer personal preferences, purchase and usage history. This will require integrated solution between PCRF and OCS, that enables a common product offer creation environment that can be used for both voice and all data product definitions (WCDMA, WiFi, Fixed Broadband).  

2. CSPs will transform over-the-top (OTT) services from a problem into an opportunity. Consumers want ubiquitous communications services. The only way that CSPs can meet that demand is by accepting that for part of the time, they’ll have to serve their customers over someone else’s network. CSPs also have to accept that other CSPs and OTT providers will use their network to serve their customers. Why? Because no one owns the customer. If a CSP won’t meet their needs, they’ll turn to one that can. 

Instead of viewing OTT services as a problem, CSPs will increasingly look at them as a business opportunity. For example, a mobile operator could provide a certain amount of bandwidth and prioritization to a video OTT provider that agrees to share revenue because the QoS would help differentiate its service.

3. CSPs will optimize their OSS/BSS infrastructure to accommodate increasingly complex services. Billing and service assurance will become more important for delivering an optimal mobile customer experience. As more services are introduced, and as the underlying network technologies become more complex, CSPs will focus on their OSS/BSS infrastructure as the centerpiece for ensuring a great customer experience. 

4. Tailored pricing and packaging will become a market differentiator. One size doesn’t fit all. Not every mobile customer, for example, needs or can afford 5 GB per month or 20 Mbps. Tailored packaging of e.g. social media services at a low weekly cost will be one way lower the entry barrier and grow in new segments. With any technology, differentiated pricing appeals to a wider range of needs and budgets, enabling CSPs to cater to all demographics while ensuring profitability. 

5. Smartphone growth won’t plateau anytime soon. Sure, smartphone penetration is already above 50 percent in markets such as the United States. But globally, it’s only 15 percent. That’s a lot of room to grow, and the grow will happen in customer segments that has different needs and wallets compared to the first wave of smartphone customer. Doing so requires differentiated packaging and pricing and other innovative rate plans and service bundles, which in turn require highly flexible BSS/OSS platforms. 

6. Mobile broadband subscriptions will continue to grow. There are 2012 approx. 1.5 billion mobile subscriptions in the world. A big figure, and still only representing less than 25 percent of all mobile subscriptions. It is expected to grow to 6.5 billion mobile broadband subscriptions globally by 2018, representing an uptake of over 70% of all mobile subscriptions. So how can operators succeed to win in this new battle for market share and avoid sever price erosion of broadband data pricing. One key requirement will be highly flexible BSS/OSS platforms in order to create innovative and differentiated offerings that appeal to new segments and at the same time avoid price erosion in among existing customers.  

7. Customer experience will matter more than ever. A reputation for poor service is expensive to overcome. It’s a fact today and it is getting increasingly important tomorrow, as the number of customers that operators are fighting about is not increasing. The increase is in data usage, number of devices and subscriptions. So in order to grow business existing customers need to be maintained especially as the cost for acquiring new customers is very high. Upsell of new services and subscriptions is difficult to customers that are not happy, and on the other hand customers that are happy are likely to buy more, talk well about you, and by that also help creating growth. So make sure that you can deliver on your promise.  For example, if they want to offer business customers a premium experience at a premium price, you first must have the tools in place to assess ensure that experience every step in both the purchase process, activation as well as during actual service usage. 

8. CSPs will analyze customer behavior so they can capitalize on it. Simply providing a voice-and-data pipe out to a customer and collecting a fee is no longer a viable business model. Savvy CSPs realize this. They are deploying OSS/BSS solutions that enable them to analyze how all their customer (prepaid, postpaid and hybrid) are using their services and then create tailored promotions and tariffs that leverage each customer’s or customer group’s habits and preferences. 

9. CSPs will turn customer disgust about being blindsided into a business opportunity and market differentiator. The global backlash against bill shock is just one example. CSPs suffer financially, too, when surprised customers become former customers or share their anguish with their social networks. CSPs also have the cost of fielding all those billing inquiries. Those are among the reasons why mobile operators, MSOs and other CSPs will increasingly provide customers with real-time control of minutes, messages and megabytes used. This information is particularly important for customers with shared, multi-device plans, such as a family or small business.

Providing this type of granular information in a timely manner requires an OSS/BSS solution capable of tracking, controlling and aggregating it. This investment also enables CSPs to create specialized offers, such as providing customers who are approaching their monthly allotment with the option of buying another block of minutes or messages at a special rate. This proactive outreach benefits the CSP’s reputation because now customers perceive it as being sensitive to their budget rather than trying to nickel and dime them.

About the Author

Niclas Melin, Director of OSS and BSS Marketing, joined Ericsson in 1995. He specializes in understanding how real-time capabilities in OSS/BSS can improve the customer experience and create value, and has developed a deep understanding of operators’ challenges and opportunities through operator workshops, discussions with industry analysts and his former role as chairman of the Ericsson Charging User Group.

About Ericsson

Ericsson is the world's leading provider of communications technology and services. We are enabling the Networked Society with efficient real-time solutions that allow us all to study, work and live our lives more freely, in sustainable societies around the world.

Our offering comprises services, software and infrastructure within Information and Communications Technology for telecom operators and other industries. Today more than 40 percent of the world's mobile traffic goes through Ericsson networks and we support customers' networks servicing more than 2.5 billion subscribers. 

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Redknee to Acquire NSN's Business Support Systems

Redknee agreed to acquire Nokia Siemens Networks’ Business Support Systems (BSS) business, which provides real-time charging, rating, policy, and customer care solutions to more than 130 communication service providers, for EUR 15 million  in cash at closing, plus a maximum of EUR 25 million for certain performance-based cash earn-outs expected to be paid over 12 to 36 months post-closing.

NSN claims half of the top 100 global mobile operators are users of its BSS platform.

The deal includes customer and supplier contracts, intellectual property rights, fixed assets and associated liabilities, along with BSS employees.  Nokia Siemens Networks plans to retain a small number of broader customer contracts that include elements of BSS for GSM-R and mobile broadband related mediation.

The employees expected to transfer to Redknee are mainly based in Berlin, Germany; Bangalore, India; and Wroclaw, Poland.

Redknee is also a supplier of software and services that help operators to monetize the value of each subscriber transaction. Its revenue generating solutions provide advanced converged billing, rating, charging and policy for voice, messaging and new generation data services to over 90 network operators in over 50 countries. Redknee is based in Missisagua, Ontario, Canada.

"This planned transaction supports our transformation to focus on mobile broadband. Both Redknee and Nokia Siemens Networks have a reputation for high quality and customer commitment, which provides a common foundation for Redknee to build the BSS business in the future. We will work with Redknee to ensure a smooth transfer of the business and to provide some mobile broadband specific elements of the BSS portfolio to our customers," stated Rajeev Suri, CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks.

http://www.redknee.com
http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com

• Earlier this week, Nokia Siemens Networks will sell its Optical Networks business unit to Marlin Equity Partners.
• In November 2011, DragonWave and Nokia Siemens Networks reached a deal by which DragonWave acquired NSN's microwave transport business, including its associated operational support systems (OSS) and related support functions, in a transaction potentially worth up to EUR 110 million.

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NSN Selects Tail-f to Enhance Multi-vendor Config Mgt

 Nokia Siemens Networks will use Tail-f Systems's NCS multi-vendor configuration management and network automation software in NetAct, NSN's network management system. 

Tail-f’s NCS  is a network abstraction layer that will be integrated into NetAct to manage a wide variety of network equipment common in Service Providers' IP networks, such as Cisco and Juniper switches.  NCS allows services to be modeled and automatically translated into real-time, fine-grained configuration changes. 

"We decided to use Tail-f Systems' NCS software based on the strength and easy scalability of the product,” said Peter Patomella, Head of the OSS Business Line at Nokia Siemens Networks.  “Their model-driven software will enhance NetAct’s ability to manage IP transport networks through one central interface. It will also simplify network operations and lay the foundation for superior end-to-end mobile broadband service management.” 

http://www.tail-f.com

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6connect Brings IPv4/IPv6 Tools to the Cloud

6connect, a start-up based in Palo Alto, California, introduced a set of cloud-based tools for helping enterprises and service providers to migrate their IPv4 networks to IPv6.

The 6connect ProVision Suite is a unified SaaS platform for provisioning and managing networks in IPv4 and IPv6.  The company said its solution the key challenges of IP address management, DNS, DHCP and asset management that make IPv6 transistions such a headache for network operators. The Service Provider Edition also incorporates peering management and SWIP automation.

“With the number of connected devices and virtual machines growing exponentially and regional internet registries for Europe and Asia already out of IPv4 space, network architectures are undergoing fundamental change,” said Bill Bien, CEO of 6connect.  “Legacy DDI and automation solutions are no longer efficient. We’ve designed ProVision as a disruptive, next-generation platform for automated management control of complex IP address zones, virtual machines, mobile devices, and all types of corporate assets.”

http://www.6connect.com/

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Ericsson Acquires Conceptwave for OSS/BSS Software

Ericsson has acquired ConceptWave, a private company specializing in software for managing the lifecycle of telecom services.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

ConceptWave, which is based in Toronto, Canada, has developed Product Lifecycle Management, Order Lifecycle Management and Customer Lifecycle Management solutions for service providers. The company was founded in 2000 and has about 170 employees.

Ericsson said the acquisition complements and strengthens its operations- and business support systems (OSS/BSS) portfolio.

Elisabetta Romano, Head of OSS in Business Unit Support Solutions, Ericsson, says: "There is a trend towards more personalization of services where end-users want to purchase communications services meeting their individual needs. This puts high demand on telecom operators to be able to offer flexible product bundles with customized pricing packages. In this area ConceptWave's solutions and employees' expertise adds considerable value to Ericsson's portfolio."

http://www.ericsson.com

In January 2012, Ericsson completed its acquisition of Telcordia for US$1.5 billion in cash. 

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