Page 403 - Handbook of Modern Telecommunications

3-194 CRC Handbook of Modern Telecommunications, Second Edition

Network Facing Modules Customer Facing Modules
Network Discovery Business
Planning Analytics

Physical Service Order
Inventory Activation Management Customer
Relationship
Management
Network Element
Configuration
Services Billing
Portfolio Online
Database Payment
Performance Service Level Rating
Management Management
Usage
Mediation
Fault
Management

FIGu RE 3.7.6 Long-term OSS consolidation.

It can be seen that, in the early stages of consolidation, the service portfolio database and usage
mediation connect the three relatively independent principal functional modules. Mergers and acquisi-
tions more or less follow this consolidation within the three functional modules.
Long-term consolidation goes a step further (Figure 3.7.6) and offers large-scale integration under
one umbrella. The functional modules remain the same. This ambitious form of consolidation—one-
stop shopping—is without doubt very beneficial for all three tiers of service providers. From a financial
perspective, however, only a few system integrators and suppliers have the potential to become seri-
ous players in this long-term consolidation. To do so, companies must have very strong relationships
with providers such as hardware, software, storage, database, and professional services. Companies like
Oracle, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Amdocs, Subex, and Telcordia could play this role in the near future.

3.7.6 Results of Market Research
Who will lead the near-term and long-term consolidation of OSS and BSS? Turino (TURI08) subdivides
the strategic buyers into four principal groups: traditional players, newer entrants, potential entrants,
and smaller, mostly private buyers.
3.7.6.1 Traditional Players
Companies in this group include Alcatel-Lucent, Amdocs, Cisco, Comverse, Convergys, CSG, Ericsson,
Nokia, Motorola, and Tekelec. It is interesting to note the origins of these firms:
• The manufacturing companies, Motorola, Cisco, Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent, and Ericsson, include a
number of strong element and network management systems.
• The billing companies, Convergys and CSG, are using their back-office position to sell more OSS/
BSS and professional services.
• The measurement company, Tekelec, is seeking additional business (e.g., SIP in addition to SS7).
• The consulting company, Amdocs, is strengthening itself through acquisitions and concentrating
fully on telecommunications service providers.
3.7.6.2 Newer Entrants
Newer entrants include Danaher, IBM, NeuStar, Nokia-Siemens Network, Oracle, Sonus Networks, and
Syniverse. IBM and Oracle are interesting examples. Both are well-known and well-accepted suppliers