There is no progress without digitization, and no digitization without efficient connectivity. Whether we speak about AI, IoT, or machine learning, today's data-driven innovations rely more than ever on a highly efficient network. To enable novel, digital ecosystems, there is hardly any way around modern OS and BS systems. The telecommunications (TC)- industry is therefore providing the essential basis for tomorrow's innovative achievements.
OSS and BSS: inconspicuous acronyms with a huge impact
What at first glance seems like inconspicuous industry terms from TC is the cornerstone of high-performance network operations. The two acronyms OSS and BSS stand for Operation Support and Business Support System, respectively. In other words, software-based systems that ensures operation and business processing in the network and, in the best-case scenario, makes both significantly more efficient.
With the current outlook on deepening digitalization of all areas of daily life, they represent indispensable assets, as of the volume of data generated each year is on the rise. According to available information, the global volume of transmitted data has increased tenfold to almost 64 zettabytes between 2012 and 2020 alone. In two years, according to current forecasts, it will already exceed 180 zettabytes. The reason behind this rapid development lies in the increasing use of mobile networks by human, but above all by machine users. Networks that are being established, such as the 5G infrastructure, must be able handle the increased demand - an enormous challenge, especially for companies in the TC sector. With OSS and BSS, they not only distribute their network capacities according to demand, but can also anticipate demand thanks to automation and AI & ML.
From mere Software to High Performance Ecosystem
Going hand in hand with digitization, the proactive management of network infrastructures has been transformed into a dynamic growth market. While observers still assessed the industry value at around $36 billion in 2019, the value is set to exceed the $100 billion mark as early as 2027. In addition, by 2025, one can safely assume that the 5.9 billion global mobile communications customers will be using around 13.2 billion SIM cards. That is another indicator for the enormous growth potential.
Despite this rising trend, stakeholders should not be losing sight of the decisive quality features in the design of OSS and BSS. After all, against the backdrop of rapidly increasing data flows, system scalability is becoming ever more important.
OSS technology can no longer be labeled as an isolated software product and will evolve into a living digital ecosystem. More than ever, communications service providers are dependent on an open data architecture to flexibly open up new user cases. Especially for use cases in real-time data processing, the trend is toward open interfaces (Open APIs). A progressive embedding in the network that enables synchronous use of data will foreseeably be the measure of all things in the world of OSS and BSS.
The meaning of cyber-security in OSS & BSS-supported digital ecosystems
However regarding the public integration into an ecosystem with diverse participants, it is also important to consider the security aspects. Cybersecurity requires re-thinking to some extent, as it is not only for the protection and maintenance of services. The protection of data and individual end-user devices must also be considered.
Digital security is becoming an increasingly important quality feature in the connected world, where multiple features must fit together to ensure smooth operations. When speaking of relations with customers, partners and suppliers, there is potentially a significant loss of trust in the wake of a successful cyber threat. True to the principle that "cybersecurity is only as strong as your weakest link," digital security has therefore become a cross-cutting task.
Protection mechanisms in the TC sector include a proactive approach to threat detection and incident responses. Those enables risks to be not only identified but also counter-acted in a responsive manner. The integrity and availability of BSS/OSS systems remain guaranteed simultaneously and continuously. Added to this are robust encryption and threat awareness among customers and employees. Unfortunately, the last point in particular is still being underestimated too often. A sense of responsibility toward the company's customers also demands attention be drawn to the manageable but nevertheless effective self-protection measures.
While the topic of cyber security has reached the executive floors of multiple large corporations by now, some SMEs still have a lot of catching up to do. The same applies to consumers. TC equipment suppliers must therefore see it as their duty to provide end customers with intuitive solutions that are capable of being integrated directly into the established OSS/BSS solution or network.
About the author (Markus Cserna, CTO cyan Digital Security)
Markus Cserna's work lays the foundation for cyan's success: technological progress against Internet fraudsters and competitors. He started his career as a software specialist for high-security network components before founding cyan in 2006 with the vision of protecting internet users worldwide from harm. Since then, he has led the company as CTO with a restless passion for cyber security technology that steadfastly keeps ahead of the curve in dynamic markets.
