ITU Standardizes OSS/BSS

GENEVA -- The formal relationship between the standardization sector of ITU and the Telemanagement Forum (TM Forum) has resulted in an important new standard that paves the way for better interoperability between service providers’ systems.

The ITU-T Recommendation resulting from the relationship — M.3050 — aims to improve efficiency of the business processes at the heart of any service providers' operation. The new framework will be used by industry to more efficiently implement operations and business support systems (OSS/BSS) and by ITU in the continued production of OSS/BSS specifications.

OSS and BSS applications include billing, service management, service assurance, element management, customer care, provisioning, order processing and network management — all essential elements of a telecom service providers operation. And as service offerings and networks become more complicated, so the need for a business-oriented framework has developed.

The importance of OSS/BSS solutions to service providers has increased dramatically in the past few years. This is because OSS/BSS plays a critical role in reducing service providers' operating costs. However, to have a positive impact, solutions must integrate quickly, simply and cost-effectively into the operating environment. This is why specifications that facilitate interoperability are so important.

The TM Forum name for the standard is Enhanced Telecom Operations Map (eTOM). The move to adopt eTOM as an ITU-T Recommendation is a formal endorsement by the world’s most recognized standards body, and signals ITU-T support for working together with other organizations involved in producing telecoms management specifications.

Network operators and equipment suppliers will be able to use eTOM alongside existing ITU-T guidelines for telecoms management defined in its Telecommunication Management Network (TMN) specifications for internal process reengineering, partnership management, and product and service specification. Indeed eTOM will become an important part of TMN.

International Telecommunication Union, Standardization Sector (ITU-T)

TeleManagement Forum