WHAT IS OSS? The abbreviation OSS in Telecommunications industry falls into Operations Support System.

OSS is a set of computer programs and databases that provide a unified and consistent source of the whole network structure, enabling automation of network management, and thus facilitating Operations. BSS in Telecom world is Business Support System, part of which is OSS. BSS might, for instance, automate calculation of a subscribers balance and block services if it is too low. Another usual part of BSS, Billing system, analyzes subscribers activities records, applies rates and bills subscribers account. CRM (or Order Management system) documents all incoming requests for services (orders) for further processing them inside the organization (like provisioning, activation, maintenance). All network elements (like routers and servers) are usually managed through vendor-specific network managing system (NMS, a computer program that communicates with network equipment to set it up), while typical business processes (for instance, activation of VoIP service, or building of office to office VPN, or VLAN) requires interaction with several pieces of equipment. So it makes sense to have a platform-independent basement, OSS core (usually Resource and Service Inventory from independent OSS vendor, like NetCracker, Cramer, MetaSolv or Granite), and integrate it with vendor-specific NMSes from another. As a result, OSS database contains / has access to records about Network objects, connections between them and their statuses.

Having integrated CRM with OSS, a service provider can automate each customers order decomposition into a set of Network configuration steps through NMSes (plus some manual employees operations like cabling). Most of network elements configuration commands are typically done and tracked by computers. Employees can also be part of the order workflow, to authorize some tasks or record results of manual operations, but it isnt illustrated here for the sake of simplicity.

As a result, Network is configured to deliver the new service as per subscribers order. Such a service fulfillment automation lowers time-to-market KPI, improving the service providers market position. And, saves expensive man-hours per each service fulfillment, thus lowering the operational costs. The bigger Network size and amount of services being activated, the more positive effect you get. Of course, for small networks cost of implementation of full-scale OSS is relatively high, and there may be no reason for such automation. But for really big Networks OSS pays off a lot. OSS also helps a lot as a tool of documenting every operation with the Network. Consistent and up-to-date model of the Network, documented in the OSS and easily accessible by all authorized employees even from remote divisions, is what we name transparency which is crucial for

lowering operational expenses. Though it is not that easy to migrate all data sources into OSS and to have employees to work with their data there, but it is doable with enough Telcos managements will and organizational support. To raise effectiveness and make operations more transparent, it is crucial for Telco to get rid of department-owned XLS files and paper workflow, and get holistic OSS with up-to-date database, business-rules, roles and instant reports. Usually, Fault management system efficiency is leveraged by integration with OSS Resource Inventory. Performance management also depends on properly built OSS. One should also think about aligning of all Telcos business processes (not only related to managing the network) with OSS, which usually allows their automation through Workflow component of OSS.