A Business Processes Model for the Integration of Over-The-Top Platforms in Communications Service Providers Operations

Carolina Fernandes,Rui Cruz

doi:10.29333/jisem/9570

Abstract

The problem between Over-the-Top (OTT) and Communications Service Provider (CSP), namely for multimedia streaming services, is not new and has been a topic much discussed in the TM Forum. At time of writing, a technical solution that would benefit both parties has not yet been presented. With the existing model (no operational integration), both OTTs and CSPs are dissatisfied. This paper proposes a technical solution that can be beneficial to both parties and can potentially solve the existing conflicts. The solution presents the high-level design of Business Processes to integrate OTT Service Platforms in CSP Operations. Some hypothetical, but close to reality scenarios were defined in order to show how the model could be applied. The design of the model incorporates information and suggestions collected from Portuguese CSPs. To evaluate the accuracy of the design methodology, a set of interviews were conducted with industry experts in the sector, who evaluated each process model of the solution. A set of surveys from end users of those types of services was also conducted, in order to understand their opinions about the ideas used for the construction of the model.

Highlights

In the past, Telephony and Connectivity operators (Telcos) were in full control of the few services they provided, technically managing their fixed-line and mobile radio communications infrastructures, basing their business models on long-term infrastructure investments that were financed through usage-based services, recurring subscriptions and connection commissions
Most of those Communications Service Provider (CSP), are evolved Telco companies that typically invest enormously, not just in their communications and Information Technology (IT) infrastructures and in a solid Support Services (SS) architecture, i.e., Business Support Systems (BSS) and Operations Support Systems (OSS), able to cope with the evolving changes in digital operations, as they try to handle more “intelligent” automation, orchestration, redundant operations, flexibility, and autonomic principles, namely for Fulfillment and Assurance areas of those services, so that they can thrive in this new Digital Services future (Orange and Huawei, 2017)
Similar to the architectures presented in Cerulli and Green (2017) and Orange and Huawei (2017), our model aims to answer to the future needs of telecommunications businesses and proposes to function as a platform component that integrates another platform/service, that is, the OTT would function as a Service Platform, being integrated in the CSP as any other Service Platform

Summary

Introduction

Telephony and Connectivity operators (Telcos) were in full control of the few services they provided, technically managing their fixed-line and mobile radio communications infrastructures, basing their business models on long-term infrastructure investments that were financed through usage-based services, recurring subscriptions and connection commissions (e.g., leased lines). The changes that this industry has undergone after deregulation in all countries was due to both direct competitors and from services provided over the Internet by new “unsuspected” players, the so-called Over-the-Top (OTT) providers. The CSPs, trying to compete with OTTs by widening their Service Portfolio, are still deeply worried because these OTT companies offer services that

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