The emergence of convergence-based services that can be self-provisioned via Web portals is overloading Service Provider’s Network Provisioning and Service Activation systems. For example, these systems face high volumes of Tiered Service Request Orders. Additionally, these systems must meet stringent SLAs related to the processing of Service Orders in “Internet Time” to improve customer experience and in turn customer loyalty.

Traditionally, the Network Provisioning and Activation systems have always had the challenge of interfacing with a significant number of lateral systems, which are typically, multi-vendor, multi-technology network components using low-level protocols.

The telecom industry is attempting to address these challenges by adopting best practices such as:

• Package-based implementations
• Adherence to TMF-based OSS and Integration standards
• Compliance with Service Oriented Architecture standards

Capabilities:

Cognizant has engaged with multiple leading Communications Service Providers in the Wireless, Wireline, Broadband and Enterprise Services spaces to execute “Network Provisioning and Activation” IT Services projects. As a result, Cognizant has rich domain experience and is continuously building its capabilities to address client challenges.

Key operational challenges that Cognizant has solved include

• - Service lifetime management
  • Service Order sequencing
  • Service Order decomposition into Product Orders
  • Implementing provisioning rules on the Product Order
  • Sequencing the Product Orders
  • Exception Handling to manage jeopardy conditions and Rollback
• Maintaining an accurate service inventory
  • Service modeling
  • Implementing tiered services
  • Integration with network inventor
• Monitoring the progress of service orders
  • Capacity Management - capability to handle surges in volume
  • Network Migration - Processes and tools to carry out network migration when old network elements get decommissioned at the end of their lifetime

During these engagements Cognizant worked with the following Key Platform and Network Technologies:

• Custom and Commercial “Provisioning & Activation” packages such as Kabira KPSA, Visionael etc
• Custom built Service Delivery Platforms (SDP)
• Network Technologies in Wireless, Wireline, Broadband & Enterprise space such as
  • HLR, SLR, VLR, VPS, SMSC, MMS, DSLAMs, ATM, Frame Relay, Routers, HSS, CSCF etc.
  • DAP, SMPP, SNMP, TL1, Telnet, HTTP, SOAP, proprietary protocols, etc

To continuously improve its service offerings, Cognizant has built accelerators and enablers that accelerate the development lifecycle and process improvement tools to streamline operations which result in time-to-market advantages for our CSP clients. These tools include:

• Package dependent accelerators (core components, libraries, infrastructure components)
• Testing tools for traffic generation and network simulators
• Production monitoring tools
• Diagnostic & Fallout managing tools to assist Level-2 & Level-3 Support.

Services:

Cognizant’s experience spans all phases of the lifecycle of Provisioning and Activation software from requirement gathering and deployment of new systems and systems operations / maintenance through the retirement of legacy systems. We have also assisted our customers in drawing up a Strategy for System Consolidation, Enterprise Architecture, Technology Selections and Building Competency etc.

Cognizant has the domain, technology, process expertise and the tools to help CSPs build and maintain new provisioning systems.

Cognizant’s services in the area of Network Provisioning and Service Activation include

• Program Management
• Business Requirements Workshop
• Add description for each of these
• Systems Consolidation
• Enterprise Architecture
• Technology selection
• Implementation
• Managed services for operations and maintenance

Cognizant has defined processes and methodologies to assist in

• Developing provisioning and activation systems
• Rapid deployment of new services for use in systems maintenance
• Migration of legacy platforms to package-based systems

Cognizant’s systems design, development, maintenance and operational processes have matured by virtue of its experience executing engagements for a wide array of CSP clients. We have robust process enablers in place for executing “Provisioning & Activation” related engagements for use in:

• Engagement Models
• Competency Building Methodology
• Package implementation Methodology
• Project Plan Templates
• Material for Requirements Gathering Workshops
• Questionnaires and Documentation Templates
• Process for Package Maturity Checks
• Process for Product Readiness Checks
• SDLC tools etc