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Enter the SDP

Into this complicated amalgam of homegrown and third-party solutions that make up the service provider back office comes the Service Delivery Platform—an all-encompassing architectural framework that promises to speed the creation of new IMS and SIP-based services, as well as manage their orchestration, execution, and provisioning.

The key advantage of the SDP approach is its reliance on a single flexible architecture for all aspects of IMS service creation and delivery. Rather than many service-specific “vertical” solutions, the SDP provides a “horizontal” approach to service delivery, in which the SDP framework is able to handle the creation and delivery of any service, including blended IMS services that combine elements of voice, video and data into a single end-user experience.

Forward-looking service providers have begun this process already, as the SDP delivery model continues to take hold, and the market demand for converged IMS services increases.

will occur over time—likely several years—and in the meantime providers are faced with the task of planning the transition to the new environment, and doing everything they can to optimize the result, including significant back-office consolidation.

In many cases, the back-office makeover involves a significant OSS rationalization project, as carriers attempt to consolidate and streamline their systems. Whether providers choose to integrate SDP functionality gradually into an existing service delivery environment or elect to start from scratch

Numerous telecom players and traditional IT vendors have entered the SDP arena and are currently engaged in defining and positioning their solutions with the leading providers. While each SDP vendor is approaching the architectural complexities differently, there is general agreement on the fundamental role and capabilities of the SDP. These are:

• The rapid creation of new SIP- and IMS-based services using reusable service elements available out of the box
• A Common execution environment for voice, video, and data services that attempts to eliminate vertical service delivery “silos”
• An open, telecom-specific architecture that leverages service-oriented architecture (SOA) principles
• Rapid integration capabilities, including the integration of OSS and BSS platforms

OSS in the SDP Environment

The move to an SDP framework will not be immediate for most providers. As with most complex and large-scale IT systems, adoption

with an SDP implementation, it seems likely that they will continue to rely on their best-in-class OSS partners.

One of the main benefits provided by the leading OSS vendors is that they have solved complex operational problems effectively for carriers in the past and, as a result, have formed strong business relationships with providers. Furthermore, in many cases providers have made substantial investments in their OSS solutions and will look to leverage these investments and tailor the systems wherever possible to the needs of an IMS service delivery model. Carriers will undoubtedly look to leverage these relationships as they proceed with implementing their SDP strategy.

These vendor-provider relationships in the OSS space likewise represent a boon to the SDP vendors—particularly those approaching the market from the IT side. Partnering with experienced OSS vendors will help these vendors substantially in their quest to secure a strong foothold in the back office.