Telcos could follow several approaches to implement the new BSS capabilities required to monetize the symbiotic combination of 5G and edge computing. These approaches range from incremental changes on the existing BSS—when that is possible according to the legacy system flexibility—to the complete replacement of the existing BSS by a completely new BSS stack. 

The Intelligent-workflows approach

The complete replacement of the entire legacy BSS is one of the riskiest and most demanding type of projects telcos can take on. A more affordable approach could be the addition of a complementary transformational layer on top of the legacy, known as intelligent workflows. In this context, the intelligent workflows lay the foundation for how telco business is transformed to deliver greater value while remediating the legacy BSS fragmentation and rigidity. 

 
Figure 2: Intelligent Workflows

In this way the modernized telco is powered by the application and orchestration of AI, beyond traditional automation, boosting confidence and speed for smarter decision-making. Thus, for example, enhancing lead-to-cash automation with AI can fundamentally augment the telco’s capability to face a new platform business model underneath emerging monetizable edge computing use cases, as is illustrated in the diagram. 

Real-time, for edge

Now, let’s imagine a future characterized by a B2B2x digital environment, supporting propositions for thousands of users and partners, with shared control over them through different facets of a mobile online administration app. In a digital environment like this, the fans at the smart stadium illustrated above are constantly online, performing activities like checking stadium connectivity usage dashboards, requesting new services or sharing balances among the fan club members’ digital wallets in real time. Then, telcos need to do some things differently to infuse real-time.