11 December 2024

Oskar Wierchowicz, Managing Director, Comarch UK

What are the most vital aspects of the telecom business from customers’ point of view? Seamless connectivity and efficient service delivery. The demand is ever-increasing, and keeping up with the market is difficult for small and medium-sized operators and fibre service providers. Thankfully, recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) make it possible to automate and optimise daily financial operations and service provision for an affordable price.

AI-supported OSS for RAN
The demand for mobile private networks is steadily increasing across diverse industries seeking secure, high-performance connectivity. Integrating AI into operational support systems (OSS) for the Radio Access Network (RAN) domain tackles network management issues that static algorithms cannot, such as inaccurate data interpretation and limited predictive capabilities. AI-driven OSS can provide:

Dynamic network optimisation: AI algorithms analyse traffic patterns, user behaviours, and network conditions to adjust configurations and allocate resources automatically.

Predictive maintenance: By examining historical data and detecting anomalies, AI allows us to anticipate potential equipment failures.
Intelligent security management: AI enhances network security by identifying unusual activities and potential threats in real time, facilitating proactive responses.

Next-generation inventory management
Efficient inventory management is another critical challenge for telcos and fibre service providers dealing with a complex mix of active and passive network components. AI-powered OSS systems enable a more intelligent approach to inventory management by leveraging data analytics, machine learning, and automation. Key benefits include:

Smart asset tracking: AI enables real-time monitoring of network assets, automatically updating inventory records and providing insights into the lifecycle of each component.

Automated stock predictions: AI algorithms predict inventory needs using usage patterns and historical data, ensuring optimal stock levels and reducing waste.
Optimised service deployment: With AI-driven analytics, providers can prioritise service deployments based on demand forecasts and network conditions, accelerating service activation and reducing deployment delays.

For smaller businesses, AI-enhanced inventory management solutions, such as those offered by Comarch, provide a competitive edge by reducing costs and improving the ability to respond to market needs quickly and efficiently.

The demand for mobile private networks is steadily increasing across diverse industries seeking secure, high-performance connectivity. Integrating AI into OSS for the RAN domain tackles network management issues that static algorithms cannot, such as inaccurate data interpretation and limited predictive capabilities.

Enhanced order management and product catalogue optimisation
Similarly to operators, wholesale fibre infrastructure providers are pressured to deliver faster and more flexible services. Ensuring both these things requires a reliable business support system (BSS) capable of streamlining order handling, invoice matching, and managing the entire product catalogue to identify underperforming services and create new offers.

Here is where AI steps in. With data analysis being its speciality, it becomes an invaluable tool in daily data-intensive operations. These specialised algorithms can identify patterns, detect invoice anomalies, simulate the impact of new offers on network load, and oversee the entire service fulfilment process for infrastructure providers.

AI revolutionises these processes in several ways: it can automate order processing based on resource availability, assist in crafting and customising new offers, or suggest product adjustments according to customer preferences and market trends. It can also analyse customer data to anticipate demand and uncover emerging trends.

For a consortium of wholesale providers, AI-driven BSS solutions enable better service delivery, improved customer satisfaction, and a future-ready approach to managing fibre infrastructure services.

Smarter solutions for telcos
AI-driven OSS and BSS technologies are more than just tools; they spark innovation and growth in telecom operations. Embracing AI-supported solutions for Mobile Private Networks, inventory management, and order management empowers small to medium-sized telcos and fibre service providers to stand out and easily adapt. Thanks to immense automation features, businesses can become more customer-focused, opening doors to a more connected future.

Leveraging data is the key to success. Combining the latest technologies with agile and scalable OSS and BSS systems allows operators to build profitable and attractive networks.