Operational support systems for satellite communications

The role of satellite communications is changing from providing bandwidth linking network operators interconnections towards providing IP enabled communications to end users. This migration from few high-value routes towards many low-value routes means that integration and automation of processes with terrestrial networks becomes critical in driving down unit costs. Integration and automation is necessary on all planes: user, control and management. In satellite communications, management aspects, underpinned by Operational Support Systems (OSS) have received the least research attention, making this a valuable topic for study. In most areas, OSS for satellite systems are similar to other domains. However there are some notable areas of difference which have been the focus of this research. The eTOM business framework, developed by the TMF, has been used to highlight aspects of OSS unique to satellite. Since satellite capacity represents the highest operational cost of a satellite route, effective management while minimising the overhead traffic is critical. The transmission of IP packets is assumed and the real-time measurement of QoS parameters such as packet delay and loss emerged as the most important differences. A number of approaches to QoS measurement are feasible, however the use of trace packets is most promising especially for high network loads. An experiment compares the results from simulations, mathematical models and from a test network, using Poisson and self-similar traffic flows. The relationship between measurement accuracy and trace packet intensity is explored and the measurement response time to steps in traffic load is estimated. It is discovered that measurement accuracy improves as the queue load increases, in contrast to alternative approaches such as sampling of user packets. The response time to steps depends upon the degree of self-similarity and is generally longer than the times recommended by standards. A pragmatic approach to management of different modes is proposed where the measurement method is changed depending on the load

Proposta 3GPP de indicadores de desempenho de rede - R4 CS Core Network

Mestrado em Engenharia Electrónica e TelecomunicaçõesO mercado de telecomunicações tem vindo a tornar-se cada vez mais competitivo e agressivo devido à diminuição das margens dos operadores de telecomunicações. Este facto é igualmente relevante no mercado das redes móveis em que este trabalho se foca. A maior parte dos actuais mercados de redes móveis pauta-se por uma consolidação da sua base instalada e por uma optimização dos recursos existentes. Por uma questão de estratégia comercial e técnica (não dependência de um único fornecedor) é frequente os operadores de redes móveis terem mais do que um fornecedor de equipamentos de telecomunicações para a sua rede. Devido a este facto, os problemas das redes com multi-fabricantes agudizou-se o que levou à premente necessidade de se arranjar uma linguagem comum através da qual se consiga ter uma ideia do nível global de desempenho alcançado e dos pontos críticos em que a rede pode melhorar o seu desempenho. É nesta problemática que o presente trabalho se foca. Neste momento, o 3GPP tem definidos uma quantidade vasta de indicadores de desempenho de rede para a área Circuit Switch (CS) Core Network (CN) mas ainda não tem definidos os seus Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Tendo como base os indicadores de desempenho 3GPP existentes, esta Dissertação propõe um conjunto de KPIs que possibilitam a análise do desempenho da rede Core Network ao nível da sua parte CS. Esta Dissertação apresenta as propostas de KPIs para a rede CS, as quais estão divididas em três partes. Numa primeira parte são apresentados os KPIs relativos ao MSC Server (MSS) ao nível da análise de acessibilidade, utilização e mobilidade. Na segunda secção são apresentados os KPIs relativos ao Media Gateway (MGW) ao nível da análise de acessibilidade, integridade e utilização. Finalmente na terceira e última secção apresentam-se os KPIs associados ao HLR.The telecommunications market has become increasingly competitive and aggressive due to the decreasing margins of telecom operators. This fact is also relevant in the mobile networks market in which this Thesis is focused. Most of today's mobile networks is guided by a consolidation of its installed base and by optimizing existing resources. As a matter of business strategy and technique (not dependent on one supplier) it is common for the mobile network operators to have more than one telecommunications equipment supplier. Due to this, the problems of multi-vendor networks has worsened leading to the urgent need to find a common language that everyone speaks and, through which, can get an idea of overall performance level achieved and critical points where the network can improve its performance. This paper is focused on this issue. Currently, 3GPP has defined a wide range of network performance indicators for the Core Network (CN) Circuit Switch (CS) area but, nothing is yet set in what Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is concerned. The purpose of this Thesis is, based on already existent 3GPP performance indicators, recommend a set of KPIs to enable the CS CN performance analysis. This Thesis present the CS KPI proposals which are divided in three main parts. In the first part, are presented the MSC Server (MSS) KPIs at accessibility analysis, usage and mobility levels. In the second part are presented the Media Gateway (MGW) related KPIs at accessibility analysis, integrity and usage levels. Finally we have the third and last part where the HLR related KPIs are presented

Solution strategies of service fulfilment Operation Support Systems for Next Generation Networks

Suomalainen operatiivisten tukijärjestelmien toimittaja tarjoaa ratkaisuja palvelujen aktivointiin, verkkoresurssien hallintaan ja laskutustietojen keruuseen. Nämä ratkaisut ovat pääosin käytössä langattomissa verkoissa. Tässä tutkimuksessa arvioidaan kyseisten ratkaisujen soveltuvuutta palvelutoimitusprosessien automatisointiin tulevaisuuden verkkoympäristöissä. Tarkastelun kohteena ovat runko- ja pääsyverkkojen kiinteät teknologiat, joiden suosio saavuttaa huippunsa seuraavan 5-10 vuoden aikana. Näissä verkoissa palvelujen, kuten yritys-VPN:n tai kuluttajan laajakaistan, aktivointi vaatii monimutkaisen toimitusprosessin, jonka tueksi tarvitaan ensiluokkaista tukijärjestelmää. Teknologiakatsauksen jälkeen tutkimuksessa verrataan viitteellistä tuoteportfoliota saatavilla oleviin operatiivisten tukijärjestelmien arkkitehtuurisiin viitekehyksiin, ja analysoidaan sen soveltuvuus tulevaisuuden verkkoympäristöjen palvelutoimitusprosessin automatisointiin. Myös palvelutoimitusprosessien automatisointiin soveltuvien tukijärjestelmien markkinatilanne arvioidaan, ja tämän perusteella tutkitaan optimaalisinta sovellusstrategiaa. Lopulta voidaan päätellä, että tuoteportfoliolle parhaiten soveltuvin sovellusalue on kuluttajan laajakaistan, ja siihen liittyvien kehittyneempien IP-palveluiden palvelutoimitusprosessien automatisointi.A Finnish Operation Support Systems (OSS) vendor provides solutions for service activation, network inventory and event mediation. These solutions have mostly been deployed in mobile environments. In this thesis it will be studied how feasible it is to use similar solutions for service fulfilment in Next Generation Networks (NGN). NGN is a broad term that describes some key architectural evolutions in telecommunication core and access networks that will be deployed over the next 5 to 10 years. In these networks service, e.g. Triple Play or Virtual Private Network (VPN), activations require an extensive service fulfilment process that must be supported by first-class OSS. After introducing the NGN technologies, the research compares a reference product portfolio to available service fulfilment frameworks and evaluates the applicability. The study analyses the current state of service fulfilment OSS markets and evaluates various solution strategies. Eventually it will be concluded that the most interesting and adequate solution scenario is residential broadband, including value-added IP services

Convergence and emerging technologies: Issues faced by the regulator

Convergence is taking place in the telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology industries. Services that in the past were offered only on one platform are now offered on any platform by the three industries. The evolution of convergence has led to an increased demand for access to services and content. This, in turn, has led to the development of new technologies that offer high throughput to the end user. The regulator is now faced with the challenge of regulating the converging environment and dealing with spectrum management issues that arise due to the emerging technologies. This article reviews the issues faced by the regulator due to convergence and emerging technologies

Assessing the Changing Employment Profiles in the Telecom Sector: Implications for Education and Training

Telecom sector in India has been growing very fast and changing very rapidly in service delivery mechanisms used, target segments addressed, technogical platforms for service delivery etc. Globally also the growth scenario is very positive. This means that this sector offers employment opportunities that are attractive. In order to exploit these opportunities, the sector needs people with the approppriate employment profiles that match the changing requirements both in atributes and numbers. However, the current education system is not equipped to provide the requisite profiles. This paper identifies and quantifies the skill gap both in terms of focus areas and numbers by segmenting the sector. It suggest directions in which the change must happen. It also reviews innovative approaches in the private and government sector in India and abroad with a view to assess the adapatability of these approaches on a larger scale in India.

Creation of value with open source software in the telecommunications field

Tese de doutoramento. Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

The influence of standardisation and regulation on the development of intelligent networks

In today’s global economy a flexible and responsive telecommunications infrastructure is essential to the maintenance and development of a country’s economy. Within a free market, such an infrastructure depends upon the use of common standards; either imposed as a consequence of regulation or evolved through the operation of the market. This thesis investigates the influence of regulation and standardisation on Intelligent Network telecommunications technology by addressing the hypothesis: Tight architecture-based regulation is inappropriate for a rapidly changing telecommunications environment, since that environment is continually challenging and redefining the boundaries of technological change. The multi-method approach adopted is based upon triangulation to identify multiple viewpoints. A Stakeholder Analysis was employed to help categorise those with an interest in Intelligent Networks and provide a basis for data collection. The primary data was gathered using a combination of surveys and interviews. The thesis illustrates a wide range of original research. A unique analysis framework was constructed to identify a number of factors, including technical and commercial influences and their impact on the choice of IN architecture and the implementation of regulations. This framework offers a new perspective with which to view IN architectures; leading to the development and implementation of alternative IN architecture models. A number of these architectures have been constructed, together with some novel services, to demonstrate what could be achieved by employing flexible, less detailed standards, or making use of proprietary protocols. The research concludes that tight regulation is not appropriate for Intelligent Network technology. Instead, encouragement for implementation and interconnection is better shaped through the development and adoption of de-jure standards

Métricas de gestão de desempenho em tempo real e longo termo em redes móveis

Mestrado em Engenharia Eletrónica e TelecomunicaçõesThe Telecommunications industry is a “world” where services like data, voice and value-added services must be available at anytime, anywhere. Because of this requirement, it became a really aggressive market, where the least detail can make the difference. One of the details that can be really differentiating is related to network management. With all the changes and rapid evolution of telecommunications, this can be considered a critically important point. An efficient and optimized network management can save time and money and that is why it is a mandatory aspect in this market. There are two different paths to be considered: long term management, which consists in saving less detailed data for long periods of time, and real time management that allows much more detailed information for narrower time frame. Because of database and costs related issues, only one of them must be chosen and there is some important information that may become “invisible”, leading to unsolved problems that can be highly expensive. Regarding this situation, it would be extremely beneficial for the telecom operators if they could visualize both types of data, having the long term information along with the most important details of real time information in one view.A indústria das Telecomunicações é um mundo onde os serviços de dados, voz e outros serviços importantes têm que estar disponíveis sempre e em todo o lado. Por causa dessas exigências, tornou-se um mercado extremamente agressivo, onde o menor detalhe pode fazer a diferença. Um desses detalhes diferenciadores está relacionado com a gestão da rede. Com todas as mudanças e rápida evolução das telecomunicações, este pode ser considerado um ponto crítico. Uma gestão eficiente e otimizada pode poupar tempo e dinheiro e por isso é um aspeto crucial deste mercado. Em termos de gestão e monitorização das redes, há dois caminhos a considerar: gestão a longo prazo, que consiste em salvar dados menos detalhados por longos períodos de tempo; e gestão em tempo real, que permite dados muito mais detalhados mas durante uma janela temporal consideravelmente menor. Devido a limitações ao nível da base de dados e elevados custos, apenas um deve ser escolhido, o que leva a que se perca alguma informação em qualquer dos casos. Assim, podem surgir problemas cuja resolução será complicada e dispendiosa. Posto isto, seria extremamente benéfico para as Operadoras de Telecomunicações, se pudessem analisar os dois tipos de dados, tendo a informação a longo prazo juntamente com os detalhes mais importantes em tempo real numa só aplicação

Modern Information Systems

The development of modern information systems is a demanding task. New technologies and tools are designed, implemented and presented in the market on a daily bases. User needs change dramatically fast and the IT industry copes to reach the level of efficiency and adaptability for its systems in order to be competitive and up-to-date. Thus, the realization of modern information systems with great characteristics and functionalities implemented for specific areas of interest is a fact of our modern and demanding digital society and this is the main scope of this book. Therefore, this book aims to present a number of innovative and recently developed information systems. It is titled "Modern Information Systems" and includes 8 chapters. This book may assist researchers on studying the innovative functions of modern systems in various areas like health, telematics, knowledge management, etc. It can also assist young students in capturing the new research tendencies of the information systems' development