Broadband service providers (BSPs) looking to succeed in the broadband marketplace must be agile enough to keep up with evolving market trends and innovations while delivering best-in-class broadband solutions. To do so, BSPs must have OSS/BSS systems that are flexible, scalable, and capable of providing a broad partner ecosystem, cross-platform automation, and unified communications between employees and subscribers. Having an open architecture platform is key to meeting all these needs.
The Open Advantages
The advantages of utilizing open architecture platforms are immediate. By employing variety to solve complexity, open systems provide opportunities for hyperautomation and rapid enhancement development, while also facilitating longevity through adaptability. Some of the benefits of open architecture systems include:
- Cost efficiencies: By avoiding vendor lock-in, BSPs can choose from a variety of solutions to complete their service ecosystems, often leading to lower costs and greater efficiencies.
- Innovation: Open architecture platforms encourage innovation by allowing providers to choose from a variety of best-in-breed solutions and affording them the ability to change those components when they decide on a new direction.
- Longevity: Systems designed with open architecture can be easily upgraded and maintained. They also allow for system evolution by replacing dated components with newer technologies.
- Empowerment: Open architecture platforms offer more direct control over their systems and the ability to customize and adapt them to the specific needs of an individual business.
The Closed Challenges
With a closed architecture platform, the challenges may not be present at first. A BSP might get what it currently needs from a vendor’s closed system. However, if they want to innovate, launch new products, or actively control their systems, they will quickly discover the walls of their closed system. Some of the challenges of closed architecture systems include:
- Innovation lock: With closed systems, you get what the vendor gives you. Your ability to innovate is completely dependent on your vendor, which eliminates opportunities for hyper-automation and rapid change.
- Limited transformation awareness: A BSP’s ability to transform is reliant on insights derived from their data. To be able to do this, data must flow freely between all systems and the systems can easily integrate with established systems, like the provider’s ERP, no-code tools, and emerging technologies, like generative AI. Unlike open architecture platforms, closed systems either share no information or only the limited information the vendor determined needed to be shared, thereby limiting the BSP’s ability to see the complete picture of their business.
- Limited lifespan: The lifespan of closed architecture systems is inherently limited because they are managed by a set of stagnant resources. Plus, if the vendor goes out of business or discontinues support for a product, clients relying on their ecosystem find themselves forced to use outdated software or navigate the massive hurdles of migrating away all of their services.
Choosing Your Path
The architecture you choose is a strategic decision driven by the specific needs of your operations. The path you choose establishes the foundation of your tech stack and impacts every aspect of your transformation journey. Operators who embrace open architecture platforms will have more flexibility in their choices and be better equipped for future expansion, ensuring they remain competitive.
Tony Stout, CTO
CDG
Tony Stout joined PRTC in 2010 and serves as the company’s Chief Technology Officer. In his role as CTO, Tony is responsible for overseeing strategic direction for building and expanding PRTC’s next generation network infrastructure. In 2020, PRTC acquired CDG, a telecom OSS/BSS solutions provider. Tony was appointed CTO for CDG and oversees the company’s technology, software engineering, IT and technical support teams. Tony has more than 28 years of technology, business and management experience in various Telecom and Information Technology roles.
