service provider access to SDP infrastructure in a controlled, secure, optimized and automated environment. In addition, it helps protect and manage third-party partner access to network resources including messaging, call control, location and subscriber profiles.

“The communications industry is opening up, and we’re seeing growing adoption of IT technologies,” Sheahan says. “The move away from proprietary systems to more open networks is enabling service providers to be more innovative, foster new partnerships, become more nimble and agile, and lower their costs.”

 

ADAPTING TO THE BRAVE NEW WORLD of communications is about more than embracing new services or revamping legacy services, however—it’s also about improving network intelligence, and maximizing the return on billions of dollars in operator investment. Particularly in a bleak economy, operational excellence is essential to weathering competition, overcoming slow revenue growth and navigating price pressures— yet even as service providers seek to optimize their operations to control expenses, the harsh truth remains that most networks are absurdly inefficient, hamstrung by assets that sit unused, assets that are misused and new assets that were purchased unnecessarily. The answer to improving efficiency lies in more effective network administration, with an emphasis on guar-

anteeing optimal performance throughout the asset lifecycle, preventing waste and protecting the integrity of the balance sheet.

Oracle’s solution portfolio for asset lifecycle management enables service providers to oversee every step of the process, from planning and budgeting through procurement, project management and asset and labor capitalization through to maintenance and final retirement. In collaboration with Oracle, operators can enjoy enterprise-wide visibility of network assets, integrate operational and financial views of network assets, optimize network asset utilization, trim capex and opex spending, and ensure compliance with regulatory and audit requirements.

“We’re helping operators de-fragment their networks and optimize capacity by freeing up assets that are non-optimized and redeploying them in a more pragmatic manner,” Wang says. “In growth situations, operators buy too much equipment and their networks run at less than capacity. We bring focus to their business.”

Looking ahead, the focus turns to new services that expand operator revenue opportunities. According to Yankee Group’s Vittore, his firm recommends that service providers think outside of their comfort zones and consider new initiatives like e-health and security services alongside more conventional voice, data and video efforts. He cites the example of Swedish