Ericsson Digital BSS

Ericsson's business and operations support system sits inside a portfolio that also builds the network it runs on, which is the distinguishing consideration. An operator buying OSS/BSS from Ericsson can source radio, core, transport and the systems that monetise them from one vendor. The company frames the stakes bluntly for operators: 5G changes everything, or nothing, and it is up to your OSS/BSS. The supporting phrase, sell, deliver, get paid, is a fair summary of what these systems are for.

The named product areas are specific. Service orchestration handles the automated delivery of services across the network, which is what makes complex 5G offerings deliverable without manual provisioning. Charging and billing covers monetisation, and this is where 5G differs from previous generations, since network slicing and differentiated connectivity only generate revenue if the charging system can price and bill them. Data and analytics, network management and automation, cognitive network solutions and rApps cover the operations side, alongside Cloud Core and cloud infrastructure.

Ericsson also sells the services around the software, reflecting that OSS/BSS transformation is a programme rather than a purchase. OSS/BSS services sit alongside network deployment, network optimisation, Open RAN services, managed network services, consulting, training, data and analytics services and Intelligent Support. Related topics the company publishes on include 5G monetization, autonomous networks, network APIs, network slicing and differentiated connectivity, and it publishes substantial research including the Ericsson Mobility Report and Ericsson Technology Review. The wider portfolio extends to enterprises through private 5G, wireless WAN, mission critical communications and network cybersecurity. Pricing is not published.