What is a Service Delivery Platform?

The Service Delivery Platform is an approach to substitute numerous network-specific “stove-pipes” with a common and horizontal service architecture. To leverage consolidation potentials it is important not to rebuild the same functions in different SDPs. The SDP architecture defines functional building blocks. These functional building blocks are connected and build the basic functions of any SDP service. Some examples are indicated in the graph as central enablers. In the service orchestration building block the services are described as a bundle of other basic functions. Flexible and efficient service creation supported by a separated service creation environment promise a hug service push with a short time to market and efficient production.

The term Service Delivery Platform is widely used in the information and communication technology market. SDP architectures are designed by operators, vendors, system integrators and application server developers. Dependent on their background and motivation they focus on different areas of a service delivery platform. Some focus on IP TV, some on 3^rd Party enabling, some on convergence and some on pure Voice Value Added Service optimization. Thus it is not a miracle that the SDP standardization is very fragmented. It is also very valid to assume multiple service delivery platforms, fulfilling certain tasks and functions, in an operator’s network. In general SDP refers to a system architecture or environment that enables the efficient creation, deployment, execution, orchestration and management of one or more classes of services. As such it is a central part of an operators business. Facing a growing number of services and specialized SDPs a management concept has been developed. The TeleManagement Forum is defining currently a Service Delivery Framework (SDF). The key objective is to define a generic management framework regardless of the network or technologies used by the service. This open framework may also include legacy platforms as long as they expose management capabilities defined by the SDF Reference model.

Network Operators as Service Provider

As a matter of course the network operators are also service providers. All operators provide a similar set of base services like access, voice, voice value added services, messaging, entertainment,… Also third parties are already using network operators’ capabilities and provide service via the operator. Prominent examples in the mobile world are ring tones, premium SMS, content and in the fixed networks world high rate hotline services like voting services but also free call services. In the mature markets, an average operator has agreements with over one hundred to several hundreds of 3^rd parties. This long tail market of applications is gaining more and more importance. In most operators networks this 3^rd party access in granted per service feature (e.g. VAS call control, SMS, content…). A combination of different service features still requires a complex elaboration. An efficient 3^rd party management using SDP service exposure technologies enable more consolidation options. A combination of operator service features, operator based identity management and web based applications is a promising way to efficiently generate new services that are comfortable to use and in equal measure combine the best in class capabilities.