Dimensions of Network Operation

The discussion of how network operations are performed leads us to a multi-dimensional problem, described by technical, process, and delivery aspects.

The first dimension breaks the operator’s physical assets down into “technical domains”, which can be analyzed separately in terms of how they are run: radio access network and transmission network, core and backbone network, intelligent network platform (incl. prepaid platform), short message service (SMS) platform, operation support systems (OSS), business support systems (BSS), any fixed network portion, enterprise IT systems.

The second dimension is the process domain, with process definitions that are mutually exclusive (any cost item can be allocated to only one process) and exhaustive (taking together all processes, the whole operational expenses have to be covered): front-office processes: monitoring network operation center (NOC), back-office processes: 2nd level maintenance (SLM), performance management, and dispatching/helpdesk, maintenance processes: field maintenance, and electrical and mechanical maintenance, other processes: 3rd level support, spares logistics, site rental, leased lines, microwave frequency fees, electricity and fuel, 3rd party contract management, planning and optimization, project management, IT infrastructure and applications, and testbed.

The delivery option is the third and final dimension of network operations, detailing by whom, where, and how the process is performed with regards to a certain part of the network. Taking into account the make-or-buy-decision to be taken by the operator, i.e. perform the service in-house or outsourcing/out-tasking it to an external party, and also considering resource sharing across multiple operational units in order to capture economies of scale – both by the operator and by external service providers – we define the following delivery options:

· Local delivery: service is performed in-house, where the geographic footprint is a single country.

· Regional delivery: service is performed in-house, where the geographic footprint is a region (multiple neighboring countries linked by some commonalities, such as language, social behavior, etc.).

· Central delivery: service is performed in-house at the highest appropriate level of centralization/globalization, i.e. in one site for all operations considered.