“From inventory and AIOps to digital channels, billing, customer care and SLA compliance [it] will revolutionize how satellite communications services are delivered and monetized”
Netcracker Technology launched its Digital Satellite Solution, which it says is a blueprint for multi-orbit IT and claims it “radically transforms how satellite operators manage, optimize and monetize their business”.
According to the company, the new solution enables operators to guarantee the best service quality at any time and “expand their business with any offer to any customer worldwide”.
The rapidly growing number of low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) satellites, and the emergence of direct-to-device (D2D) technology, present many new opportunities for telcos. They include to” deliver affordable communications to remote locations; close gaps in mobile coverage; and equip industries with mission-critical communications.
Serious hurdles
But there are serious hurdles to clear. For instance, the constellations’ business and operational environments were not designed for dynamic operations across space and Earth, integration with telcos’ 4G/5G and fixed networks, or a global customer base with digitalisation at the top of the agenda.
Netcracker’s solution incorporates an operations environment with real-time service inventory and topology, multi-domain service orchestration, dynamic management of SLAs and AI-enabled assurance. The intent is to guarantee optimal service quality across space and terrestrial networks at all times.
The BSS provides configure, price, quote functionality, omnichannel support for customers including self-service, a unified product catalogue, flexible charging and billing schemes, and partner management to accommodate any type of customer or partner regardless of their location.
Cloud-native foundations
Netcracker Digital Satellite Solution is cloud-native with security practices built into all parts of it to protect sensitive data. An API Management Platform is also integral and supports MEF’s Lifecyle Orchestration (LSO) and TM Forum’s Open APIs to simplify integration with other parties. This includes enablilng them to offer Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) to enterprise and wholesale customers.
Grant Lenahan, Partner and Principal Analyst at Appledore Research, comments, “Netcracker has undertaken the significant investment to understand, model, engineer and implement an entirely new solution stretching from inventory and AIOps to digital channels, billing, customer care and SLA compliance, which will revolutionize how satellite communications services are delivered and monetized around the world.”
Changing telecom landscape
Andy Hicks, Senior Principal Analyst at GlobalData, added, “Recent developments in satellite technology are changing the telecom landscape by providing advanced communications, including in the air, at sea and in vast parts of the planet not currently covered by 5G or fibre.
“Netcracker Digital Satellite Solution is designed to address the…complexities of these highly dynamic and multi-domain services through an innovative IT environment for multi-orbit satellites that will help operators deliver the best service to their customers.”
“We have been working very closely with our satellite operator customers for some time,” said Bob Titus, CTO at Netcracker. “Our solution enables satellite providers to rapidly bring new offers to market and transforms how they engage with their customers and partners while delivering the best service quality.”