DTW24-Ignite sees further movement in the quest to use Open Digital Architecture (ODA) to create plug-and-play OSS/BSS components
Inch by inch the telco standardisation train has been trying to flatten the OSS/BSS/service delivery siloes. TM Forum, arguably more than most standards groups, has been seen as the organisation that is intent on unifying disparate standards across the industry – from API work with CAMARA, GSMA and MEF, through to championing Open Digital Architecture (ODA). At DTW-24 Copenhagen, it announced the latest incremental shift – a conformance certification programme for ODA.
ODA aims to create a standardised, open, modular digital architecture that helps telcos accelerate towards a more agile and customer-centric operational model. It is intended to promote a shift from traditional monolithic systems to a component-based architecture. The thinking is that this modular approach enables telcos to integrate and replace components more easily. Central to ODA are standardised Open APIs that ensure interoperability between different components.
Steady as she goes
However, in telcoland, things move slowly. Case in point, TM Forum’s Open API programme turned 10 in December, and the Open Digital Architecture (ODA) was announced two and a half years later in July 2016.
However, members at DTW24-Ignite are nothing if not persistent and the end goal of creating an OSS marketplace that supports ordering, fulfilling, provisioning, managing and assuring telco services via cloud native software applications has moved from being a want to a need in the current economic climate. So the arrival of conformance testing to validate ODA components, plus the improvement of the reference Canvas – an execution environment where components can be deployed – for wide-scale use has been welcomed by members. Both will be available from January 2025.
Developed in collaboration with members, the programme will enable software suppliers to certify their commercial products for conformance against TM Forum’s ODA Component specifications. 23 TM Forum member companies – Accenture, Alvatross, AWS, Axiata Digital Labs, Bell Canada, Blue Planet, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Etiya, Globetom, Google Cloud, Hansen, Huawei, Infosys, Jio, Marand, Matrixx, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat, Vodafone and Whale Cloud – have publicly committed to the programme, with software vendors building conformance into their product roadmaps and service providers committing to provide a conformant operating environment for ODA Components built on the ODA Canvas.
“Today’s announcement marks another important step in our mission to deliver fully composable IT and ecosystems through ODA.” said TMF CTO George Glass. “ODA provides the blueprint for a cloud native telco by simplifying design, modernising software, and automating operations.”
Operators’ endorsement
“Vodafone has been at the forefront of utilising TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture and Open APIs to enhance the customer experience across multiple channels and unlock new revenue streams,” said Vodafone Group CTO Scott Petty. “ODA Components and Canvas certification will further drive end-to-end automation and remove complexity, which in turn, will lower costs for application developers, allowing them to introduce new features and services more quickly at scale.”
“Achieving ‘Running on ODA’ status has empowered Axiata to leverage cloud-native, vendor-agnostic solutions using TM Forum’s Open APIs,” said Axiata Group CIO Antony Rodrigo. “The ODA Component and Canvas Certification program will further accelerate our AI-driven service creation, enabling us to achieve our growth ambitions through simplification of product design, high velocity go-to-market, and enhanced IT and network capabilities.”
“We believe in technology that creates real value for people, but is developed frugally. That’s why we drive ODA compliance to accelerate delivery, reduce time to market, and leverage telco developments,” said Deutsche Telekom Board member for technology and innovation Claudia Nemat. “Standardisation requires a shared commitment. Therefore, we participate in developing ODA standards and work with CSPs, hyperscalers and technology providers on ODA certification.”
Formal certification will be available in January 2025 through a Conformance Test Kit (CTK) launched later this year. Members can prepare for certification by joining the ODA Components & Canvas program, where they can contribute to the development of the ODA standards and gain early access to the prototype Component CTK.