P1552    Open Source for Next Generation OSS - Issues and Challenges

January 2006

Abstract:

It is quite clear that current software methodology for Operation Support Systems (OSS) is based on a wholly proprietary software model, with in some cases, open standards based interfaces. There is no evidence that this approach is going to be able to develop the scope of Next Generation OSS applications in a timely and flexible manner.

In other parts of the software industry, Open Source has dramatically changed the dynamics of developing code and product iteration lifecycles. Advantages of adopting Open Source are enormous and vary from economic issues, reduced life cost, free of charge acquisition, modification and redistribution, increased standard adoptions, vendor independence, and many others.

Open Source software availability and uptake in the OSS arena is a more complex matter to answer, but there is a great potential to offer a business model that makes standards compliant component implementations, rather than standalone COTS applications (that the market offers now) available to the industry.

This deliverable investigates where Open Source can help in Next Generation OSS (NGOSS). In particular, an NGOSS Service Activation proof-of-concept has been implemented using Open Source components of carrier-grade standard, (the Process Engine and the Common Communications Vehicle as defined by NGOSS Technology Neutral Architecture), and rated using the Business Readiness Rating (BRR), a model that exists to facilitate the assessment of Open Source software.

The results of this deliverable will assist in the decision-making procedures because the Open Source phenomenon is analysed from a Next Generation OSS perspective.