A simple truth in business is that people order products and services, not technologies. This is as true for communication service providers (CSPs) as it is for any other business. End users don’t care how they get the network connectivity they need, only that they have a solution that works.
This simple truth has spurred ongoing discussion of intent-based service fulfillment, which would enable CSPs to offer customers advanced connectivity services, such as low-latency online gaming, without worrying about the network configurations needed to deliver those services. The challenge for CSPs has been the complexity of the underlying technology. Multiple network resources must be configured precisely to deliver advanced services, making it difficult for service providers to design and deliver specific offerings, or for subscribers to order them.
But the dream is fast approaching reality. Structural changes in how networking software is designed and advances in AI and network automation now make it possible for service providers to begin turning conversation into action. To accomplish this, however, CSPs must leverage purpose-built technology platforms that take advantage of AI and network automation to enable an intent-driven model of service management and orchestration.
Simplify Frameworks Using Open Digital Architecture
The TM Forum defines six levels of maturity for autonomous networks, where the top level would enable a CSP to simply give instructions and define parameters for services, and the network would automatically and optimally fulfill them. A major development on the road to achieving that goal has been the introduction of the TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA).
The ODA is a reference architecture for a new way of orchestrating network software resources to deliver services using AI and Open APIs. It is intended to replace traditional operational and business support systems (OSS/BSS) to enable creation of tailored services that can be deployed, integrated, and upgraded more easily and cost-effectively. The ODA blueprint allows for the complexity of the access network to be hidden, value-add applications to be overlayed easily, and customer-focused products to be defined cost-effectively.
By providing the basic framework, the ODA delivers a strong foundation for intent-based service fulfillment. But to enable true intent-based service fulfillment in their networks, CSPs must build on the ODA framework with fully automated processes.
Automate the Backend of Multi-Network Service Fulfillment
Multi-network service activation, fulfillment, and provisioning is costly in both time and money for technical teams to tackle manually. Manually editing business rules and integrating systems and processes is slow and complex work, increasing the complexity of deployments and slowing time-to-market for residential and enterprise services. And relying on swivel-chair processes, where engineers must manually transfer data between systems and applications, is inefficient and prone to errors.
Full network automation allows service providers to address and overcome these challenges. Automating the configuration of multi-network services streamlines back-end processes, reducing operational costs. Using a no-code business rules editor, leveraging the ODA architecture, and enabling seamless integration of multiple resources through Open APIs simplifies deployment and accelerates time-to-market with services. And zero-touch, end-to-end service fulfillment allows service providers to eliminate swivel-chair processes, reducing errors and shortening the time from order to delivery.
Efficient Automation Depends on Converged Service Fulfillment
While full automation is the goal, Open APIs are the key to achieving it. The internal siloes that make up today’s networks represent a major challenge to offering intent-based service fulfillment. Multiple access technologies, standards, element management systems, and vendor lock-ins can make an already complex task insurmountably convoluted.
A converged solution built on the TM Forum’s Open APIs eliminates the complexity and reduces the time and cost required to launch new products by simplifying integration and facilitating codeless and built-in business process modeling. It unlocks the full potential of automation by enabling service requests to be translated into the right configurations across systems and network layers. Services can be provisioned, orchestrated, and activated automatically without the need to duplicate data or manually connect systems. As a result, customers can easily ask for the solutions they need without needing to understand multiple technology offerings or technical terminology, and service provider networks can deliver those exact solutions quickly and accurately without manual intervention.
Deliver on Intent-Based Service Fulfillment with Incognito
Incognito provides comprehensive, converged OSS solutions that leverage the latest technology and architecture innovations to facilitate fast and effective intent-based service fulfillment. These solutions offer zero-touch, end-to-end service fulfillment, which automatically translates subscriber service requests into the right configurations across systems and network layers.
Our Service Activation Center (SAC), for example, is a cloud-ready platform that automates multi-network service activation, fulfillment, and provisioning. This platform simplifies deployment and accelerates time-to-market of residential and enterprise services by streamlining back-end processes with a no-code business rules editor, TM Forum ODA, and extensive integration capabilities.
The SAC is combined with other value-add solutions and platforms to further enhance service fulfillment, including:
- Incognito Network Monetization and Analytics Platform (MAP) for network intelligence
- Incognito Digital Experience (DX) Solution for ACS/USP remote device management using TR-069 and TR-369 protocols
- Incognito Address Commander (AC) for IP address management efficiency
- Incognito Broadband Command Center (BCC) for automated IP resource configuration with carrier-grade award winning DHCP server
By leveraging Incognito’s converged offerings, service providers can use advanced automation to deliver the intent-based service fulfillment customers expect without compromising network integrity or operational efficiency. They can take advantage of new market opportunities by rapidly bringing services to market, while reducing the costs associated with manual network deployment and troubleshooting.
Incognito’s commitment to enabling intent-based service fulfillment goes beyond offering solutions. As a key partner in the TM Forum’s Catalyst Program in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and 2025 Incognito has delivered award-winning Catalyst projects, which have showcased the potential of converged access solutions to cut network technology costs by as much as 30%, reduce IT costs, and elevate service quality. Several of our Catalyst projects have been developed into commercial solutions that now enable service providers to effectively deliver services to the B2C, B2B, and enterprise markets.
Contact us to learn more about how Incognito’s advanced solutions give service providers the tools they need to make intent-based service fulfillment a practical reality.
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