Mobile network operators do not have the right software solutions to monetize their 5G networks with new services and network management tools, Nokia research said.
New monetization systems that enable operators to deliver new services, like slicing, faster and at scale are a critical enabler of helping CSPs and enterprises realize faster returns on their network investments, Nokia said.
Nokia-commissioned survey of 100 SPs found that 11 percent of respondents have sufficient Business Support Systems (BSS) in place to meet the needs of 5G-enabled business models.
Nokia said BSS are a critical patchwork of business applications, which includes monetization tools, that help SPs manage their operations and supply chains through functions, such as billing and charging, and for delivering a solid customer experience.
98 percent indicated they would have to alter their BSS in the coming years in order to put proper, up-to-date monetization tools in place.
Nearly 70 percent of SPs are considering deploying cloud-based monetization solutions. In addition, two-thirds of respondents indicated they believe that real-time charging is essential for 5G monetization, in part because of its ability to help SPs respond quickly to customer demands.
Nokia said a cloud-native software architecture is key to achieving a 5G-ready monetization system, with many benefits that include limitless scalability, and an ideal platform for AI, analytics, and edge computing capabilities for ultra-low latency use cases.
“Most Service Providers are ill-prepared to effectively engage and monetize emerging 5G-enabled use cases and need to urgently transform their BSS. With Service Providers looking to get that ROI on 5G, now is the time for them to invest in flexible monetization systems especially as 5G brings to the forefront the importance of real-time charging capabilities,” John Abraham, Principal Analyst at Analysys Mason, said.
A major shift among CSPs is needed toward adaptable monetization systems that utilize cloud-native, scalable and flexible infrastructure and open APIs for easy integration and deployment; and I think this survey highlights the work still to be done,” Hamdy Farid, Senior Vice President, Business Applications at Nokia, said.
