A global study from Oracle on Communications Cloud – CSPs Take on Tomorrow has revealed how telecom operators are readying themselves for initiatives towards making investment in Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and the Cloud.

Improving customer experiences and keeping up with technological advancements are two top challenges for CPs.

“CSPs are leveraging cloud technologies to transform their networks and create more compelling experiences for their customers, partners, and employees,” said Doug Suriano, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Communications.
“The move to cloud will continue to play a key role in helping CSPs improve their service agility and expand their business with new innovations in IoT, digital, and cloud services,” Doug Suriano said.

71 percent of CSPs believe that a communications cloud could simplify operations, speed time to market, and reduce overall effort. They believe cloud and NFV are the top opportunities to improve their competitive position.
About half of CSPs feel they ready to conquer customer experience (CX) issues. While quality, cost, and reducing risk are important, more than half believe the most challenging communications cloud migration hurdles are nontechnical.

They think it’s more important for a cloud partner to provide access to information / expertise in addition to technology than to have only the best technical capabilities.

60 percent of CSPs claiming progress with NFV investment believe that NFV will achieve many objectives in two years. CPS say that objectives around cost reduction and time to market may take longer, but investments continue.
CSPs see NFV and the cloud as their best bet to improve their competitive position.

60 percent believe NFV will meet or exceed expectations in the next two years.

Two-thirds have made noteworthy progress with NFV; they also see the most promise with a communications cloud.

Many are willing to pay a premium to control their own infrastructure, even though the perceived benefits of the cloud are largely the same in key areas.
53 percent believe NFV public- and private cloud infrastructures are more or less the same or similar in performance, security, and agility.

45 percent understand they will pay more for private, operator-controlled infrastructure versus the public cloud.

CSPs plan to stay the course with NFV; many see an opportunity to accelerate the use of cloud services.

Leading CSPs see cloud as an opportunity to maintain or improve their market position while providing internal value. But they are still a bit uncomfortable relinquishing control and feel hindered by legacy systems.