Software technologies are fueling the transformation of the telecommunications industry operations. IDC's NGN Operations service examines the service provider (SP) investments in software-driven systems to support business-critical operational and strategic activities. From enabling service delivery to analyzing customer activities, this CIS examines how the telecommunications industry can leverage technologies and process expertise to expand the subscriber base and grow profitable customer revenue streams.

This service covers the following segments of the next-generation OSS and billing market:

• Telecom billing and charging
• Subscriber data management and analysis
• IMS and VoIP/TDM infrastructure equipment
• Service delivery platforms (SDPs)
• Telecom application servers and media servers
• Fulfillment and provisioning

Throughout the year, this service will address the following topics:

• Ecosystems in telecom software and services
• Key differences for incumbent and emerging players
• Role of IT and telecom vendors
• Supporting content services with OSS and billing
• NGN carrier strategies for migrating to VoIP infrastructure
• Role of media servers
• Charging for data, voice, and video
• Optimizing billing systems for cost and accuracy

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. How quickly are SPs and their suppliers shifting their strategic focus to software-led investments?
2. Can or should service providers integrate IT and network operations systems?
3. Which telecom operations specialists will survive industry consolidation - or is there a role for smaller players?
4. Can customer intelligence increase customer self-care and personalization - or is it simply analytics?
5. Will SDPs evolve to become full software products or remain dominated by professional services offerings?
6. Will signaling and TDM investments continue to stifle IMS and NGN/VoIP initiatives?

IDC's NGN Operations service examines the product strategies, competitive positioning, financial viability, and overall strategic direction of major IT and telecom vendors as well as emerging NGN, OSS/BSS and SDP companies, including:

Accenture, Acision, Acme Packet, Aepona, Alcatel-Lucent, Amdocs, AppTrigger, AsiaInfo, AudioCodes, Avaya, Xius-BCGI, Blueslice, BroadSoft, BSG Clearing, CA, CGE&Y, Cedar Point, Cisco, Clarity, ComArch, Comptel, Comverse, Convergys, CPqD, CSG Systems, Deloitte, Dialogic, ECI Telecom, ECtel, EMC, Ericsson, Fair Isaac, Formula Telecom, Fujitsu, GENBAND, Highdeal, HP, Huawei, IBM, Infitel, Infosys, Intec, Intel, IntelliNet, IPUnity, Iperia, Italtel, Jamcracker, jnetix, Juniper, KPMG, LHS, Longboard, MACH, Metaswitch, Microsoft, Microstrategies, Motorola, Nakina Systems, NEC, Neustar, Newport Networks, NextPoint, Nokia-Siemens Networks, Nortel, NMS, Openet, Oracle, Pactolus, Patni, Personeta, PricewaterhouseCoopers, RAD, Radisys, Redknee, Samsung, SAS, SAP, Satyam, Sigma Systems, Sonus, Spirent, Stratus, Subex Azure, Sun, Sylantro, Syniverse, T-Systems, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, Tekelec, Telcordia, Teradata, Thomson, TTI, Ulticom, Unipier, UTStarcom, Valista, Veraz, VeriSign, Wipro, Xeround, and ZTE

This service focuses on the following core research. In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct additional research on specific topics, or emerging market segments, via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

An overview forecast and market size data that highlights key trends across the major SDP, NGN, BSS/OSS, and markets across major geographic regions.

An examination of major trends across the NGN infrastructure of softswitches, media gateways, session border controllers, feature servers, and IMS. It provides an updated forecast for revenue and discusses systems being deployed, including wireless and wireline legacy switch replacement, cutting-edge business/consumer services, and IMS applications.

This study measures the successes and opportunities associated with software, service bureau, and services-based OSS/BSS solutions. The document includes market share analysis within each of the go-to-market models. Trend analysis, reflecting the interplay of packaging, pricing, and positioning, is a key feature of the study.

Growth opportunities and key technologies for service delivery platforms are examined in this document with a discussion of the complexities of walled-garden versus ecosystem requirements. Market size and forecast data as well as analysis are provided on a worldwide basis.

This study examines the opportunity to apply IT industry security and analytics to the high volume and complex requirements of the telecommunications industry. The installed subscriber management systems from churn to profile management are the foundation for this market forecast document. Analysis will include discussion of the positioning of traditional suppliers as well as IT industry analytics leaders.

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Special client discount pricing on purchases of research from other services
• Complimentary admission to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC sales executive.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10-plus years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.