The evolution of operations strategy based on OAM&P interface standards

It is pointed out that the advent of new technologies based on standards such as ISDN (integrated services digital network), SONET (synchronous optical network) and SS#7 will offer design flexibility never before possible. This flexibility will cause the architecture of the network to evolve quickly, and will shorten the planning intervals that network and operations systems planners have traditionally worked within. The author presents a view of network technology evolution that could be typical and demonstrates the problems that a quickly evolving architecture presents to the system strategist and planner regarding OAM&P (operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning) standards. The value of a standard, object-oriented network management information model as a strategy for OSS transition through technology evolution is also presented