Managing next generation services

Within BT the fundamental need for cohesion and consistency has been recognised and development programmes for both public and private networks, despite being driven with different short-term objectives, are evolving within a common technical framework, the Co-operative Networking Architecture-Management (CNA-M). Network and service management is moving from an era of specialised solutions to one of integrated, highly automated solutions building on `open´ interfaces, modular design and reusable software components above an increasingly capable basic infrastructure of computing and network platforms. This framework will continue to be enhanced as the market demands, services, networks, organisations and technology all change. This article considers some of the drivers and changes, assesses their implications for managing advanced services, and describes some of the ways in which technology can be harnessed to meet the challenge. Communications management is taken to cover all activities associated with maintaining telecommunications networks and services at some operational optimum, throughout their whole life cycle, whilst minimising the resources required