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Projecte llegit

Títol: Analysis of NFV service design and management processes using ITIL and eTOM best practices

Estudiants que han llegit aquest projecte:

Director/a: ALCOBER SEGURA, JESÚS

Departament: ENTEL

Títol: Analysis of NFV service design and management processes using ITIL and eTOM best practices

Data inici oferta: 23-02-2017     Data finalització oferta: 23-10-2017


Estudis d'assignació del projecte:
    MU MASTEAM 2015
Tipus: Individual
 
Lloc de realització: EETAC
 
Paraules clau:
NFV, eTOM, ITIL, VNF, ETSI,CSP, Business framework, Business processes,fulfilment, assurance, operational management, management, analysis
 
Descripció del contingut i pla d'activitats:
In the ongoing research discussion about the structure and architecture of 5G networks, a basic trend is evident: the network will have to be much more flexible and
open to profound changes of its operation to match evolving demands. These demands will not just evolve quantitatively but also qualitatively in that traffic with
different, yet unforeseeable, characteristics will have to be supported. An ideal approach to increase flexibility of a system is to scale software, more precisely,
of reconfigurable and replaceable software. This is the core notion of providing conventionally fixed network functions via software, typically in a virtualised
environment: network function virtualisation (NFV). It is a transformation that relies on software-based innovation on top of more generic telecommunications
hardware.

This disruptive architecture is challenging to put into practice. The value chain of the provisioning and operation of networks will change and needs to be
supported by a technical environment. This environment will need to support a decrease in development time and improved network operations, including further
overlapping functions. Opportunity also arises as the role of providing network functionality taken up by a broader range of actors, no longer limited to the vendor
of network equipment. This allows a much higher degree of customisation of network functions for the service developer, empowering them with a better deployment and
greater control of their service. Conversely, the role of the operator of a network changes as well: instead of just running a system with essentially fixed
functionality where only parameterisation is necessary, the dynamics provisioning and deploying new functions become daunting. If, in particular, provisioning will
become a frequent action rather than a unique event, it must be supported by automation that spans across the development and the operational cycle of network
functions, as well as orchestration of needed resources—the technical role of an ‘orchestration platform’ becomes important and has received considerable attention.

Taking such a comprehensive view of development and operation of complex software is indeed a common trend of modern software engineering; it is commonly referred
to as ‘DevOps’ (a contraction of Development and Operations, to highlight the close integration of these two processes). It has not, however, taken root in the
actual practice of the telecommunication industry with respect to the operation of networks in an open fashion.

NFV operations need to focus on IT Information Library (ITIL) processes and the Enhanced Telecommunications Operations Map (eTOM) framework and align with DevOps
needs. The project will analise NFV service design and management processes using ITIL and eTOM best practices.
 
Overview (resum en anglès):
The objective of this project is to analyse the design and process management of NFV and its operations using two of the most widely used and accepted best practices in telecommunication and IT industries. Focusing majorly on the NFV operations, assurance and fulfilment processes amongst other processes in NFV operation.
Analysis of other project focusing on promoting the NFV concept, and why they all need to be aligned with the two best practices, in other for continuity and process compatibility when integrated to achieve a common business and operational goal. This is essential because it creates a general language for using across processes both internal and external, reducing risk of system implementation and integration, also eliminate gaps and duplication in process flow. Also comparison with the current CSP and impact of the needed NFV transformation to CSP.

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