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| The Aggregator of Open Access Networks |
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Background New initiatives for building Next Generation Access (NGA) networks are currently taking place in large scale. The networks are mostly small to mid size networks. There is therefore a need of standardization of the services being offered to the Service Providers in order to achieve efficient operations. This standardization of the services has been initiated by several organizations. Except the need of standardization of the network service there is also a need to ease the effort for the Service Providers to manage the line access services in different networks with defined processes and standards, in an operational perspective. A typical market scenario is that the Service Provider has an end customer relationship and then uses different line access services from operators to be able to deliver the service to the end customer. The diagram below shows the different business relations and network connections that occur in this market:
NNI is referring to Network to Network interface and UNI is referring to User Network Interface. A Carrier Ethernet operator provides connections between networks (e.g. middle mile / transport services). The Network Operator creates links between the end customer connection point (UNI) and Carrier Ethernet operator network (NNI). Product overview The Service Exchange Platform (SEP) is a system that provides a single point of managing line access services in different networks. Every network that is connected to SEP is responsible for providing a SEP compliant API so that Service Providers can achieve the same functionality for all connected networks. The platform defines functionality for support of Service Fulfillment, Service Assurance and Operations Support and Readiness processes. The platform supports different actors; service providers (line access users) and line access providers (including capacity/middle-mile/transport providers). The platform supports active services (Ethernet Active Line Access) and shall support passive (ducts, wave-length and dark fiber) services in the future. It’s possible to communicate with an Application Programming Interface (API) as well as a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the Service Providers. The platform uses distributed storage architecture for maximum performance and security. The diagram below shows how SEP will connect Line Access Providers and Service Providers together and what processes that will be managed by SEP.
The functionality that SEP offers mirrors the functionality of each network’s system. SEP is only managing the delivery points in the network and doesn’t contain any end customer information.
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