WHITE PAPER

ACCELERATING NETWORK
AS A SERVICE STRATEGY
WITH COMARCH COGNITIVE OSS
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

n Why OSS/BSS transformation is crucial

for implementing network slicing

n How telecoms can leverage network slicing

n How Comarch Cognitive OSS can help operators

deploy new services and monetize 5G

n Key features and benefits of Comarch Cognitive OSS

THE CONCEPT OF NETWORK SLICING

At the center of 5G, expected to account for over 50% of mobile traffic over the next five years, is network slicing - a technology
that enables communication and digital service providers to develop and deliver new services such as network as a service
(NaaS). In a recently conducted study NaaS was identified as a major driver for operator 5G monetization, with close to 95%
of global operators expecting it to enhance operator revenue opportunities significantly.

The implementation of NaaS, as part of operator 5G offers, is expected to drive operator

business in many ways. Of the operators surveyed, 94.9% believe NaaS will have a major
impact on business growth and monetization.
Of these, 28.9% believe that it will be a real game changer and will completely change
the way operators cooperate with their B2B partners.

SOURCE: “AI/ML FOR 5G NETWORK SLICING: ACCELERATING NAAS STRATEGY” REPORT, COMARCH, 2021

What is network slicing, and what opportunities does it offer for CSPs?

Network slicing enables communication service providers to create multiple virtual networks over the same
physical infrastructure. Building isolated virtual mobile networks on a shared infrastructure allows resources and network
functions to be allocated in a dedicated fashion to individual slices that belong to the CSP. The concept is empowered
by software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV), which have been progressively introduced
in 3GPP. Thanks to these technologies, CSPs have the potential to allocate resources more efficiently than in the case
of traditional network functions based on custom dedicated hardware.

Building dedicated and optimized networks on the shared network infrastructure is more cost efficient, speeds up deployment
and time to market, and enables network customizations according to special customer requirements, thus addressing
a broader market space (for example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications
(uRLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC)).

However, with increased flexibility comes a risk of higher operational complexity, which is proportional to the number of
customized networks created.

THE SUCCESS OF NETWORK SLICING DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE RIGHT BSS/OSS

According to a 2018 report by TM Forum, up to 72% of 5G revenue growth is dependent on BSS/OSS transformation.1
The business benefits of 5G rely highly on the development of better, automated, and integrated management
and operational capabilities.

A well-structured BSS/OSS captures proven knowledge to automate processes in planning, fulfillment, optimization
and assurance. As a result, it supports the speed, accuracy and consistency needed to profit from the ongoing changes
in network slices. Network slices will enable new business opportunities by fostering diverse ecosystems in all kinds
of dimensions. But without the right context for orchestration, this flexibility may impair profitability.

1. Catherine Haslam, TM Forum, Research Report - 5G Monetization: Operational Imperatives, 2018

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5G STANDALONE ARCHITECTURE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR NETWORK SLICING

Modern 5G architecture leverages the separation of hardware and software, as well as the programmability offered
by SDN and NFV. As such, 5G is a native SDN/NFV architecture covering devices, mobile and fixed infrastructure,
virtualized functions, and all the management functions to orchestrate the 5G services.

It is expected that 5G architecture will accommodate a wide range of use cases from vertical industries with
different requirements (such as security, geographic coverage, latency, bandwidth, etc.). Therefore, the 5G network allows
the coexistence of multiple network slices on top of one shared physical infrastructure.

To enable network slicing, the 5G core network is built on service-based architecture (SBA), where control plane network
functions expose their services to other network functions using service-based interfaces such as 3GPP RESTful APIs,
which are stateless, lightweight and open. Therefore, the 5G core is more agile, scalable and flexible. The 5G core allows
each network slice to be individually deployed, scaled, and upgraded. On the other side, the 5G RAN architecture supports
flexible deployment of the RAN.

The 5G standalone network can realize orchestration and rapid deployment of network slices and sub-slices while meeting
the expected 5G requirements.

mTC
Access Network Transport Network Core Network

URLCC

eMBB

Edge Automation

RAN / O-RAN 5G SBA Core

RIC
AMF AF NRF NEF NWDAF Apps
Enterprise xNB-vCU-CP
Backhaul Network

5G NR
Network

xNB-DU
Midhaul

SMF AUSF NSSF PCF CHF Content

Mobility 5G NR
AAU xNB-vCU-CP
5G NR

UPF Internet
Residential

Figure 1. Network slicing enabled 5G architectur

A HIGH-LEVEL DESCRIPTION OF NETWORK SLICING

A network slice is a description of a service-aware virtual network composed of different physical resources and virtual
network functions. The slice is an independently managed instance of a virtual network. Since the network infrastructure
comprises different interconnected domains, a slice can be seen as concatenated network of subnetworks belonging
to different network domains. Since network slicing is aimed at providing custom design of networks suitable for a specific
use case, BSS/OSS systems must be able to translate service requirements into a normalized description of resources
across different network domains.

Service Instance Layer

Describe network aspects of service

Network Slice Instance Layer

Describe resources mapping and attachment

Resource Layer

Figure 2. Network slice and service concept

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A three-layer model describing the network slice and service concept consists of:

The service instance layer describes the services (B2B, B2C, etc.) which should be supported and provisioned.
Network slice services can be provided by CSPs or third parties. Therefore, the service instance can be created
by either.

The network slice instance layer (NSI) is a set of VNFs, which forms a complete virtual network to meet certain
service requirements (ultra-reliability, ultra-low latency, etc.). A NSI can be isolated from another NSI through full
or partial isolation (physical and logical isolation). Nonetheless, NSI can be shared with multiple service instances
provided by the CSP. To create a NSI, CSPs must use network slice blueprints (description of the structure, policies,
configuration and network slice lifecycle management).

The resource layer contains physical, logical and virtual resources. Moreover, the network slice instance can consist
of subnetwork instances, which can be shared with multiple network slice instances.

END-TO-END NETWORK SLICING REFERENCE FRAMEWORK

As SDN and NFV are considered to be enabling techniques for network slicing, ETSI MANO addresses the orchestration
perspective that involves transforming a service using an NFV infrastructure. By comparison, 3GPP network slice
management provides service provisioning and resource management of RAN and 5G core slices.

3GPP Slice related management functions

Communication Service
Management Function

Network Slice NFVO

Os-Ma-Nfvo
Management Function

Network Slice Subnet

Management Function

EMs
VNFM

EMs
PNFs

NFVI VIM

Figure 3. 3GPP and ETSI MANO architecture for network slicing

To obtain the right description of network slicing management technique, Comarch follows the 3GPP and ESTI MANO
network slicing architectural framework. The management block entails management functionalities such as:

The communication service management function (CSMF) is responsible for translating the communication
service-related requirement to network slice-related requirements. The CSMF communicates
with the Network Slice Management Function.

The network slice management function (NSMF) takes care of the management (including life-cycle) of NSIs.
It derives the network slice subnet-related requirements from the network slice-related requirements.
NSMF communicates with the NSSMF and the CSMF.

The network slice subnet management function (NSSMF) deals with NSSI management (including life-cycle).
The NSSMF communicates with the NSMF.

The Os-Ma reference point can be used for interaction between 3GPP network slice management functions and NFVO.
The NSMF and NSSMF need to determine the type of network services, PNFs and VNFs that can support the service
and resource requirements for NSI and NSSI, and whether new instances of these network services, VNFs and the connectivity
to the PNFs need to be created or existing instances can be re-used.
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COMARCH COGNITIVE OSS SOLUTION COMPONENTS FOR NETWORK SLICING

Comarch’s solution is fully compatible with 3GPP and the ETSI MANO framework for network slicing. The functionality
provided by Comarch Service and Resource Orchestration solution is a level above ETSI MANO architecture,
which enables true end-to-end service and resource orchestration over legacy and SDN/NFV enabled network infrastructure.
Therefore, Comarch Cognitive OSS acts as an umbrella system, assuming ETSI NFVO takes the responsibility for onboarding
and storing network service definition in the service catalog, managing service life-cycle and facilitating the creation
of connections and forwarding of graphs required by the service.

If we were to map from 3GPP and the ETSI framework for network slicing to Comarch Cognitive OSS, Comarch Cognitive OSS
applications could be represented as seen in the figure below, which presents Comarch Service and Resource orchestration
for network slicing.

ComarchTraditional OSS

Comarch Network Slice Service Orchestration (CSMF)

Service Catalogue Service Inventory Service Order Service Monitoring

Management Management
Network Slice Service Analytics / ML
Modeling and Design Network Slice Service Provisioning
Service Instance and Workflows

ComarchNetwork Slice Resource Orchestration (NSMF and NSSMF)

Resource Network Resource Order Network Configuration Autodiscovery Performance Fault

Catalogue Inventory Management Planning Management and Management Management
Management and Design Reconciliation
NS Packages Resource NSI, NSSIs NSI, NSSIs, NSI, NSSIs,
on Boarding NSI, NSSIs Provisioning Sandboxing NSI, NSSIs Analytics / ML Analytics / ML
and Design and Workflows

RAN/O-RAN/EDGE
USERS TRANSPORT CORE INTERNET
CLOUD

Or-Ma

RAN Privete Cloud

5G C Distributed
AUSF AUSF UDM NRF CHF NSSF
SMART Functions
FACTORY NFV Near
Or-Vnfm
MANO RT RIC

UPF UPF

AUGMENTED
REALITY VNFm CU-CP Internet

Media Server

DU CU-UP
INFOTAINMENT Caching
UPF SMF PCF AF NEF NWDAF Public Cloud

Figure 4. Comarch service and resource orchestration for network slicing

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 APPLICATION FUNCTIONALITY

The application defines the network slice service rules supporting the service
delivery and assurance processes. The CFS-RFS relations and rules allows
COMARCH SERVICE CATALOG the service order to be broken down into technical orders and automate
the service provisioning. Moreover, the rules for alarm propagation
in the CFS-RFS specification make it possible to translate network alarms
into service impact alarms managed by Comarch Service Monitoring.

COMARCH SERVICE IA centralized repository that provides an end-to-end real-time view

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT of provisioned network slice services.

An orchestration platform (seen as CSMF) that enables end-to-end network

slices (seen as a service) and network slice service orchestration, allowing CSPs
COMARCH SERVICE to deploy services over SDN-enabled and legacy network infrastructure.
ORDER MANAGEMENT Provides network slice service fulfillment workflows and service order tracking
(activation, termination, etc.). The app can track and manage service orders
from various vertical network slices.

Monitors services implemented over various network slices.

COMARCH SERVICE The module performs impact analysis for the network slice service.
MONITORING The result of the analysis is presented graphically
on a network slice service tree.

A sub-application of specifications for PNFs, VNFs and network slices.

It provides effective onboarding mechanisms for new specifications
and technologies, and is a repository of:

COMARCH RESOURCE n Network slice templates (NST)

CATALOG
n Network slice subnet templates (NSST)

n Network service descriptors (NSD)

n Virtual network function descriptor (VNFD), VNF-FG, etc.

COMARCH NETWORK Designed to handle PNFs, VNFs and NSIs, this is a centralized repository that
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT provides an end-to-end real-time view of provisioned NSIs and subnet instances.

n An orchestration platform (seen as NSMF) that enables onboarding

and life-cycle management of network slice templates and instances
including core, transport and RAN domains.

COMARCH RESOURCE n An orchestration platform (seen as NSSMF) that enables onboarding

ORDER MANAGEMENT and life-cycle management of network slice subnet templates
and instances including core, transport and RAN domains.

The app provides network slice fulfillment workflows and resource order tracking
(onboarding, instantiation, etc.). It can track and manage resource orders from
various vertical network slices.

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 Delivers multidimensional planning and browsing capabilities to the other
modules and all technologies. It allows orchestration of work to be done
COMARCH NETWORK by the system users into clear workflows and tasks. The app offers quality
PLANNING AND DESIGN gate functionalities to the other modules, validating data at certain milestones
for completeness. This approach allows users to plan network changes from
a strategic point of view, down to the smallest detail.

Automates the discovery and resolution of discrepancies between inventory

COMARCH NETWORK data and the real network slice. Enables the definition of rules for discrepancy
AUTO-DISCOVERY AND resolution, thus supporting complex scenarios when a simple network slice
RECONCILIATION update action is not enough. for completeness.
This approach allows users to plan network changes from a strategic
point of view, down to the smallest detail.

COMARCH CONFIGURATION Responsible for integration of the OSS system with network slice elements.
MANAGEMENT It implements the closed-loop process (plan, upgrade, verify, re-plan),
and automates network slice provisioning across core, transport and RAN.

COMARCH PERFORMANCE Helps in detecting and resolving network slice issues proactively,
MANAGEMENT aggregating multi-vendor data and displaying the most crucial information
in the pre-defined performance dashboards.

COMARCH FAULT Provides automation of root-cause and impact analysis via

MANAGEMENT a flexible correlation engine covering various network slices.

Comarch Service Orchestration (CSMF) manages the activities of tenants and CSPs by converting communication
requirements to network slice requirements for all deployment scenarios. Service Orchestration connects to Resource
Orchestration (NSMF) to get the NSI as a communication service. Based on the NSIs provided by the Resource Orchestration,
Service Orchestration transmits each NSI as a communication service to the right tenant.

Comarch Resource Orchestration (NSMF) is responsible for the management and orchestration of NSI. Resource Orchestration
gets a slice request from Service Orchestration and waits for network slice creation approval from the network provider.
If there is no approval it discards the slice request. After getting approval, Resource Orchestration will instantiate NSI
formation based on the slice request information.

Furthermore, Comarch Resource Orchestration (NSSMF) is responsible for the management and orchestration of the NSSI
throughout its life-cycle. Based on the per-slice request, Resource Orchestration selects the required resources informing
either the core, transport or RAN network NSSIs. The system will get all the required resources making the NSSI from network
functions, then manage and control individual NSSIs to form an NSI. Deactivated resources can be dynamically removed and
replaced or reallocated to another NSSI by the platform. In network functions selection, Comarch Resource Orchestration
(NSSMF) can choose network resources from a single or multiple network domains and aggregate them.

Since a network slice spans across multiple domains, such as heterogeneous access including core, transport and RAN,
Comarch Resource Orchestration will have to maintain an association between NSTs, and NSDs with applicable deployment
flavor identifiers, as well as an association between NSI identifiers and network service instance identifiers. In addition,
Resource Orchestration may interface with an SDN controller to request certain links. Each domain may have a mix
of physical and virtual functions and resources, which are described in a dynamic real network inventory. Alarms and events
are collected and processed by service assurance with a combination of topology correlation and AI/ML to identify patterns.

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END-TO-END NETWORK SLICE FOR B2C

5G is believed to be a catalyst for industries such as utilities, automotive, media and entertainment. However, as each
industry’s nature necessitates diverse 5G requirements in terms of throughput, latency and reliability, network slicing
is crucial in order to realize this potential.

Network slicing is a key technology that allows the business needs of each industry to be fulfilled by having multiple virtual
networks to be tailored and created on top of a common physical infrastructure.

The true power of a 5G network lies in the possibility of providing innovative network services such as eMBB, URLLC,
and mMTC. Network slicing will allow carriers to create virtual data pipelines for each of its data type services,
thereby ensuring QoS for each service. Slicing will also ensure the quality of data transmission for time-sensitive services
such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

AR and VR are among the emerging industries. Ovum’s research shows that 63% of CSPs plan to use VR supported
by 5G to offer richer viewing experiences to sports and music fans at stadiums and while watching home.
News, sports and concerts could be broadcast live for users to enjoy through AR/VR technology.

The AR/VR live broadcast service requires the following nework features:

One-to-many downlink connections requires the network to enable special network functions. For example, in
the 5G core network, it requires a multimedia broadcast services function. In the wireless access network, it requires
a multicell coordinating function for broadcast/multicast transmissions. For the IP backhaul, it requires IP multicast
deployment. These requirements are different within a typical network, such as for eMBB.

High-density computing is required to deal with AR/VR video processing.

QoS requirements can guarantee the user experience, as a typical VR/AR live broadcast program requires 1Gbps
bandwidth and 10 ms ~ 40 ms latency.

1. Customer places an order for VR streaming 7. Decomposition of 5G Slice eMBB into domain-specific
orders (RAN, core, transport), decomposition of
2. Reception of customer order for VR streaming domain orders into orders for specific NEs

3. Decomposition of VR streaming order 8. Application of changes in Resource Inventory

into RFS using Service Catalog
9. (simulated) Activation of resources in the network
4. Reservation of instances of a service
in Service Inventory 10. (simulated) Confirmation of proper activation.

5. Ordering resource assembly in ROM for 5G eMBB slice 11. Reporting of proper orders completion back to SOM

6. Reservation of resources 12. Reporting status of order processing back to BSS/CRM

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KEY BENEFTIS OF IMPLEMENTING COMARCH COGNITIVE OSS

Apart from enabling network slicing, implementing Comarch OSS Service Orchestration and Resource Orchestrion solutions
can provide CSPs with several other benefits, such as:

HIGH RETURN OF INVESTMENT (ROI)

Higher ROI is obtained first thorough optimized total cost of network slice BSS/OSS investment. Comarch BSS/
OSS offers flexible pricing based on the use of software licenses, supported by lightweight architecture based on
microservices. Apart from that, CSPs can achieve increased network slice revenue, through offering new MVNO or
partner models for verticals and specific market segments using Comarch’s dynamic product catalog.

5G NETWORK MONETIZATION

Comarch Service and Resource Orchestration integration with BSS enhances the granularity and speed with which
CSPs can support new business and monetization models. This in turn revolutionizes their ability to unleash new
network services and monetization possibilities that can support complex B2B, B2C and B2B2x business models.

DIVERSIFIED MARKETS AND OFFERINGS

Using Comarch BSS/OSS, CSPs can differentiate their network slice offers and provide network as a service (NaaS),
opening network capabilities to third-party vendors, and meeting a wide range of 5G use cases.

PHENOMENONAL CUSTOMER JOURNEY

Eliminate the gap between business/customer-centric views and technical infrastructure to control development and
maintenance costs and provide a higher level of customer service experience.

BUSINESS BENEFITS BEYOND REVENUE GENERATION

Comarch BSS/OSS simplify wholesale and MVNO provisioning, enable seamless end-to-end fixed and mobile VPNs
with bandwidth on demand for enterprise customers, and facilitate SLAs across new partners’ ecosystems.

INCREASED BUSINESS EFFICIENCY

Pre-integration with Comarch Product Catalog and Service Catalog enables CSPs to offer new products and embrace
the fail fast and beta service concepts of the OTT world. The VNFs and network slices can be easily on-boarded
into Product Catalog and Service Catalog, becoming the service components from which customer services can be
designed in no time.

LOWER OPERATIONAL COST

Comarch BSS/OSS promises lower TCO and decreased costs of network slice provisioning as a result of the
automation of service and resource orchestration processes, addition to improved network resource utilization
through the implementation of AI/ML for dynamic network slice resource allocation.

RAPID SERVICE DEPLOYMENT

Thanks to the ability to build services from pre-defined components managed in Service Catalog, CSPs can quickly
launch and deliver convergent offers (including digital and content-augmented services) regardless of the underlying
technology.

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ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF COMARCH COGNITIVE OSS

Comarch OSS Service Orchestration and Resource Orchestrion is characterized by:

TM FORUM STANDARDS

The system is powered by TM Forum SID templates that represent the VNFs and PNFs across the different network
domains, as well as their policy and service assurance configurations.

OPEN

Comarch is pioneering open network solutions, based on open-source and industry standards such as TMF, ONAP,
3GPP, ORAN, ESTI-MANO and MEF. The adoption of the open architecture enables CSPs to create a multi-vendor
ecosystem for efficient 5G service provisioning.

CLOUD-NATIVE

The solution is based on cloud-native architecture broken down into microservices that use standard open APIs
(such as the TMF API Framework). With this open approach, CSPs can easily integrate across multiple vendors,
technologies and cloud platforms, and new services and upgrades can be deployed significantly faster using DevOps.

INTELLIGENT

Comarch systems enable CSPs to run smarter customer-centric networks, infused with business-driven intelligence
and automation, in all aspects of the end-to-end network slicing operations.

DYNAMIC AND REAL-TIME

Optimizing network slices to support different market types (eMBB, mMTC, URLLC, etc.) will require extremely
dynamic real-time orchestration processes and tools. Comarch’s solution employs a world wide web approach based
on links and the caching of dynamic data.

CLOSED-LOOP AUTOMATION

The solution evolves the service layer of traditional OSS using intent-based orchestration, standard models (such as
YANG) and closed-loop control to fully automate services across hybrid domains. With a real-time, end-to-end view of
the entire service and a single interface with the BSS layer, CSPs can achieve a zero-touch operational model that is
essential for new multivendor digital services, including highly dynamic 5G and IoT offerings.

NETWORK SLICE AUTONOMY

CSPs can achieve true network slice autonomy through isolation, where each network slice is an independent entity
with no impact on the operations or service disruptions for other network slices. Different types of virtual networks
such as VxLAN, VLANs implement partial autonomy.

UTILIZATION OF MANY TECHNOLOGIES

Comarch Service and Resource Orchestration can communicate with network elements directly via CLI, SNMP and
NETCONF. It can also utilize the northbound interface to various vendor-specific network or element management
systems using CORBA, MTOSI, WebService, RESTCONF or exported files.

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NEXT STEPS

The introduction of network slicing revolutionizes mobile operators’ value proposition by enabling a high degree of service
differentiation, customization and innovation across what used to be a highly commoditized service. Network slicing builds
on this proposition, introducing the next level of openness, which allows operators to forge partnerships with existing
and new players, and greatly enhance their monetization potential through deploying NaaS.

Yet, in order to get there, operators need to prepare their BSS/OSS in order for them to be able to provision network slicing
and related services in B2B and B2C. The Comarch Cognitive OSS solution can help them achieve this.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Azam Beyk has served as a Senior OSS Consultant at Comarch UK since 2017.
As a technical leader of the OSS pre-sales segment in the UK, Azam is responsible
for providing pioneering consultancy and is a key to steering the future of
5G OSS systems to the top telecom operators in the UK, USA, Canada and Italy.
During his time at Vodafone, he was accountable for introducing 5G technology
into a functional tower of 1 400 employees. As a Fellow of the Institution
of Engineering and Technology, he now focuses on future OSS, 6G, AI,
machine learning and techno-economic analysis.

ABOUT COMARCH
Since 1993, Comarch’s specialist telecommunications business unit has worked with some of the biggest telecoms companies in the world to transform
their business operations. Our industry-recognized telco OSS and BSS products help telecoms companies streamline their business processes and simplify
their systems to increase business efficiency and revenue, as well as to improve the customer experience and help telcos bring innovative services to market.
Comarch’s customers in telecommunications include Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, KPN and Orange.

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