What is OSS/BSS in telecom?
OSS and BSS are the two families of systems that keep a telecom operator running. OSS, operations support systems, manage the network: provisioning services, monitoring performance, fixing faults. BSS, business support systems, manage the business: customers, orders, and billing.
Manage the network: provisioning services, monitoring performance, fixing faults.
Manage the business: customers, orders, and billing.
OSS keeps the network working and BSS keeps the money and customers flowing.
When a plan activates and bills correctly, both halves just cooperated behind the scenes.
Put simply, OSS keeps the network working and BSS keeps the money and customers flowing. When you sign up for a plan and it activates and bills correctly, both halves just cooperated behind the scenes.
Figure 1. One sign-up, both halves
The sign-up example from this article: BSS handles the customer, the order and the billing, OSS provisions the service on the network, and the plan activates and bills correctly. Structure only; the figure carries no values.
Modernizing these systems is a major undertaking for any operator, because nearly every service and every bill passes through them.
Sthenos builds enterprise systems for the sector, like an enterprise digital platform for a Saudi communications infrastructure provider.
What is the difference between OSS and BSS?
OSS, operations support systems, runs the network and its operations: provisioning services, monitoring performance and fixing faults. BSS, business support systems, runs the customer and revenue side: customers, orders and billing. A telecom operator needs both families of systems, because one keeps the network running and the other keeps the business running.
OSS
Runs the network and its operations- Provisioning services
- Monitoring performance
- Fixing faults
BSS
Runs the customer and revenue side- Customers
- Orders
- Billing
Related reading
Related terms:
Industry: Telecom. Service: Custom Software Development Company.
