Remote Management: Critical to a New Generation of Digital Service Providers

W H I T E P A P E R
By Ben SheppardWorldwide RGES Marketing Managerbsheppard@ti.com Remote Management: By D'Andre LadsonRGES Product Line Managerdladson@ti.com Critical to a New Generation of
Digital Service Providers
IntroductionIncreasingly, service providers are Service providers are charging headlong into unchartered waters. The broadband
transitioning their services to Internet DSL marketplace is growing rapidly, but at a price. Specifically, pricing on DSL service
Protocol (IP) networks to win more is dropping to fuel continued growth and to fend off stiff competition from cable
customers with sophisticated leading- operators (MSOs), satellite TV providers and even Internet Service Providers (ISP).edge services and to increase Tighter business margins place a greater importance on operating efficiencies. As acustomer loyalty by offering new result, service providers are taking a close look at reducing variable operating costsservices, such as bundled triple-play in order to maintain acceptable operating margins. Of course, service and supportofferings and IP television (IPTV). are prime targets for cost reductions. Unfortunately, these new services can Simultaneous with this drive to cut costs, service providers are transitioning theirwreak havoc on balance sheets by services to IP networks as a way to win more customers with sophisticated leading-driving up service and support costs. edge services and to increase customer loyalty by offering a so-called "triple-play"-Addressing these challenges with voice, data and video services. New services like bundled triple-play offerings andremote management systems can be IPTV are essential to service providers' prosperity, but, unfortunately, they can wreakseen as a bane or as a boon to service havoc on balance sheets by driving up service and support costs. providers. Certainly technical chal- Telecommunications service providers are well aware of the benefits of remotelenges abound, but the savvy service management, having implemented the concept for years in the backbone publicprovider will be able to transform thechallenges into an opportunity to switched telephone network (PSTN). Now though, new broadband-based services
stand apart from the competition in an are extending the purview of service providers well beyond the demarcation point
extremely competitive marketplace. and into the midst of a wide range of customer premise equipment (CPE), including
And some enterprising service residential gateways (RG), set-top-boxes (STB), Voice over IP (VoIP) phone systems,
providers will no doubt develop a digital television sets, gaming consoles and many others. New technologies andviable business model to turn their methodologies to efficiently and remotely manage, control, configure, troubleshootservice and support programs from a and provision the network and CPE devices are imperative.cost drain into a revenue generator. Addressing this situation with remote management systems can be seen as aConsidering the competitive situation bane or as a boon to service providers. Certainly technical challenges abound, butand tighter operating margins service the savvy service provider will be able to transform the challenges into an opportuni-providers face, remote management ty to stand apart from the competition in an extremely competitive marketplace. Andhas emerged as a critical technology some enterprising service providers will no doubt develop a viable business model tofor the future. turn its service and support programs from a cost drain into a revenue generator.2Texas Instruments
These are critical times for service providers as they undergo the ultimate makeover,transforming themselves from analog voice-oriented providers to a digital world with itsmyriad of new and exciting service possibilities. The good news for service providers isthe fact that the broadband market is undergoing explosive growth and DSL is growingfaster than any other access method. According to the market research firm Point Topicand the DSL Forum, DSL services accounted for three-quarters of the worldwide growth ofbroadband during the first six months of 2005. Service providers want to keep this growthrate going, and they are doing all that they can to make sure it continues. Unfortunately,expanding markets attract competition but the... [download for more]