When the pandemic hit, the traditional way that services are delivered changed overnight, and along with that the strategies that drive charging and monetisation, as business and consumers became much more static and their reliance on their communication services became paramount. There was an immediate need to develop new service packages that combined broadband and telephony, with internet access and multimedia consumption. Within the network, the pattern of data changed, literally overnight, as people started working from home under curfew. Secondly, the volume of data within these new patterns increased exponentially and moved into a much more synchronous shape, and thirdly, the types of applications changed towards interactive video and virtual. 

Overall in 2020 networks coped well, but they need to build on the dynamic nature of programmability within all aspects of service delivery. 

The heart of a CSP business is charging and monetisation and time to market/time to revenue is a critical component to financial survival, particularly when economic conditions became increasingly uncertain. Without integrated charging profitability will be impossible to achieve.

Consumers and businesses needs are changing rapidly, resulting in a greater need for service agility with charging and billing alongside service launch that provides flexibility to alternative service usage models. For smaller, T2 CSPs, the lack the infrastructure and people that the larger operators enjoy has driven a greater need for support from specialists for them to remain viable.

Featuring:
Tim Smith, VP Nokia Europe
Elmar Grasser, CTO, Sunrise
Mark Newman, Chief Analyst, TM Forum

Recorded from TelecomTV Studio A, January 2021