Your roaming universe is changing, creating new opportunities.
To maximise these and to grow your roaming margins, transformation is necessary. MNOs need to retire manual processes that have traditionally been used for the implementation of changes required in key IR.21 and I.85 documents. Automation is the only way forward. It will eliminate human error, boost compliance, and free up valuable resources so that you can focus on strategic tasks and processes.
In our series of papers and insight articles (Blog 1, Blog 2, Blog 3) we have highlighted the challenges of managing and implementing new configurations and network settings when you receive changes to your IR.21 and IR.85 agreements from your partners. We’ve also argued that automating the execution and management of these changes across your operational systems is essential – and that this can unlock significant benefits.
The ‘IR challenge’ is a key point of friction, but also an opportunity, for operators
As you will already be aware, executing changes in your network when IR agreements are updated by your partners can be a key point of friction. It’s resource intensive, prone to human error, and diverts valuable resources away from strategic and revenue-building tasks.
As networks become more complex and dynamic in nature, and as a growing diversity of services with different performance demands and expectations are launched, this situation will get more challenging still.
As we have seen, factors like:
- Private networks (NPNs)
- Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs)
- Growing IoT services and demands
- Slice-based service access
- Low latency services, based on Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication, or URLLC
- Vehicle to everything (V2X) communication
- And more
Mean that the roaming landscape is not just set for stellar growth (analysts Juniper Research wholesale reckon that roaming revenue is set to double by 2029[1]), it’s also shifting from vanilla services types (like mobile broadband access and voice). In this context, the manual processing, management, and orchestration of changes required by IR agreements cannot maintain pace or support the kind of agile operations expected. Automation is the only viable route forward.
The RAEX can only help so far
The GSMA’s RAEX (Roaming Agreement Exchange) enables operators to automatically share technical data that defines their expectations for roaming services, such as MCC/MNC codes, network capabilities and configurations, SMS/data routing and much more – in documents that can run to hundreds of pages in length. RAEX enables this to be distributed to all requisite partners – and is thus of great benefit to the sector.
However, it does not assess the impact of these changes, nor does it automate the deployment of the necessary changes throughout the network. IR agreements can change frequently and with hundreds of roaming partners, each operator may struggle to keep pace – another argument for automating the implementation of these changes.
We Are CORTEX recognises this challenge and has a solution to enable this automation to be achieved in practice. We have defined three stages of processing changes to IR documents:
- Detect – Recognise changes to IR data which are distributed by RAEX.
- Assess – It’s then essential to understand what impact these changes will have on your network, as they are likely to have far-reaching consequences. Different network solutions and system, such as HSS / HLR, network management systems, billing, and so on, will need to be queried so that the impact is fully understood.
- Deploy – Finally, any configuration or system changes need to be applied to the impacted systems in a controlled, orchestrated manner. Any errors in implementing such changes could lead to reputational damage and roaming revenue leakage or even loss.
The CORTEX Evolved Roaming solution for end-to-end automation of IR changes
The CORTEX Evolved Roaming solution automates the entire IR change process from start to finish, enabling to you free resources, eliminate roaming revenue leakage, boost customer and partner reputation, and focus on building a differentiated service portfolio.
Our platform and roaming solution support a multiplicity of different processes, protocols, proprietary interfaces, APIs, and more. We know that most networks are complex mix of different systems, processes, and platform, so this tight integration is essential for making the necessary changes at speed – and for ensuring complete coverage.
It also integrates with inventory systems so that a single source of ‘truth’ of the network can be maintained, providing an accurate audit trail. If any unprecedented challenge arises that it cannot automatically resolve it will raise a ticket for escalation via the relevant systems and teams providing comprehensive closed-loop operations, aligned with your governance processes and policies.
You can explore the new roaming landscape, the opportunities it presents – and how you can automate so you can capitalise on them through our series of articles and papers.
Alternatively, why not contact us today to discuss your challenges and requirements.
[1] https://www.juniperresearch.com/press/pressreleasesglobal-wholesale-roaming-revenue-to-double/
