Ep 99 - Will TM Forum’s idea of interoperability really work? (Caroline Chappell)

Telco in 20

• 21 min

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TM Forum's Open Digital Architecture (ODA) and open APIs are aimed at revolutionizing telco BSS/OSS systems, and with successful adoption, they promise to enhance vendor interoperability. But implementing them comes with significant challenges for operators and vendors alike. In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Chappell, founder and director of ccsquared and a former partner at Analysys Mason. We dive into the history and goals of ODA and open APIs, explore the real-world challenges operators face in putting them to work, and discuss why the data layer is crucial for true vendor interoperability. Listen now to hear: <ul> <li>How ODA aims to help operators build systems from best-of-breed components, and what challenges stand in the way [04:17];</li> <li>Why the data layer is even more critical than standardized APIs for telecom operations [09:03];</li> <li>Why procurement practices need to change to truly support innovation in the industry [13:32]; and</li> <li>The disruptive power that combining LLMs and ODA can bring to telco BSS [14:50].</li> </ul> Links and Resources <ul> <li>Learn more about TM Forum’s <a href="https://www.tmforum.org/oda/" rel="nofollow">ODA</a> and <a href="https://www.tmforum.org/oda/open-apis/" rel="nofollow">open API</a> initiatives.</li> <li>Check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj0WgCCy1fw&t=37s" rel="nofollow">my interview with Ray LeMaistre</a> from TelecomTV about harmonizing data structures and Totogi’s deployment at Zain Sudan, where our cloud-based charger replaced an incumbent system in just 18 days.</li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Pb_G-Bb4g&t=29s" rel="nofollow">Watch my epic MWC24 MVNO Summit talk</a> about <a href="https://totogi.com/bss-magic/" rel="nofollow">BSS Magic</a> and the AI-first future of telco business support systems.</li> <li><a href="https://telcodr.com/insights/vodafone-public-cloud-case-study-download/" rel="nofollow">Download this case study</a> about how Vodafone saved nearly 70% by moving its analytics to the public cloud.</li> <li>We're counting down to the 100th episode of Telco in 20 and celebrating with a special episode dropping October 1. Don’t miss it—like and follow today!</li> <li>I love watching Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnjOmFVavxc" rel="nofollow">power washing courtyards</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WxZCn1ukr0&list=PLbpi6ZahtOH4QBvammj7dsFpho7Glk29E&index=4" rel="nofollow">trimming overgrown lawns</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fakOtdI8kI" rel="nofollow">cleaning hoarders’ homes</a>. What’s wrong with me?</li> <li>Watch this episode on our <a href="https://youtu.be/hd-4G7Yv9WY" rel="nofollow">YouTube channel</a>.</li> <li>You can find the episode transcript <a href="https://telcodr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Episode-99-Caroline-Chappell-Transcript.pdf" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</li> </ul> Wanna talk AI and public cloud? Telco execs, <a href="https://www.telcodr.com/contact/?utm_source=TDREm031221" rel="nofollow">set up a meeting</a> with our team to learn how to tap the immense business value it can bring.  Follow DR <ul> <li>Have an idea for a Telco in 20 podcast guest or topic?<a href="https://www.telcodr.com/contact" rel="nofollow"> Send it in!</a></li> <li>Want to sponsor a podcast?<a href="https://www.telcodr.com/contact" rel="nofollow"> Let us know</a></li> <li>Follow Telco in 20 on X<a href="https://twitter.com/TelcoIn20" rel="nofollow"> @TelcoIn20</a></li> <li>Follow DR on X<a href="https://twitter.com/TelcoDR" rel="nofollow"> @TelcoDR</a></li> </ul> The Telco in 20 podcast won 2024 and 2022 Hermes Awards, 2023 and 2022 MarComm Awards, and was recognized as a <a href="https://tecknexus.com/5g-network/5g-and-beyond-5g-magazine-feb-2024-edition/top-12-telco-and-tech-podcasts-essential-listening-for-industry-insights/" rel="nofollow">TeckNexus Top 12 Telco and Tech Podcast</a>, Forrester <a href="https://go.forrester.com/blogs/the-100-best-channel-podcasts-of-2021/" rel="nofollow">Top 100 Channel Podcast</a> and Feedspot <a href="https://blog.feedspot.com/telecom_podcasts/" rel="nofollow">Top 10 Telecom Podcast</a>. If you enjoy the podcast, would you leave us a short review? It takes you seconds to do in your app and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. And I love reading your feedback and reviews! This week’s guest Caroline Chappell is a leading expert in the application of new software technologies – cloud, open APIs and AI – to telecoms networks and their operations. She has over 35 years of industry experience as a software engineer, research analyst and consultant. She is an influential advocate for the cloudification of the network and its evolution as a platform, the capabilities of which can be consumed as a service. Caroline was most recently a partner at Analysys Mason but has founded ccsquared to investigate the new and disruptive network architecture needed for tomorrow’s AI and extended reality-driven world. Podcast Credits <ul> <li>Executive Producer and Host: Danielle Rios, TelcoDR</li> <li>Senior Producer: Lindsay Grubb, TillCo Media</li> <li>Senior Editor/Brand Manager: Alisa Jenkins, Springboard Marketing</li> <li>Audio Editor: Andrew Condell</li> <li>Supervising Producer: Amanda Avery</li> <li>Associate Producer: Kriselda Dionisio</li> <li>Music: Dyami Wilson</li> </ul> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com" rel="nofollow">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.