The TM Forum NaaS framework decouples the network and OSS to enable a two-pronged digital transformation

The network-as-a-service (NaaS) framework proposed by TM Forum is designed to help communications service providers (CSPs) to accelerate their digital transformations and enhance their service agility by decoupling the operational support systems (OSS) and business support systems (BSS) from the underlying network. This framework uses model-driven abstraction and open APIs to expose all network capabilities and resources (both virtual and physical) to a service catalogue so that CSPs can compose services dynamically and automate service lifecycle management.

A new business model (similar to the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model) has also emerged. This model enables CSPs to expose higher-layer network services in order serve enterprises and put the end customer in control of when, what and how much of these services they want to consume using digital channels such as self-service portals.

The two seemingly different NaaS concepts are, in fact, aligned and complimentary. Simplifying and standardising communications between the OSS/BSS and the network bolsters CSPs’ ability to make on-demand services (such as 5G network slicing) a success.