Clearing the OSS hurdle

The ability of existing operational support systems (OSSs) to accommodate the telecommunication network´s evolution from copper cable plant to fiber optic based local loop technology is discussed. Many of the current OSSs were designed and built entirely around the copper plant design and therefore are not easily adaptable to fiber-in-the-loop (FITL) technology. It is argued that without the appropriate operations support, loop fiber is too costly and difficult for regional Bell operating companies to develop. An alternative approach, providing an integrated gateway OSS that insulates the FITL equipment from the older OSSs, is discussed. The gateway OSS enables FITL systems to be compatible with the current procedures and costly manual methods can be eliminated entirely