Managing IN for open access to the network

Today´s intelligent networks (INs) could be described as “closed”. That is, IN services are provided by the same organisations that operate the network infrastructure used to provide those services. (i.e. the service control points (SCPs) and service switching points (SSPs)). Management of these INs is also provided by the network operators, although some major customers are allowed to manage certain aspects of their services. (e.g. the changing of certain amounts of data). “Management” for the purposes of this paper is used to describe all actions necessary to create, deploy and maintain an IN service in a given network. This covers both “service management” and “network management”. “Service management” is concerned with such things as registering new customers, deploying new versions of services and ensuring that data is correct. “Network management” is concerned with the management of the physical resources of the IN such as the SCPs, SSPs and their associated signalling entities