Fault management and service provisioning process model of next generation access networks

Network operators are nowadays upgrading their access networks to cope with the increasing number of users and the increasing bandwidth required by services. However, cost plays a crucial factor. In order to decide which next generation access network will be implemented, an accurate cost evaluation should be performed. This evaluation requires a total cost of ownership model including a detailed model of the most costly operational processes: fault management and customer provisioning. These models help identifying the most costly sub-processes, where network providers should improve their cost efficiency. This paper presents detailed models for these operational processes and gives an approach to use them for estimating future operational costs.