Swisscom Selects OpenCloud to Implement New Model for Convergent Telephony Services

CAMBRIDGE, England, June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

OpenCloud enables independent evolution with flexible, open architecture that extends functionality, reach and lifetime of services across Swisscom networks 

OpenCloud today announced that its Rhino Service Broker and Telecom Application Server products have been selected by Swisscom to provide a long term solution for managing legacy services as the operator phases-out its circuit switched network, and for enabling service development across the operator's circuit-switched and All IP networks.

Swisscom is the leading telecoms provider in Switzerland.  It has multiple generations of fixed-line and mobile networks, providing a wide range of consumer and enterprise telephony services developed over the decades.  However, to ensure key legacy services are available for subscriber's migrating to All IP requires cross-connecting the service from one network technology to another, and creates a complex, inter-connected network environment.

As a result of ongoing network evolution, and compounded by equipment life-cycle issues as some equipment approached "End-of-Life", Swisscom required developments within its service layer to accelerate.  Swisscom recognised that development of services on existing equipment would only serve the network to which it was attached, with further expense required to inter-connect it to other networks.

To enable faster, more cost-effective convergence, Swisscom selected OpenCloud Rhino Service Broker and Telecom Application Server to create a unifying bridge between the legacy and All IP networks.  These enable services on one network to operate across all of Swisscom's networks and provide an open environment for further service development.

"Cost-effective and competitively-paced evolution requires operators to move on from traditional models for tackling change," said Phillip Stubbs, OpenCloud's CTO.  He added: "As the migration to All IP networks continues, operators have genuine concerns about how to successfully manage and integrate their legacy services, or face dropping them and losing customers as a result. Forward looking operators like Swisscom realise that there is a competitive alternative and OpenCloud now has experience in deploying these types of solutions for multiple leading operators."

The flexibility of the OpenCloud solution helps Swisscom decouple the evolution of its networks from the life-cycles of its service platforms.  The service convergence and service development enabled by OpenCloud will support Swisscom's objective to offer all of its customers a consistent and superior experience regardless of how they connect.

About Swisscom 

Swisscom is Switzerland's leading telecom provider with its headquarters in Ittigen, close to the capital city, Berne. With over 20,000 employees it generated turnover of CHF 2.82 billion in the first quarter of 2014. Swisscom is one of the most sustainable companies in Switzerland and Europe.
Swisscom offers mobile communications, fixed networks, Internet and digital TV to corporate and residential customers. We are also one of Switzerland's largest providers of IT services. We build and maintain the mobile and fixed-network infrastructure, transmit broadcast signals and own shares in media companies.

About OpenCloud (http://www.opencloud.com)
Used by 60+ operators globally, OpenCloud's open, extendable products transform the telecom network service layer to accelerate deployment of competitive solutions and reduce the cost of continual evolution.  OpenCloud's customers include multi-national groups (T-Mobile, Vodafone, for example), large operators (Telkomsel - Indonesia), smaller operators (Free Mobile - France) and MVNOs (AinaCom - Finland), mobile, wireline and converged operators (BT).
 
Rhino, OpenCloud's next-generation service layer products are deployed within IMS and legacy mobile and wireline networks to solve network evolution challenges and enable service innovation. 
Unlike traditional communication network equipment, OpenCloud's products are open for extension and development by its network operator customers and their freely selected developer partners so our customers have more control of the direction, speed and cost of their network and service evolution.
 
OpenCloud is privately held and VC-backed.  Headquartered in Cambridge UK, OpenCloud also has presence in New Zealand, Spain, Singapore, Indonesia and Brazil.