How a hybrid and gradual approach makes the network more secure, scalable, and resilient

Challenge

The Customer, a Tier-1 Telecommunications Operator, had long embarked on a strategic program aimed at simplifying and rationalizing its network platforms, which were still composed of heterogeneous systems based on multiple technology generations.

This multi-year transformation roadmap focuses on the evolution toward modern architectures built on virtualization and cloud-native principles. It is a complex journey where different transformation streams progress independently, yet in a coordinated manner and at different speeds.

Within this context, the Customer decided to evolve its Network Management platform, responsible for Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security (FCAPS) functions across the entire customer base, including millions of residential and enterprise users.

The key objectives for the evolution of the Network Management platform were:

• Enhancing security and compliance in line with the latest policies and regulations

• Improving scalability to support future growth

• Enabling a flexible and agile transition from legacy platforms to next-generation solutions, including automation capabilities for customer migration

A critical requirement was to ensure full service continuity with zero downtime, while simultaneously reducing the operational costs associated with legacy infrastructure.

Solution

To make the network increasingly efficient, automated, and scalable, the Network Management platform was redesigned by shifting from a private cloud model (based on a dedicated on-premises data center) to a hybrid cloud architecture.

Management functions related to network nodes approaching end-of-life were retained within the private cloud, while management functionalities for cloud-native network elements were implemented and migrated to the public cloud.

The public cloud hosts innovative modules developed using CaaS (Container as a Service) technology, enabling FCAPS management with advanced scalability, resilience, automation, and cost optimization.

The chosen approach was Lift & Replatforming, allowing the Customer to optimize the transition, minimize risks, and guarantee uninterrupted service delivery throughout the transformation process.

Benefits

Thanks to this project, the Customer achieved tangible and measurable benefits across multiple dimensions:

• Significant improvement in operational efficiency through process automation and legacy infrastructure decommissioning

• Substantial reduction in OPEX by eliminating the need for dedicated hardware management

• Enhanced security and full compliance with national regulatory requirements

• Virtually unlimited scalability, capable of handling millions of transactions and thousands of work orders per day without performance impact

• Improved user experience, enabled by a unified GUI that simplifies the management of thousands of multivendor network nodes

Italtel’s role

Leveraging its proven expertise in Network Transformation projects and multicloud architectures, Italtel supported the Customer throughout the entire journey:

• Business and technology needs assessment

• Design and implementation of the new Network Manager based on a Hybrid Cloud architecture

• Continuous support to ensure long-term resilience, security, and innovation

The result is a next-generation Network Management platform, designed to support the Telco operator’s digital transformation and deliver a sustainable competitive advantage in the market.