Service Delivery Platforms: The SOA-enabled Path to Integrate Legacy and IMS Networks (with revenue forecast 2009- 2015)

Abstract

Service Delivery Platform (SDP) can be loosely defined as a standards based framework that facilitates the design, development, implementation and management of services required to run the operations of network services providers. The services could range from the basic voice connectivity to the state-of-the-art rich multimedia services. The most critical value-addition offered by the SDP methodology lies in its ability to abstract controlling parameters such as location, media control, integration and others. SDP interface with the network elements, OSS/BSS, telco IT infrastructure and partners such as application developers and content providers.

With research starting in 2007, this report evaluates the potential for SDP as a dependable, scalable and flexible platform for core business functions, next generation applications, and independent services. SDP is examined within the context of its relationship to the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the objectives to respond more rapidly to shifts in market conditions, customer demands, new revenue opportunities, and competitive threats. The report includes revenue forecasts by geography, function, and media type from 2009 through 2015.

SDP and SOA environments complement IMS (and vice versa) as the latter provides the centralized control for application logic and the ability to offer blended multimedia services across all networks and devices. Anyone considering IMS must also have a SDP strategy and vice versa as the so-called Telco 2.0 services will depend on both.

• Evaluation of SDP and SOA in terms of potential to provide added value to IMS implementations
• Analysis of SOA and SDP drivers, challenges, implementation methodologies and case studies
• Vendor analysis, strategies and portfolios of leading SOA and SDP vendors
• Quantitative analysis and conclusions for SDP and SOA products and services markets
• SDP revenue forecast from 2009 through 2015 by Function, Media (wireline and wireless) and by geography (NA, EMEA, APAC, CALA)

• Wireless and wireline telcos will gain insights into the value provided by SDPs and its implications to their business
• Telecom network infrastructure vendors will assess the importance of establishing or maintaining their presence among SDP stakeholders
• SOA specialists will better understand the drivers and challenges for the SOA paradigm in the telecom domain in addition to accessing the market size and distribution for SDPs
• SDP specialists will map the size of their target market and the importance of services and product components in their portfolios
• System integrators will better ascertain the value of the installation and upgrade market size for SDP solutions

• APAC and CALA constitute the most promising markets for the SOA and SDP solutions respectively. The promise is directly attributable to the gap between the existing level of technology sophistication and the potential optimal level of technology sophistication. APAC region has demonstrated that it does constitute the largest market for telecommunications while the CALA region is the least tapped among all regions.
• SDPs find greater appeal among wireless telcos as wireless technology has already overtaken wireline technology in terms of subscriber numbers, and the relationship between the telcos and the subscribers is closer in the wireless domain wherein the telco has a decisive say in the character and extent of services deployed.
• Revenues from the sale of SDP solutions will increase from USD 4580 million in 2009 to USD 11277.7 in the year 2015, at an impressive CAGR of 16.21%.
• While Product will constitute the bulk of the revenues of SDP solutions, it will overtaken by the services component in 2012.
• NA and APAC will be the leading markets for wireline SDP solutions. The NA region will continue to hold a slender lead over the APAC region. CALA and APAC will show the top two CAGRs respectively.