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Streamline Your Open Access Network Operations with COS Business Engine

The Market is Maturing – Now It’s All About Efficient Operations

After years of rapid expansion, the Open Access network market has entered a new phase. Most areas are now fiber-connected, and the focus has shifted to optimizing operations, streamlining processes, and ensuring seamless post-deployment connections. The remaining areas to connect are often the most remote and least economically viable. Automation, data quality, and customer experience are now critical to long-term success for network owners and operators.

COS Business Engine is designed to manage the full lifecycle of an Open Access network – from expressions of interest and customer onboarding to ongoing operations. By leveraging the platform’s comprehensive functionality, networks can maximize efficiency, minimize manual work, and deliver a seamless experience to both customers and service providers. Below, we walk through the six key phases we’ve identified for successful network operation – and built our platform to automate as much as possible. Every network has processes in place, but the key is to make them work seamlessly together.

1. Market and Demand Analysis?

To make informed decisions about expansion, it’s essential to understand market conditions and demand.

  • Project Areas: Larger regions are divided into smaller projects where address data is imported when available; otherwise, map tools like Google Maps are used.
  • Interest Registration and Pre-Orders: By collecting expressions of interest, the network can assess demand, gather speed test data, and analyze competitive presence, project by project. As build-out approaches, customers can place pre-orders to aid planning.

2. Planning and Deployment Decisions

A structured planning phase ensures that resources are used effectively and the build-out remains profitable.

  • Status Management and Communication: COS Business Engine keeps each project area’s status updated and automates communication with customers based on the current phase.
  • Build-Out Decisions: Based on collected pre-orders, the network owner can prioritize areas according to demand and optimize installation planning.

3. Construction and Documentation

Once a decision has been made, smooth processes for installation and documentation are key.

  • Work Order Management: When a project area enters the “In Deployment” phase, work orders are automatically created for all orders.
  • Installer Portal: Installers access a portal to view their tasks and document work directly in the system via mobile or tablet.
  • Status Tracking: The system monitors installation status per address and informs customers when services are ready to be activated — including for post-deployment connections in already built areas.
  • “Birth Certificate”: Upon installation completion, light levels and speed test results are saved automatically, providing a reliable reference for the future.

4. Service Activation

Once fiber is installed, the next step is to get the customer online.

  • Automated Provisioning: Thanks to COS Business Engine’s integrations, services are automatically activated once the CPE is installed.
  • Customer Portal for Service Selection: Customers choose and activate services directly through the customer portal, without manual handling from the network or service providers.
  • Self-Service for Providers: Providers manage their offerings through their own accounts, minimizing the need for involvement from the network owner.

5. Day-to-Day Operations and Support

To maintain high service quality, smooth operations and efficient support processes are essential.

  • Operational Data for Providers: Providers can view real-time service status via COS Business Engine’s UI or APIs and, for example, reboot a CPE with a single click.
  • Support and Case Management: Customers can submit support cases through the customer portal. Operators and providers collaborate within the platform to quickly resolve issues. “Birth certificates” and saved snapshots of operational status during case creation support efficient troubleshooting.

6. Full Business Insight

To continuously optimize network operations, full visibility is essential.

  • Automated Billing and Administration: COS Business Engine automates billing and service administration, reducing manual tasks and errors.
  • Flexible Pricing: COS enables grouping of addresses into “markets within the market,” allowing a unique selection of providers, services, end-customer pricing, and wholesale pricing — even down to a single address. This is particularly helpful in deals with property owners.
  • Access to All Data: With extensive dashboards and export tools, networks can analyze data in detail. Integrating with a reporting database also allows the creation of custom dashboards in tools like Power BI for deeper insights.

To operate an Open Access network efficiently, the entire chain must be seamless and automated, from the initial expression of interest to day-to-day operations and billing. Network owners can focus on strategic growth rather than administration by maximizing self-service for customers and allowing providers to manage their offerings and support cases independently.

With COS Business Engine, you get a system that not only supports all these phases, but helps you optimize each one. The result? Efficient operations and happier customers.

Learn more about our solutions here!

Contact us to talk about how COS can support your operationst!
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Choosing the Right RADIUS Solution for Your Network

In two previous articles, we discussed why interest in BNG and RADIUS-based provisioning is growing and what makes COS’s solution unique. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the key factors to consider when selecting a RADIUS solution.

When implementing a BNG in your network, you will need to decide on a RADIUS solution and how to set up the database. This decision is far from straightforward and can be complex, which is why we want to provide guidance here.

At COS, we have encountered several different methods for implementing RADIUS provisioning. Since this solution plays a crucial role in network reliability, it is well worth investing time in making an informed decision. Naturally, your specific circumstances will determine which solution best fits your network, but below are our general recommendations.

The following solutions are based on FreeRADIUS and PostgreSQL but are similar for MariaDB/MySQL.

Three RADIUS Authentication & Authorization Solutions with FreeRADIUS

Option 1: The Simplest Setup – No Redundancy

  • 1 VM (Virtual Machine) with FreeRADIUS
  • 1 VM with the database, with automatic backup/export

Since virtual servers are used, it is easy to perform backup/restore/replication, create snapshots before updates, and similar tasks. In this scenario, the underlying virtualization platform (e.g., VMware) minimizes downtime compared to physical machines. This setup is straightforward and works well for less critical implementations and lab environments.

Option 2: Redundancy via Replication

  • 2 VMs with FreeRADIUS
  • 2 VMs for the database (1 primary, 1 secondary/standby)

FreeRADIUS must be configured to recognize both databases (primary and secondary) so that it automatically switches to the secondary if the primary stops responding. To promote the secondary database to primary automatically, additional configuration and usually an extra VM (quorum) are required. Otherwise, this must be done manually. This setup is a good balance between complexity and reliability.

Option 3: Redundancy via Clustering

  • 2 VMs with FreeRADIUS
  • 2 VMs with the database in cluster mode, either active-passive (the passive takes over if the active fails) or active-active (both share the load)

The clustering setup is significantly more advanced than the replication approach in Option 2 but enables even higher uptime. The two RADIUS servers connect to an IP address representing the cluster. In active-active mode, both database VMs are operational simultaneously, sharing the load. Failover occurs automatically without manual intervention. However, this is the most complex setup and requires advanced database expertise for monitoring and maintenance. It is best suited for large operators with the highest availability requirements and in-house expertise to manage this setup.

RADIUS Accounting

Collecting RADIUS Accounting data—detailed statistics and usage information—can be demanding and should be handled by a separate RADIUS server with its own database. The redundancy options described above focus on managing Authentication and Authorization functions.

COS Systems: Helping You Choose the Right RADIUS Solution

At COS, we have built expertise in collaboration with our partners and are happy to guide you in selecting the right RADIUS and BNG solution. Our philosophy is pragmatic: “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” The most complex solution is not always the best choice; instead, the ability to manage the solution over time should be the deciding factor. At the same time, technology is constantly evolving, and it is essential to take advantage of innovations and advancements. We stay up to date with these developments and are happy to help you make the right decision.

More from COS Systems

In our next article, we will take a broader perspective and present COS Business Engine – our complete solution for municipal network operations.

Stay tuned and read more about our solutions here!

Contact us to talk about how COS can support your operationst!
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Secure your network and modernize your provisioning with RADIUS and BNG

Network owners are facing an exciting transformation. Thanks to recent price reductions in Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) solutions, opportunities that were once reserved for larger operators are now within reach for small and mid-sized network owners. Today, these investments are not only justifiable for streamlining operations but also for enabling the rapid deployment of new services and technologies.

RADIUS and BNG – An Efficient Path Forward

Traditional provisioning of Active Ethernet networks often requires manual or semi-automated provisioning of network switches. Many networks consist of switches from multiple hardware vendors, demanding deep technical expertise to ensure secure and scalable operations. By implementing BNG solutions, provisioning can be simplified, automated, and centralized. This is achieved by configuring the access portion of the network statically, allowing all service changes to be managed centrally via the BNG—eliminating the need for local reconfiguration of switches.

Provisioning is controlled using RADIUS, a standardized and proven protocol for centralized authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA). To fully automate this process, integration with a BSS/OSS system—such as COS Business Engine—is required.

Key Benefits of RADIUS and BNG Provisioning

  • Reduced Complexity – Enables the use of simpler and more cost-efficient access switches.
  • Improved Reliability and Easier Troubleshooting – The static access layer allows for quicker problem identification.
  • Enhanced Security and Policy Management – RADIUS centrally handles authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA), while BNG supports Quality of Service (QoS) and policy-based traffic control.
  • Scalability and Future-Proofing – The solution works equally well for both small and large networks.
  • Flexible Service Delivery and Integration – Changes can be implemented without manual intervention.
  • Free Seating – Simplifies customer equipment setup and reduces support calls since the customer’s device can connect to any port without requiring predefined settings. A practical example is that a customer’s IP telephony service will work regardless of which port their device is connected to.

COS Systems – The Smartest Path to Modernization

COS Systems has extensive experience in automated provisioning. Our software efficiently handles provisioning for Active Ethernet networks, and we partner with all major hardware vendors for PON provisioning. We’ve closely followed the evolution of RADIUS and BNG and have developed a solution in collaboration with leading manufacturers—built on industry standards and the latest technologies.

However, we offer much more than just provisioning. With our BSS/OSS system, you get an end-to-end solution for managing and automating the operations of open-access networks. Our platform covers everything from customer interest registrations and customer portal management to flexible administration of service providers, services, and pricing across different network segments or properties. Additionally, it includes built-in ticketing, fiber installation management, and automated invoice generation—streamlining the entire process.

With COS Business Engine, BNG, and RADIUS, you get:

  • A cost-effective solution – Lower operational costs without replacing existing infrastructure.
  • High reliability and scalability – A solution that grows with your network.
  • Standardized and future-proof technology – Open standards with support for leading manufacturers.

More from COS Systems

In article two, we’re diving into how COS Systems’ RADIUS and BNG provisioning solution works and how it can help you optimize your network operations. Read the article here.

Click here to learn more about our solutions.

Contact us to talk about how COS can support your operationst!
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