Posts

Solve the Secrets of Connectivity!

The Mystery Unfolds

Step into the shoes of a broadband detective for an immersive adventure where you’ll unravel real-world connectivity challenges. Work alongside industry leaders to crack the code of successful broadband deployments – no powerpoints, no lectures, no sales pitches just hands-on problem-solving that gets results.

The Broadband Mystery Tour is an interactive, problem-solving roadshow designed to demystify broadband deployment through a fun and engaging Scooby-Doo-style mystery experience. Instead of presentations, we focus on conversations, collaboration, and hands-on challenges to help communities and industry leaders uncover the key to successful broadband expansion.

Guided by the Mystery Gang—a powerhouse team of broadband experts and sponsors including Bonfire, Vetro, COS, Ocius-X, Nokia, and Hexatronic—attendees will step into the role of Broadband Detectives to solve real-world connectivity challenges across four key phases: Planning, Design, Construction, and Operations.

From cracking the case of missing business plans to unraveling network design puzzles and solving construction bottlenecks, this immersive event equips attendees with the knowledge and confidence to build sustainable, high-performance broadband networks.

Join us on the Broadband Mystery Tour—where we solve the clues, connect the unconnected, and bring communities online!

Are you ready to crack the broadband code?

Is This Adventure Right for You?

✓ Community Leaders: Learn how to champion broadband initiatives
✓ ISP Professionals: Master next-gen network deployment strategies
✓ Network Engineers: Get hands-on with cutting-edge solutions
✓ Tech Leaders: Understand the future of connectivity
✓ Policy Makers: Discover what makes broadband projects succeed

 

In today’s fast-paced broadband industry, efficiency and reliability are critical. That’s why Zero-Touch Provisioning is becoming a game-changer for network operators. This innovative approach automates service activation and equipment deployment, transforming the way you manage your network by eliminating manual processes and reducing costly errors.

With Zero-Touch Provisioning in Business Engine,  you can:

    • Accelerate Service Activation: Deploy new services or equipment in minutes, ensuring faster time to revenue.
    • Eliminate Manual Errors: Automation ensures accuracy and reliability every time.
    • Reduce Operational Costs: Free your team from repetitive, time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives.
    • Enhance Customer Satisfaction: Faster provisioning means happier customers with seamless, on-demand service delivery.
    • Scale with Ease: Whether you’re adding equipment to a growing network or expanding into new markets, Zero-Touch Provisioning makes scaling simple and stress-free.

    Imagine provisioning new customer connections or deploying network equipment without the need for time-intensive, manual configuration.

    With Zero-Touch Provisioning, your operations become faster, more efficient, and more scalable – positioning your business to thrive in a competitive landscape.

    Contact us today to learn how Zero-Touch Provisioning can empower your team and elevate your network operations!

Managing fiber network operations is complex, from mapping and demand aggregation to installation, billing, and support. Operators often face delays, errors, and inefficiencies due to challenging hand-offs between teams and systems. COS Business Engine offers a comprehensive solution to streamline every stage of your operations, reducing errors, accelerating timelines, and enhancing the customer experience:

 Integration Capabilities and Flexible APIs

  • COS Business Engine APIs: Business Engine provides robust APIs and webhooks for integrating third-party tools likeVETRO FiberMap enabling seamless data exchange and continuous mapping updates. This integration lets operators efficiently manage both physical network and subscriber data.
  • Network Management: Integrating with third-party mapping and network management software allows Business Engine to automatically update serviceable addresses, network statuses, and work orders. This seamless integration ensures that network data remains accurate and actionable, streamlining operations and enhancing service management.

Automated, Demand Driven Planning

  • Demand Aggregation Tools: Business Engine’s demand aggregation functionality helps operators gauge interest across mapped areas, which is crucial for informed planning. Using Business Engine’s pre-signup features, operators can identify high-interest areas and prioritize them based on updated mapping data, targeting areas with high demand and optimizing ROI.

Automated Installments and Provisioning

  • Installment Workflow: Business Engine automates tasks from initial connection to diagnostics. Integrating third-party mapping data allows for dynamic updates to deployment phases and service eligibility, streamlining the build-out process based on real-time geographic and technical information.
  • Zero-Touch Provisioning: Once a location is ready for service, Business Egnine enables zero-touch provisioning, which automatically activates services and captures critical deployment data, such as ONT diagnostics, for smooth service delivery.

Subscriber Management and Service Provisioning

  • Automated Subscriber Services: Operators can use Business Engine’s marketplace and customer portal to allow self-service for service selection. Our integration with third-party mapping solutions allows automatic updates to network availability on subscriber portals, enabling customers to instantly check service eligibility based on the latest build-out status.

COS Business Engine’s integration with fiber network management platforms like VETRO or OSPInsight/IQGeo, combined with automated workflows for installments, service activation, and demand aggregation, delivers an end-to-end solution for fiber network operators to manage their infrastructure seamlessly.

Data Integrity COS Systems

Why is Data Integrity Important?

Data integrity is crucial for the success of any system, particularly one like COS Business Engine, managing complex network operations and customer interactions. Here’s why maintaining data integrity is essential:

Accurate Decision-Making: Reliable data allows network operators to make informed decisions. For instance, precise diagnostics and service provisioning data enable quick troubleshooting and ensure customers receive the correct services.

Operational Efficiency: Automated processes in COS Business Engine depend heavily on clean, validated data. Inaccuracies can disrupt workflows, leading to service delays, billing errors, or provisioning failures, all of which increase operational costs and workloads.

Customer Satisfaction: Accurate data ensures a seamless user experience. Customers rely on precise information about service availability, pricing, and billing. When data integrity is compromised, issues such as incorrect billing or service disruptions arise, ultimately leading to dissatisfaction.

Compliance and Revenue Assurance: Inaccurate data can result in billing disputes or compliance challenges, especially in Open Access or wholesale networks involving multiple service providers. High data integrity ensures accurate billing and minimizes revenue loss from “free riders” or errors.

Security and Trust: Data integrity protects against unauthorized changes or corruption, ensuring sensitive customer and network data remains secure. This transparency fosters trust between service providers and customers or partners.

Within COS Business Engine, data integrity is a fundamental aspect of the platform’s design, supporting accurate and reliable operations. The platform employs several methods to maintain high data quality:

  • Automation and Validation: The system automates tasks like service provisioning and billing, relying on accurate data inputs. Thousands of validations are built into the platform to prevent errors and maintain data integrity.
  • Real-Time Data Monitoring: Integration with network management systems provides real-time status updates, enabling proactive network performance monitoring and issue resolution.
  • Centralized Database: Key data such as subscriber information, service locations, and billing details are stored in a centralized database, ensuring consistency across different platform modules.
  • API Integration and Data Synchronization: APIs facilitate seamless integration with third-party systems, ensuring data remains synchronized and accurate.

By automating processes, implementing rigorous validation, and ensuring continuous monitoring, COS Business Engine reduces human error and enhances data quality. This, in turn, supports efficient, secure, and reliable network operations.

How Open Access Can Increase Scalability with Minimal Staff 

Open Access networks help scalability with minimal staff through several key mechanisms:

  1. Division of Responsibilities: In Open Access, the network operator is responsible for maintaining the physical infrastructure, while multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer services like internet, TV, and phone over the network. This means that ISPs handle customer-facing, time-consuming tasks such as billing, and customer support, which significantly reduces the workload for the network operator’s staff​​.
  2. Automation: This business model requires a platform like COS Business Engine that supports automation throughout the network lifecycle. Integrations with external platforms like Nokia and Vetro automate tasks like provisioning and network mapping and activate services without manual intervention when a customer places an order. Similarly, automated billing processes for ISPs ensure that the operator does not need to handle financial transactions, reducing administrative overhead​​.
  3. Efficient Use of Infrastructure: Open Access maximizes the use of existing infrastructure by enabling multiple service providers to operate on the same physical network. This shared infrastructure model allows the operator to scale the network to serve more customers without proportionately expanding staff.
  4. ISP Handled Customer Support: Since ISPs manage customer support, troubleshooting, and issue resolution for their subscribers, the operator’s staffing needs for customer service are significantly reduced. ISPs use integrated platforms and tools like a subscriber marketplace to manage customer interactions, freeing the operator from directly interacting with end-users except for infrastructure maintenance.

Conclusion

By automating core operations, leveraging self-service tools, and delegation customer-facing roles to ISPs, Open Access allows network operators to scale efficiently with a minimal workforce, focusing on maintaining and expanding the network infrastructure.

 

An integrated marketplace such as COS online marketplace outperforms traditional phone service in several key ways, thanks to its automation, self-service functionality, and scalability:

24/7 Accessibility: COS’ online marketplace is always available, allowing customers to browse, purchase, and manage services at their convenience, independent of any business hours.

Instant Service Activation: COS Business Engine’s marketplace integrates automatic service activation, so when a customer purchases a service, it is immediately provisioned and ready for use within minutes. This eliminates the delays that often occur with phone-based transactions, where manual intervention is needed​​.

Self-Service Efficiency: The platform’s self-service capabilities allow customers to resolve many issues independently. Service selection, billing, and account management can be handled without waiting on hold for support, which reduces the workload on customer service representatives (CSRs) and speeds up issue resolution.

Accurate Information: Customers get the latest information and details on services, pricing, and terms directly from the marketplace. This reduces the risk of miscommunication that can occur with phone interactions.

Enhanced User Experience: COS marketplace is designed to offer a superior user experience. Customers can easily navigate the interface to find what they need, avoiding the complexity of phone menus and long wait times. The platform also supports multiple service providers in an open-access model, offering more choices and driving higher satisfaction​s

Conclusion

By combining automation, convenience, and user control, COS’ online marketplace provides a faster, more efficient, and user-friendly alternative to phone-based services.

To Revolutionize and Simplify Customer Experience and Sign-Up Process for Network Operators and Subscribers Worldwide


Las Vegas, Nevada, Calix ConneXions, October 2023 – GOCare providing innovative software solutions to the broadband and utility industries, including a complete digital experience platform, proprietary SMS Chat functionality, Secure Payments, multi-platform NPS scoring, and a sophisticated analytics engine, and COS Systems, a leading provider of network management and billing solutions for Network Operators, Service Providers and Open Access Networks are excited to announce a strategic partnership as well as a Proof of Concept (PoC) demonstrations that will take place on the expo hall floor of ConneXions.

This collaboration brings together two industry leaders to revolutionize and simplify the customer experience and sign-up process for Service Providers and their subscribers worldwide.

The PoC addresses customers’ overwhelming preference for digital channel engagement and the convenience of those channels for prospective customers, existing customers, and operators alike. Combining COS System’s address-search functionality (showing where fiber is available), with GOCare’s intelligent data capture and flexible digital experience platform, the companies provide operators and their subscribers with a world-class customer experience and easy access to available services. The integration makes it easy for operators’ subscribers to sign up for service by using digital channels such as SMS, WebChat, Social Media interactions, and even email to both get information about fiber services available in their area and eventually sign up via those digital channel engagement mediums.

COS Systems Business Engine, a proven network management solution (BSS/OSS) supporting Service Providers, Operators, and Open Access Networks with an automated end-to-end solution to streamline fiber network management will integrate seamlessly with GOCare’s analytics engine to enable operators to search for and sign up for services using the digital mediums most comfortable to their subscribers.  

“In a landscape where ISPs must constantly adapt their interactions with networks and subscribers, our decision to partner with GoCare has us very excited. This partnership signifies more than integration; it opens new avenues for enhanced communication and customer experiences, while reducing operational expenses and time for ISPs and network owners. COS has always championed automation, and finding a partner in GOCare, who shares this ethos, means our combined software capabilities will empower operations to engage with customers through contemporary channels like SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, with the scope for further expansion. It’s about efficiency meeting innovation for superior service delivery,” said Mikael Philipsson, CEO of COS Systems.

“In today’s competitive broadband marketplace, ‘being easy to do business with’ is critical”, stated Rick Perkins, CTO of GOCare. “The PoC between GOCare and COS Systems simplifies customers’ expression of interest to a service provider and accelerates the timeline of service delivery without the friction of legacy processes like web searches, filling out forms online or even phone calls, IVR, hold times, and more” added Rick. Furthermore, service providers are able to determine consumer demand beyond their footprint for future smart builds through this important integration between GOCare and COS Systems”, concluded Perkins.

COS Systems and GOCare are committed to helping operators worldwide deliver exceptional broadband services with unmatched reliability and performance. The partnership will focus on providing a best-in-class customer experience to meet the evolving needs of service providers and their subscribers.

About COS Systems:

COS Systems is a leading provider of cloud-hosted network management and billing solutions for service providers. COS Business Engine is a proven network management solution (BSS/OSS) supporting Service Providers and Open Access Networks. The end-to-end platform provides subscribers self-service and digital sales and marketing through an online marketplace. Service orders will be automatically activated within a minute, and billing follows with no operator interaction. It offers a great user experience, increasing take rates and revenue. COS Systems has a global customer base and serves a wide range of service providers, including municipalities, utilities, network operators, and fiber ISPs. Learn more about COS Systems at www.cossystems.com.

About GOCare:

GOCare provides software solutions to the broadband and utility industries. Our SaaS portfolio includes a complete digital experience platform, proprietary SMS Chat functionality, Secure Payments, multi-platform NPS scoring, and a sophisticated analytics engine allowing our clients to benchmark their performance against other similar operators. GOCare was founded by industry veterans and incorporates its mission of “By Operators, For Operators” into how they partner with broadband industry leaders such as Vexus Fiber, Point Broadband, Bluepeak, and many others. For more information visit www.gocarecx.com

Reach out to learn more

COS Systems and netElastic RADIUS Solutions Collaboration Logo with Village Background

Santa Clara, California, and Umeå, Sweden, August 22, 2023 – netElastic, an innovative software company providing high-performance routing solutions, and COS Systems, a leading provider of network management and billing solutions for Service Providers and Open Access Networks are excited to announce a strategic partnership. This collaboration brings together two industry leaders to revolutionize the delivery of RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service) solutions for service providers worldwide.

This partnership between COS Systems and netElastic addresses the growing demand for BSS solutions for Open Access networks. By combining COS System’s unique open-access billing solution with netElastic’s pioneering vBNG routers, the companies will provide service providers with a powerful, future-ready RADIUS platform.

COS Systems Business Engine, a proven network management solution (BSS/OSS) supporting Service Providers and Open Access Networks with an automated end-to-end solution to streamline fiber network management will integrate seamlessly with netElastic’s virtual BNG, a software-based solution that enables service providers to deliver high-performance broadband services. This integration will empower open access service providers to efficiently manage subscriber access and authentication through a centralized RADIUS solution, allowing them to choose virtually any RADIUS-capable BNG solution to manage subscribers.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with netElastic Systems whose disaggregated approach to BNG makes it an attractive solution, creating a wider overlap with fiber operators using COS. This collaboration brings key L3 functionality to enable automation in forward-thinking, unique business models.” said Mikael Philipsson, CEO of COS Systems. 

“While programming an OLT directly is good enough for many ISPs, open-access networkers need fine-grained subscriber control to provide services that allow them to differentiate in the market.” said Tom Mitchell, VP of Strategy and Business Development at netElastic Systems. “RADIUS is the open standard that enables this and netElastic’s virtual Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG) is the ideal router to bring it all home.”

COS Systems and netElastic are committed to helping service providers around the world deliver exceptional broadband services with unmatched reliability and performance. The partnership will focus on providing best-in-class RADIUS solutions to meet the evolving needs of service providers and their subscribers.

About COS Systems:

COS Systems is a leading provider of cloud-hosted network management and billing solutions for service providers. COS Business Engine is a proven network management solution (BSS/OSS) supporting Service Providers and Open Access Networks. The end-to-end platform provides subscribers self-service and digital sales and marketing through an online marketplace. Service orders will be automatically activated within a minute and billing follows with no operator interaction. It offers a great user experience, increasing take rates and revenue. COS Systems has a global customer base and serves a wide range of service providers, including municipalities, utilities, network operators, and fiber ISPs. Learn more about COS Systems at www.cossystems.com.

About netElastic:

netElastic is an innovative software company providing high-performance routing solutions for broadband providers. netElastic developed one of the first software-based broadband network gateways (BNGs) and has been a leader ever since. netElastic vBNG brings greater scalability, flexibility, and lower costs to BNGs. netElastic’s software-based CGNAT solution provides the most important CGNAT features at a fraction of the cost of traditional proprietary CGNAT solutions. For more information, please visit www.netelastic.com

Reach out to learn more

How much bandwidth do subscribers actually need? And can the digital divide be closed even in a country with one of the most unequal distributions of wealth and income in the world? Watch the latest episode with these exciting guests

 Steve Briggs, CEO of Isizwe from South Africa
 Bradley Fisher, CRO of Distributel from Canada
 Isak Finér, CRO of COS Systems from Sweden

and their host
 Nick Dinsmoor, CMO of Bonfire from the United States

 

sak Finér, CRO of COS Systems, discussing broadband connectivity on the Beer and Broadband podcast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

or listen to the episode on Spotify.