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Automate Your Network from Mapping to 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.

Learn more and book your demo today!
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Why Is Data Integrity Important

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.

Learn more and book your demo today!
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How is an Open Access Network structured?

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.

Learn more and book your demo today!

 

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How an online marketplace outperforms your phone service

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.

Learn more and book your demo today!
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COS IS CURIOUS – Would you like to be able to compare different broadband deals from a range of providers?

Great user experience is crucial; therefore, we’d like to know what’s important to you as an internet user‍.

In many areas, there is still one dominant Internet Service Provider (ISP), leaving subscribers with limited choice. Therefore, we wanted to know if you would like to be able to compare different broadband deals from a range of providers, and the results show that 100% of participants would like to have that freedom of choice when they are looking for a new internet connection.

This is not surprising, but it underscores an important fact. Like in a grocery store or when shopping on Amazon, people want the freedom to choose between products and prices when looking for a new internet connection. In Broadband – this translates to a so-called Open Access Network, a business model that allows multiple service providers to operate and compete on the same network, giving subscribers a wide range of choices. Read Noanet’s article describing Open Access Networks.

Different Service Providers on a network mean increased competition, which creates better prices for the subscribers and ensures a high level of service quality. It also means that more subscribers will find and sign up for an Internet Connection that fits their needs (an increased take-rate).

Combined with an online marketplace such as ours, you provide your customers with 24/7 self-service so they can choose what they want when they want.

COS Business Engine is tailor-made for Open Access Networks and offers a customizable integrated online marketplace. It also offers zero-touch service provisioning, ensuring that once a subscriber has chosen a service, it is automatically activated and available at their address within minutes, making the process seamless and convenient.

We’ve been doing Open Access since the get-go and are always open to sharing our knowledge. Contact us if you want to learn more.

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Open Access Broadband – Bringing Choice and Connectivity to Your Community

Open Access Broadband: Bringing choice and connectivity to communities

Access to high-speed internet has become essential for individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive in today’s increasingly digital world. However, in many areas of the United States, private providers are not building fiber infrastructure at a pace that meets the growing demand for reliable broadband services. This gap in connectivity poses significant challenges, particularly in rural regions where low subscriber density makes it less economically viable for private providers to invest.

To address this issue, many local leaders are exploring alternative options to ensure their residents are not left behind in the digital age. One increasingly popular solution is the adoption of Open Access broadband networks. This model, which has gained traction globally and is now making its mark in the USA, aims to give communities greater control over their digital infrastructure while promoting competition and choice among service providers.

Understanding Open Access Broadband

At its core, the Open Access model is built on the principle of separating the various layers of a broadband network:

  1. Infrastructure Layer: This layer consists of the physical cables and conduits that make up the network. Often referred to as the “Passive” layer, it forms the foundation upon which the network is built.
  2. Operations Layer: Also known as the “Active” layer, this involves lighting up the physical network with electronics and ensuring its proper functioning. It includes tasks such as network management, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
  3. Services Layer: This layer encompasses the various services delivered over the network, such as internet, phone, TV, telehealth, home security, and IoT services. By separating this layer, communities can offer consumers a wide range of services from multiple providers.

Common Models of Open Access Broadband

  1. Dark Fiber Open Access: The community provides the passive infrastructure layer (dark fiber) and allows private providers to lease access and use it as they wish. This model is akin to building highways for private use.
  2. Dark Fiber Middle Mile Open Access: The community builds fiber in streets, while private providers bring electronics to light up services and connect homes. This model extends infrastructure to neighborhoods.
  3. Dark Fiber Last Mile Open Access: The community builds all-fiber infrastructure and leases it to private providers, who operate the network and sell services to customers. This model ensures widespread fiber connectivity.
  4. Lit Open Access – Single Provider: The community builds the entire fiber network, invests in electronics up to customers’ premises, and invites service providers to resell services on wholesale terms. Customers have the freedom to choose providers.
  5. True Open Access (Lit Open Access – Multiple Providers): Customers have complete freedom to choose between providers and services on a granular level. This model maximizes consumer choice and fosters competition.

The Role of COS Business Engine

COS Business Engine is a software platform designed to support the operations of True Open Access Networks. Since its launch in 2008, it has been instrumental in automating network operations and enabling around 150 True Open Access Networks worldwide.

Conclusion

Open Access broadband represents a transformative approach to community connectivity, offering consumers choice, competition, and control over their digital future. By embracing this model and leveraging innovative solutions like COS Business Engine, communities can bridge the digital divide and pave the way for a more inclusive and connected society.

Learn More About Open Access Networks

To explore the concept of Open Access Networks and their benefits for your community, check out our resources:

Learn more and book your demo today!

 

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FTTH Fiber to the Home Automation Solutions

FTTH Fiber to the Home Automation Solutions

FTTH Fiber to the Home Automation Solutions

COS software solutions, tailored for Fiber-to-the-Home operators and Service Providers, offer a robust fiber network automation and management solution. At the heart of this is the COS Business Engine, a unified BSS OSS platform that efficiently enables the provision of multiple services over a single fiber connection. This empowers network operators to expand their service offerings and discover new revenue streams. Moreover, it allows them to streamline operations and customer support to effectively meet the growing demand for private networks. COS’ open-access capabilities provide you with: 

Higher take-rates:

COS’ open-access capabilities result in significantly higher take rates than marketing a single service network. Consumers usually spend more when given various choices, with take rates often up to three times higher.

A More Profitable Business Model:

By accessing wholesale revenue streams, you can become a specialist in your field and create a more profitable business model. This approach allows you to leverage your expertise and offer a range of services to different market segments.

Improved  public and private partnerships:

COS solutions promote better public-private partnerships. Municipalities can invest in infrastructure and provide enhanced digital services to their citizens without competing directly with commercial consumer services.

Contact us today to learn more about how COS can help you overcome the challenges of managing fiber infrastructure and providing reliable broadband connections.

Learn more and book your demo today!

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Be Part of a Northern American Premiere and Join the First Conference Dedicated to Open Access

As you have surely noticed, the interest in Open Access Networks is growing by the day, but there is still some confusion about what it really is. Therefore, we have teamed up with our friends at Connected America to arrange a pre-conference day focusing exclusively on Open Access. The program starts at lunch and ends with an Open (Access) Bar close to the venue.

Find Out More Join the Conference Register for the Open Access Bar

12 pm – 1 pm | Lunch

1 pm – 1:50 pm | Keynote 

Understanding the Increasing Popularity of Open Access and key business model considerations for success – Insights from Mikael Philipsson, CEO, COS Systems 

The future of fiber is a digital society with Everyone and Everything relying on digital infrastructure. Paired with the current trends of consolidation, more expensive build costs and a race to invest in fiber roll out – all roads lead to shared infrastructure and open access. Mikael Philipsson, former CTO and CEO at one of the largest Open Access networks globally, IP Only (now Global Connect), led this journey on a national scale in Sweden, which has a fiber penetration of 98% today. He shares his insights on why Open Access is the right choice and how to structure the business case to make Open Access a success.

2 pm – 2:50 pm | Panel Discussion I

Three Layers of an Open Access Network: A Thorough Look at Roles and Responsibilities

Moderator: Keith Ponton, Senior Practice Lead, Arcadis
Panelists:

Gregg Shepperd, Senior Engagement Leader at Fujitsu Network Communications

Beni Blell, Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing, Hexatronic 

Gabe Gomez, VP Customer Experience, Syringa Networks

Pankaj Gulati, Head of Products and Platforms, Ubiquity 

The key characteristics of an Open Access Network are the separation of the network infrastructure, the neutral operations of the network, and the independent service providers selling their services to subscribers. This panel will explain these different roles and show that you can run an efficient fiber network by working with specialized partners without doing everything yourself.

3 pm – 3:50 pm | Panel Discussion II 

Exploring the Advantages of Open Access Networks for Internet Service Providers and Their Operations Support Requirements 

Moderator: John Zannos, Partner at Digital Ubiquity Capital
Panelists: 

Phil Roberts, Chief Executive Officer at Valo Networks

Brian Hollister, CEO and Co-Founder at Bonfire Infrastructure Group

Dan Johnson, Product Manager, Connect Fast

Aaron Hildreth, Founder, Intellipop Internet Services 

On an Open Access Network, all parties rely on each other for success. Internet Service Providers often have financial or workforce constraints limiting their ability to build fiber at a large scale. On an Open Access network, their Capex investment is minimal, and they can focus on providing high-quality services and support to their subscribers. But to be able to do this, they need a strong operator partner offering tools to efficiently sell, deliver, and troubleshoot on the shared network.

4 pm- 4:50 pm | Panel Discussion III

Navigating the Choice of Tech Stack for Open-Access Networks: Key Considerations for Success.

Moderator: Isak Finér, CRO, COS Systems 
Panelists: 

Robin Harder, Woven Product Lead at Arcadis

Sean Dundon, Director – Partner and Channel Development at VETRO FiberMap

Rob Laudati, VP – Product & Partnerships, Render Networks

Don Eben, CEO, Core Network Strategies

Despite the digital nature of fiber networks, a lot of legacy systems, technology, and manual processes are still in use. The Open Access model of sharing one infrastructure creates a whole different set of requirements and challenges that legacy technology can not solve. This panel explores the benefits of a “digital first” approach and how important integrations and automated workflows are becoming – especially in Open Access Networks.

5 pm- 6:00 pm | After-Panel Drinks and Socializing

Grab a beer and take the opportunity to grow your network of Open Access experts. Courtesy of the Open Access Day sponsors.

7 pm – 10 pm | Open (Access) Bar 

COS Systems and all other Elite Sponsors are inviting you to continue the fun and discussions at Bar Louie,  360 W Las Colinas Blvd #100, Irving, Texas 75039

Find Out More Join the Conference Register for the Open Access Bar
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Accelerate Growth and your Valuation – Expand your Middle Mile Network with Wholesale FTTH!

Internet, beam scaffolding, computer network, soil, technology

Taking an infrastructure approach to the last mile is a natural development for enterprise networks. As the US aims to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas we should look at this natural progression of business models: Middle-mile and enterprise networks have long understood how to build a fiber infrastructure and with a wholesale approach partnered with a wide range of Service providers/ISPs (Internet Service Providers).

For those looking to accelerate growth and improve return on investments on fiber assets by fully monetizing their network, owning the infrastructure to the home and wholesaling to ISPs at the home is a natural next step with keeping full control of the asset and significantly improved margins.

In Sweden and many other countries in Europe, this business model has evolved over the past 10 years whilst fiber penetration has gone from around 50% to around 95% of all households having access to fiber-based broadband. It has been a natural development given that infrastructure investments are normally shared and the large number of service providers in the market. It has not only proven to be successful but also improved fiber asset operators’ financials and valuations for the last 10 years! 

COS System’s CEO Mikael Philipsson was himself part of a Nordic network’s journey expanding from building and operating a backbone and middle mile network addressing the Enterprise market and other operators to adding FTTH with a wholesale approach to the existing business lines. Over 7 years revenue grew 500%, and EBITDA margins were over 80% which led to the enterprise valuation increasing 15 times. 

Here are his top three reasons why you should build and stay in charge of the last mile:

​1. Lower risk and full control

If several ISPs operate on the same network you’re not dependent on one single service provider to be successful (or only your own ISP-service). This also lowers the risk for overbuilds as well as the competition with other technologies such as Wisps, cable operators, etc.

Ideally, instead of competing with them, you partner with these Service Providers so they can use (and pay for) your infrastructure in order to reach their customers with their own services and technology. The important part is that you keep control of the fiber termination in the house and the speeds/services available, and let the ISPs take care of the WiFi and in-house experience. 

Takes rates for this business model are normally above 80%, whereas the average take rate on a single ISP network is somewhere around 30-50%.

2. No churn due to the great variety of services on your network 

If customers connected to the fiber network are unhappy they can easily switch providers and you would still get a wholesale fee, hence no churn.

The barriers are low for new service providers to enter the network as no capex needs to be spent and less networking competence is needed. This will fuel the Service Provider market and the assortment of services and providers will grow. This makes your network more attractive and in the end, improves customer satisfaction! Moreover, you stay in control of your fiber network with available services and can focus on optimizing the wholesale business and expanding your footprint. 

A real-world example is a network built and operated by an electric utility that after 10 years of being their own service provider had managed to get a take rate of very respectable 52%. They decided to shift to a Wholesale FTTH model (and implement COS Business Engine), partnered up with all possible ISPs in the area, and sold their retail service revenue. As a result, they could focus on wholesale revenues/margins. After only three years their total revenue increased by almost 40%, their staff decreased by 25% and their Ebitda margin increased from 6% to 57%. Today, 10 years after the shift, the figures have been further improved. 

3. Higher valuations

With this strategy, the business dynamics are similar to a long-term infrastructure asset instead of a regular telco operating in a competing market. This generates valuations two-three times higher than a traditional telco and attracts infrastructure funds/investors. 

The time to drive fiber deeper into our society is now. Federal and state funders have an obligation to create public-private partnerships and the open wholesale model drives more fiber to more homes. So make sure you don’t give away the gold!

LEARN MORE ABOUT WHOLESALE FTTH TALK TO ONE OF OUR EXPERTS
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