MYCOM - MYCOM is a leading global provider of best-in-class OSS Service Assurance software solutions and innovative ICT engineering services to the telecoms industry.

NIMS-PrOptima™ Product Description

NIMS-PrOptima™ is a Service Assurance and Performance Management platform for fixed and wireless networks (2G, 2.5G, 3G and 4G). The overall NIMS-PrOptima framework offers Performance Management functionalities all within a single integrated environment. The NIMS-PrOptima™ solution is a truly multi-vendor, multi-technology, multi-domain solution which enables:

• Automatic collection, mediation, aggregation and storage of any type of network data (counters, configuration information, fault etc.) in near real time
• Event based import engine aligned with ETL standards, delivering high performance and avoiding missing data unlike other legacy systems
• Data management of file, database, SNMP and events based data within the same platform
• Scalability and distribution, allowing to manage the sheer volumes of customer, services and network performance data
• Automatic problem detection through modules such as the Performance Alarm module
• Near real time monitoring of resources and services performance
• Advanced and professional reporting through multiple types of dynamic views: tabular, graphic or geographic
• Efficient distribution of information across the organisation at various levels (executive, management, engineering, operational)
• Advanced analysis through specific modules such as the Decision Support System, the profiling, the network planning, or the Geographical modules
• Complete integration within the customer information system through standard northbound interfaces with external OSS or IT systems

NIMS-PrOptima™ Solution Architecture

NIMS-PrOptima™ is a client-server application based on a 3 tier architecture. All software is stored on the server. The client station only requires Java third party which includes the Java web start utility.

The NIMS-PrOptima™ solution is split in 2 distinct layers:

• The NIMS-PrOptima™ advanced reporting and analysis layer (standard and enhanced clients) as well as a large set of advanced analysis modules, allowing to visualize, manipulate, process and report data in a manual or automated fashion, independently from the technology domain layer
• The NIMS-PrOptima™ customization layer, allowing for CSPs (or Mycom professional services on their behalf) to adapt NIMS-PrOptima Advanced Reporting and Analysis to their specific technology needs or to use Mycom Technology Analysis Packs, providing pre-defined KPIs and Reports to manage specific technolgies such as LTE, HSxPA or MPLS
• The NIMS-PrOptima™ data -warehouse, allowing for secure, robust and very long term persistent storage of your mission critical performance data, but also allowing fast access through the advanced reporting and analysis
• The NIMS-PrOptima™ multi-mediation, allowing for scalable, low latency and high volume data acquisition and loading whether data is available as files, SNMP MIBs, events or databases. This includes the PrOptipoller distributed components for SNMP Mediation. The multi-mediation collects data as defined in technology plug-ins
• Technology plug-ins provide means of interfacing to the various data sources. They are of two types:
  • Vendor Technology Interface packages - each Vendor Technology Interface package contains the Vendor Technology model as well as the collection and mediation components
  • SNMP Libraries and Bundles, allowing collecting data onto specific SNMP MIBs for specific device network funtions, i.e. Cisco Switch Router through the PrOptipoller SNMP Collectors
• Administration layer, allowing for flexible and advanced administration, monitoring and capacity planning of the NIMS-PrOptima solution

NIMS-PrOptima™ Features

Data Management and Reporting Capabilities
The reporting layer provides a rich set of features and modules tailored to meet telco business requirements.  This includes the following features and capabilities:

• Data Collection and Mediation Layer - Collects, parses, imports and aggregates disparate sources of data, across vendors, versions and technologies.  The data is imported as soon as it is available.  It delivers high performances thanks to advanced and automatic defense mechanisms against pick of consumption, missing data, hardware failure etc.
• SNMP Mediation Layer for IP Networks Performance Management - Interacting with the Data collection and Mediation the SNMP Mediation layer through the NIMS-PrOptima PrOptipoller allows for a scalable and distributed SNMP mediation to manage large scale IP networks
• Metrics and KPI Editor - Allows easy creation and management of KPIs.  Users can create KPIs across all domains, technologies and vendors.  MYCOM provides advanced capabilities such as roll-up/drill-down on KPIs to zoom from the service view (Voice Service Quality indicator) to the faulty network element (congestion rate on trunk A).
• Drag and Drop Windows Based Querying - Allows the users to create on demand queries without requiring any programming skill.
• Report and Graph Builder - Powerful reporting facilities, all based on intuitive features (drag & drop, right clicks etc.) enabling creation, editing, and sharing of various types of professional reporting.  In addition, users can chain reports in order to cascade analysis up to the root cause
• Report Scheduling and Export - Provides automatic and manual exports of reports and/or data to people or applications that might need them
• Northbound Interfaces Framework - NIMS-PrOptima™ includes embedded northbound interfaces that may be used by the customer to transfer performance information to an external application
• System Administration (e.g. backup and supervision tools) - Includes a wide set of tools that ease the daily job of system administrators for deployment, monitoring, auditing, and analyzing all system components, but also powerful automatic mechanisms that prevent the system from going to unstable state (e.g. protection against overload)
• User Rights Management Module - Provides the system administrator capacity to define a customized environment to individual users or groups of users

Advanced Analysis Modules
NIMS-PrOptima™ includes a set of advanced telco modules in addition to the advanced reporting and analysis capabilities of the standard and enhanced clients.  The following summarizes the key characteristics of NIMS-PrOptima™ application modules:

• Advanced Reporting and Analysis Capabilities
• GIS
• Alarm
• Network Profiling
• Web Portal
• Network Planning
• Decision Support System (DSS)

Integration Capabilities
NIMS-PrOptima™ has been designed to integrate disparate sources of data with any type of Southbound or Northbound element.  As a result NIMS-PrOptima™ can interface with any type of:

• Network Element, file based and SNMP based
• Element Management System, file based and SNMP based
• OSS System (e.g. Fault, Cell Planning, Configuration)
• Administration Tools
• Any Type of Data Source

NIMS-PrOptima™ Benefits

Return on Investment

NIMS PrOptima™ is scalable, future proof solution that will help operators protect their investments. Investing now in NIMS PrOptima™ will serve tomorrow’s needs.

MYCOM’s customers in adopting the NIMS PrOptima™ solution have systematically replaced legacy systems, introduced new technologies and expanded the system into other domain areas to provide a more comprehensive view of their network. In doing this they are able to increase the value of the solution while reducing the costs of a multiple product system.

As a result MYCOM’s customers have been able to protect their initial investment, avoid additional expenditure in new Service Assurance solutions and of course provide a service centric end-to-end view of their network.

Reduce Costs & Protect Service Revenue

MYCOM software solutions significantly reduce operational OSS and network costs and helps operators to secure revenue generated from their services:

• OSS OPEX reduction through use of a single platform for all performance management requirements delivering lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• OSS architecture simplification through the centralization of the network performance management for a multi-domain, multi-vendor solution that can address all the needs of an organization (e.g. executive board, engineering, operational teams, marketing department)
• Network OPEX reduction through network optimisation modules (network planning, configuration module) that significantly improve effectiveness of operations and engineering teams
• Limited and controlled integration costs through OSS integration facilities (e.g. OSS/J), off-the-shelf interfaces, ready to use KPIs and reports, off-the-shelf northbound interfaces (e.g. supervision, Backup & Restore)
• Customer retention by improved capabilities to deliver end-to-end performance and service assurance quality central to subscriber satisfaction
• Increase ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) through NIMS-PrOptima contribution to quick introduction of new services and technologies
• Low cost and smooth migration from legacy systems
• Limited training costs through easy to use and user friendly applications
• Converged performance management solution between multiple technology domains allowing reduced CAPEX/OPEX

Decrease Network Issue Resolution Time

NIMS-PrOptima™ can dramatically increase the reactivity and enable proactive capabilities on the part of operational teams:

• NIMS-PrOptima™ has been designed to collect and store the complete extent and volume of network data in minutes. Operational teams can identify a network issue in near-real time and react immediately
• NIMS-PrOptima™ can automate most recurrent tasks:
  • Automatic report generation and delivery to all of the organisation (e.g. executive, operations, engineering, marketing)
  • The Decision Support System module replays automatically the daily decision process. It provides in moments the list of faulty elements with a suggestion of a resolution plan
• MYCOM also delivers advanced analysis modules that help operational teams to quickly identify the root cause of a problem or anticipate potential problems (e.g. capacity issues through the network planning module).

Successful Roll Out of New Technologies

MYCOM is recognized as the leader in the management of Next Generation Networks.

MYCOM has developed extensive expertise on new technologies such as UMTS, HSDP and IMS. NIMS-PrOptima™ has been deployed on live UMTS networks since 2002 and is today already managing several live HSDPA networks.

In addition, MYCOM is the only Service Assurance organisation having combined experience with file based network elements and SNMP based nodes. This positions MYCOM as the logical leader for the management of fixed and mobile networks.

MYCOM is closely working with vendors and leading operators to deliver solutions that can help customers meet aggressive service and operational targets:

• Ready to use KPIs, reports and management processes
• Full understanding of new technologies
• Qualified staff and experts
• Support of new technologies earlier than commercial deployments (e.g. trial) and phasing with vendor roadmap
• Integration of specific features such as 3G call trace
• Delivery of light solutions for early deployments that can be quickly deployed and be operational from the first day

Synchronization with Network Operations

One of the main issues for telecom operators is to synchronize OSS solutions with network equipment evolution and implementation. By selecting NIMS-PrOptima™, operators can be confident that they will have an accurate visibility of their network including new network equipment and correct software versions from day one.

MYCOM has developed strong relationships and partnerships with network equipment vendors in order to ensure timely delivery of pre-integrated solutions aligned with the operator’s roadmap.

Migration and Transformation Projects

Migration projects are complex and highly customer dependent. They may include:

• Historical data migration from multiple systems
• Customization migration such as reports or KPIs. Existing customizations are usually not documented or only in the users head!
• Business process migration
• Sometimes specific tool feature migration

MYCOM has been successfully managing complex migration and/or transformation projects with very large operators for more than 2 years. MYCOM has developed comprehensive expertise that can lead to the smooth introduction of NIMS-PrOptima™ and migration of the user community data. MYCOM has the right experience to minimize business risks, understand client constraints and objectives, as well as being able to adapt to the methods employed in individual organisations.

A Future Proof Solution

With MYCOM Service Assurance solutions, an operator can invest with confidence on future and innovative network architectures and technologies.

NIMS-PrOptima™ is a superior and flexible platform designed to integrate with the growing complexity of the networks and supporting systems. It can handle constant evolution of network architectures and the specific demands of each operator:

• NIMS-PrOptima™ can manage all types of products in all network domains, fixed or wireless networks
• NIMS-PrOptima™ supports IP nodes and will provide additional capabilities in the coming releases.
• The architecture is totally scalable which means that there is no limitation in terms of types and volume of data collected by the system. Operators can incrementally implement new interfaces on NIMS-PrOptima™ at the same time as they introduce new services and technologies
• Engineers at MYCOM are continuously developing knowledge on all upcoming network and product evolutions. This is translated into enhanced NIMS-PrOptima™ functionality and capabilities.

It is a strategic imperative that NIMS-PrOptima™ remains the optimal solution to all future convergent networks. Wireless operators are moving to these new architectures now. They will demand an OSS solution such as NIMS PrOptima™ to manage on the same platform fixed and wireless network products throughout each and every phase of the convergence initiatives.