A Research Report: 96 pages, Report ID R-0906A, published June 2009.

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Report in a Nutshell

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, SOA, and IMS

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 an SDP strategy and vice versa as the so-called Telco 2.0 services will depend on both.

The report includes:

• 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)

Target Audience for the Report

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

Key Findings

• 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 be 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.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

2 Introduction to SOA and SDP

     2.1 IMS: Definition and Evolution
     2.2 Business and Technology Drivers for IMS
          2.2.1 Value-Added Services
          2.2.2 Transparency in Access
          2.2.3 Scalability
     2.3 Business and Technology Challenges for IMS
          2.3.1 Supporting Legacy Framework
          2.3.2 Unmet Expectations
     2.4 SDP and its Appeal
          2.4.1 Definition
          2.4.2 Evolution
          2.4.3 Benefits of SDP
     2.5 SOA
          2.5.1 Definition
          2.5.2 Evolution
     2.6 Conclusion

3 Value Propositions of SDP and SOA

     3.1 Functional Modules of OSS/BSS
          3.1.1 OSS
          3.1.2 BSS
     3.2 Middleware:  The Glue that Binds the SDP with the Applications
     3.3 OSA/Parlay - Interconnecting the SDP with the Network Elements
     3.4 The Structure of SDP
          3.4.1 SDP Architecture
          3.4.2 Java and JEE:  The SDP Fabric
          3.4.3 OMA Service Environment (OSE);  The Quest for the Elusive SDP Standardization
     3.5 SOA:  Enabler for SDP 26
          3.5.1 SOA Drivers
          3.5.2 SOA Workflow and Concepts
          3.5.3 SOA Implementation Methodologies
          3.5.4 SOA Implementation Methodology:  The HP way
          3.5.5 Challenges Confronting SOA
     3.6 SOA in Telco Environments
     3.7 Piecing together SDP
          3.7.1 The SOA-SDP Interplay
          3.7.2 SDP Case Studies
          3.7.3 SDP as a Progression to IMS
          3.7.4 Challenges Confronting SDP
     3.8 Conclusions

4 Vendor Analysis

     4.1 Telecom Network Infrastructure Vendors
          4.1.1 Key Players and their Strategies
     4.2 Software SOA Specialists
          4.2.1 Key Players and Their Strategies
     4.3 SDP Focused Start-ups and Specialists
          4.3.1 Key Players and their Strategies
     4.4 Summary of Key Facts of Selected Vendors
          4.4.1 Accenture
          4.4.2 AePona
          4.4.3 Alcatel - Lucent (ALU)
          4.4.4 BEA Systems
          4.4.5 CapeClear
          4.4.6 Contec Innovations
          4.4.7 Ericsson
          4.4.8 Fiorano
          4.4.9 Hewlett Packard
          4.4.10 IBM
          4.4.11 jNetX
          4.4.12 Microsoft
          4.4.13 Motorola
          4.4.14 Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN)
          4.4.15 Oracle
          4.4.16 SOA Software
          4.4.17 Software AG / webMethods
          4.4.18 Telenity
          4.4.19 Tibco
          4.4.20 Vitria
     4.5 Conclusions

5 Numerical Analysis and Forecasts

     5.1 Methodology
     5.2 Markets for SDP Solutions
     5.3 Functional Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenue
     5.4 Mediawise Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenue
     5.5 Geographical Break-up of Mediawise SDP Solutions Revenues
     5.6 Markets for SOA Platforms
     5.7 Conclusions

List of Figures

Figure 2 1: IMS Components
Figure 2 2: The Network Simplification Achieved by SDP
Figure 3 1: OSA/Parlay Framework
Figure 3 2: SDP and OSA-Parlay
Figure 3 3: SDP Block Diagram
Figure 3 4: OSE Schematic
Figure 3 5: Web Service Protocol Stack
Figure 3 6: IBM SOA Foundation
Figure 3 7: SOA Maturity - Top Level
Figure 3 8: Computation of Assertion Score
Figure 3 9: Enterprise Target Maturity Profile
Figure 3 10: HP SOA Agility Assessment Analysis
Figure 3 11: SOA in Telco Environment
Figure 3 12: Oracle SDP
Figure 3 13: SDP Scope
Figure 4 1: Position of SDP in the Telco Infrastructure
Figure 4 2: AePona Universal Service Platform suite
Figure 4 3: WebLogic and SDP
Figure 4 4: Cape Clear ESB Platform
Figure 4 5: Fiorano SOA
Figure 4 6: Microsoft CSF
Figure 4 7: Motorola GAMA
Figure 4 8: NSN Service Core and Applications
Figure 4 9: Workbench
Figure 4 10: Canvas CSP
Figure 5 1: SDP Solution Revenues
Figure 5 2: Functional Break-up of SDP Solution Revenues
Figure 5 3: % Share of Functional Components
Figure 5 4: Mediawise Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenues
Figure 5 5: % Mediawise Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenue
Figure 5 6: Geographic Distribution of Wireline SDP Solutions Revenues
Figure 5 7: % Break-up of Wireline SDP Platform Revenues
Figure 5 8: Geographical Distribution of Wireless SDP Solution Revenues
Figure 5 9: % Break-up of Wireless SDP Solutions Revenues
Figure 5 10: Geographical Distribution of SDP Solution Revenues
Figure 5 11: % Geographical Break-up of SDP Solutions Revenues
Figure 5 12: Market for SOA Platforms
Figure 5 13: Geographical Distribution of SOA Revenues
Figure 5 14: % Geographical Break-up of Overall SOA Revenues