In a bid to reduce OSS (operations support systems) integration costs – and shorten time-to-market for new service launches – Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create the “OSS interoperability initiative” (OSSii).

Under the terms of the arrangement, the three “initiating parties” have agreed to cross-license their OSS interfaces. They argue this will make life simpler (and cheaper) for operators running multi-vendor networks by enabling interoperability “up front”.

The reciprocal agreement covers “fault, performance, configuration and basic network event and trace management for the northbound interfaces from radio access, circuit core and packet core network management systems”.

Ericsson, Huawei and NSN – under the terms of the MoU – are committed to bilateral cross-licensing agreements for multi-vendor network management.

Cross-licensing and interoperability testing is open for third-party OSS vendors by joining the OSSii.

“The OSS marketplace is a patchwork of standards and proprietary interfaces that are controlled by the IPR owners,” said Peter Patomella, head of OSS business at NSN. “With cross-licence agreements, we want to help operators take full advantage of the best available products in our industry.”

Thomas Norén, vice president and head of product area radio at Ericsson, said that OSSii would “stimulate innovation in network management” and “cut cost for our customers”.

Jiang Wangcheng, president of Huawei’s OSS & service wireless networks business unit, added that the OSSii agreement would “provide operators in all markets the ability to fully capitalise on the best OSS solutions available”.