Network optimization in mobile networks has always been a part of infrastructure vendor contracts where optimization is performed at the start of the network lifecycle to ensure the network and the service performance is up to speed. In the days of plain old voice, network optimization was a straightforward exercise with well-understood tools and resources. However, with the emergence of mobile data and the introduction of complex data plans and tiered services, network optimization is taking on a new role. Optimization now needs to be a continuous, ongoing exercise, based on multiple parameters from network KPIs, KQIs, and QoE metrics, spanning the network domain, service domain, and most importantly the customer domain.
Managed services vendors have spotted this opportunity and are expanding beyond their traditional network fault management and site maintenance domains into the service and customer management area. Providing network optimization as a managed service is part of this transition and trend around 'Managed Services 2.0' and CEM which focuses on overall business transformation.
This report aims to capture the drivers behind the rise of network optimization as a managed service, types of optimization being provided, and vendor activity in this area. The report also aims to answer the question whether this is a trend that is temporary or whether SON will ultimately take over, opposing the need for manual intervention for optimizing networks.