Is it really time for real-time?

The pursuit of “real-time” in the telecoms industry has long represented something like a quest for a Holy Grail. Many (operators and suppliers alike) over the past two decades have claimed to have found it but definitions of the term have been loose. For one thing, the answer to the question “when is real-time real time?” hasn’t always been clear.

In the network world, real-time is desirable because termination networks and systems platforms’ algorithms and analysis benefit when they can get as near as possible to real-time operations. The reasons why this is the case are clear: it’s advantageous if new calls can be processed and routed as quickly as possible, based on the best information available. Routing plans that have historically been reliant on labour intensive manual processes are unlikely to be adequate raw material for the next generation service world.

Now, thankfully, things are changing. Today’s technology is making real-time (and “real” real-time, no less) a reality. This means service providers can make use of real-time information enabling, for example, novel call routing engines to make their own decisions, in such a way as to maximize both margin and quality of service for customers, at all times.

Real time, really?

That’s a great leap forward but before considering its advantages, it’s worth backtracking to ask “what is real-time?” Given the complexity of modern telecommunications networks, there isn’t a standard answer but think of it this way. Generally, the function of a telecoms network is to ensure that:

1. A call is routed, connected and then terminated
2. This results in a call detail record (CDR) being written into a database (a key step for customer rating and billing)
3. The record of the call is made available to the network support systems for statistical analysis of quality and network performance, in order to drive the next change to the routing plan

Historically, all of these steps and the information they generate have been processed after an event (call) has taken place. In the main, this has meant that network support systems cannot be programmed to react as each new CDR is loaded into the database. Put another way, nothing happens in real time. Is this a problem? Yes, in so far as it is a barrier to efficiency and operational effectiveness due to the endless re-calculations of some of the key statistics used in the algorithms when real-time isn’t possible.

For the benefit of real real-time to be accrued, the network and routing platform must be made aware of what is happening as calls are initiated and in progress (not after the event) – so that truly instant decisions can be made that are acutely aware of existing business rules and objectives.

Real-time, real answers

How, then, do telcos achieve real real-time?  Broadly, by deploying a software-based platform that contains a real-time routing engine. In the case of network operations, this is separated from the underlying switching elements while enabling instantaneous decisions. Such a platform will be aware of any event, as it occurs, so that required actions can immediately be taken.

In modern networks where call routing engines are no longer necessarily an integrated part of a switch but are, rather, distinct software processes linked to both switching and support systems, real-time empowers the network operator to make decisions based on quality, commercial and technical requirements.

At Digitalk, we’re innovators in the field of real real-time and we’ve led the way in delivering fully virtual call routing engines that make real real-time a reality. This blog necessarily only touches on key aspects of this important topic; if you’d like to gain a deeper insight, please click here to download our full Insight Paper, “Is there such a thing as real real-time?”