Mega vendors Cisco and Nokia Siemens Networks entered into an agreement on Monday, to jointly develop a standards-based telecommunications network management platform.

The two vendors will deliver an Operations Support Systems (OSS) platform that will provide a common end to end view of diverse network elements – across both IP and mobile – that are automatically discovered and represented as a virtual network model.

The platform will include basic fault, configuration, performance and security (FCAPS) management functionality as well as a variety of common functions, such as data acquisition and network element mediation, which will be utilised by higher-level OSS applications.

The broader intent of the collaboration is to provide a basis for helping independent software vendors produce or extend their own applications. Companies such as Amdocs are known to be demonstrating early support for the technology from Cisco and Nokia to extend its own OSS platform to tackle issues such as fault management, network provisioning and inventory control.

“It is not often that we see such powerful innovation in an area so desperate for a new approach,” said George Nazi, vice president of global engineering at BT. “While often downplayed, the OSS is the critical engine for our ability to support our network investment in meeting the demands of consumers and business for new services, new technologies and new ways of doing business. Providing a common view of the physical and virtual network across all technologies and building a foundation for other vendors will complement BT’s software driven network strategy to deliver superior customer experiences.”