What is Azure Operator Service Manager?
Azure Operator Service Manager is a service for managing and orchestrating network functions for telecommunications providers. The service enables the design, deployment and lifecycle management of Network Service Designs (NSDs) consisting of multiple virtualized or containerized network functions.
The service targets telecommunications companies and network operators that run their network functions on Azure Operator Nexus or Azure infrastructure. Operator Service Manager orchestrates the entire lifecycle: from defining the network architecture through deployment to ongoing update management.
The platform is built on Azure Resource Manager and uses BICEP or ARM Templates for Infrastructure-as-Code, transferring proven cloud practices to telecommunications infrastructure.
Core Features
- Design and versioning of Network Service Designs (NSDs)
- Orchestrated deployment of VNFs and CNFs across Azure infrastructure
- Lifecycle management with rolling updates and rollback capability
- Multi-site deployment for distribution across multiple locations
- Integration with Azure Operator Nexus for hybrid telecom infrastructure
Typical Use Cases
5G Core Deployment: Orchestrating the provisioning of 5G core components such as AMF, SMF and UPF across distributed sites of a mobile network.
Network Function Lifecycle: Managing the entire lifecycle of network functions from different vendors with unified processes and automated updates.
Multi-Site Rollout: Simultaneous or staged deployment of new network services across hundreds of sites with consistent configuration.
Benefits
- Unified management for VNFs and CNFs from different vendors
- Infrastructure-as-Code approach for reproducible deployments
- Reduced operational complexity through automation
- GDPR-compliant with European Azure regions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Azure Operator Service Manager intended for?
The service targets telecommunications providers, network operators and managed service providers that operate network functions on Azure infrastructure and want to automate their lifecycle management.
Does the service support network functions from different vendors?
Yes. Operator Service Manager is vendor-agnostic and can orchestrate VNFs and CNFs from different network equipment manufacturers, provided they are certified for Azure.
How does the service integrate with Azure Operator Nexus?
Operator Service Manager uses Azure Operator Nexus as the infrastructure layer for deploying network functions. Orchestration is handled through Azure Resource Manager, enabling unified management of network and cloud resources.
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure Operator Service Manager: from architecting Network Service Designs to automating network deployments and integrating with existing operational processes.
