Your comprehensive guide to autonomous networks: Transforming service delivery with AI and automation

Current state of the order-to-service process in the service lifecycle

As the telecom industry progresses toward autonomous networks, enterprise customers are demanding cloud-like network services that offer self-service capabilities, rapid service activation, and greater control and visibility. However, continued reliance on legacy orchestration systems and manual order-to-services processes often hinders their ability to fully address these demands. Communication service providers (CSPs) that have embraced automation to modernize their orchestration systems and order-to-service processes are unlocking significant business value, such as*:

• Decreasing 5G slicing activation costs by 80% by using AI-driven agents in the order management process
• Reducing the time to order a new service by 40% through system simplification
• Shortening order activation time of new high-speed ethernet business services from 13 days to 20 hours

This transformative shift toward automation not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions CSPs to deliver the agile, customer-centric experiences required in today’s digital economy.

Automating the order-to-service process is critical in this shift as it converts customer requests into active services by orchestrating network functions, resources, and applications (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. Service management lifecycle

However, as noted above, many CSPs still rely on legacy orchestration systems that are siloed, fragmented, and heavily dependent on manual intervention. These outdated systems result in high order fallout rates, canceled customer orders, and slow delivery times.

Figure 2. Legacy orchestration systems slow service delivery

A modern approach with Blue Planet Orchestration

Blue Planet Orchestration is a suite of products that address these challenges by providing automated service order management and intent-based orchestration across highly complex, multi-vendor, multi-domain networks. By eliminating fragmented workflows, inconsistent activation procedures, and human error, it empowers CSPs to deliver differentiated service experiences while reducing costs and delays.

Figure 3. Transform service delivery with Blue Planet Orchestration

One of the things that sets Blue Planet apart is its ability to integrate telco-grade AI agents at multiple insertion points throughout the order-to-service process. This advanced automation capability is a key enabler in the journey toward autonomous networks, delivering advanced operational efficiency and agility.

Delivering business value for our customers

Blue Planet’s modern and programmable approach to automating the order-to-service process drives faster network monetization while fostering innovation. By leveraging an open, multi-vendor, multi-domain framework coupled with the ability to integrate seamlessly with our inventory and assurance applications, we help CSPs unlock new revenue streams by driving the rapid development of digital ecosystems and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) use cases, and improve the customer experience with closed-loop automation

Let’s explore some real-world examples of how CSPs are achieving transformational outcomes with Blue Planet:

Lower 5G slice activation costs by 80%

A European Tier 1 CSP is deploying 5G slicing capabilities as part of a broader network transformation journey toward autonomous networks. By leveraging AI-driven service order management, the CSP has reduced slice activation times from months to hours—achieving 80% cost savings and accelerating 5G monetization.

Deliver reliable digital services with closed-loop automation

Orange Business is transforming its IT stack and Operations Support Systems (OSS) to enable on-demand service delivery through a next-generation, AI-native platform. By combining Blue Planet’s service order management and orchestration applications with AI-powered assurance, Orange Business can mature closed-loop automation and self-healing capabilities to deliver timely and reliable services to its customers.

Simplifying the order-to-service process

Blue Planet has played a significant role in BT Group’s efforts to simplify and automate the creation of customer orders and activation of network services across its Consumer and Business products. With Blue Planet Orchestration at the heart of BT Group’s architecture, the digital transformation resulted in improvements such as:

• Speeding up service ordering: 40% reduction in steps while ordering a broadband service
• Eliminating legacy systems: Eliminates more than half a dozen legacy systems currently delivering service orchestration
• Reducing cost: 50% cheaper to build new services

Differentiating capabilities that set us apart

Blue Planet Orchestration is built on advanced technologies that allow us to deliver exceptional results for CSPs. Key differentiating features include:

1. AI-driven orchestration: Built in and not bolted on, AI is integrated into the Orchestration application, accelerating pre-built use cases like confirming customer intent and creating service templates, driving faster concept-to-value realization.
2. Automated service order management: Seamlessly manages order requests and changes in flight to ensure smooth delivery.
3. Intent-driven, multi-domain orchestration: Uses model-driven abstraction and intent-based orchestration to automate service activation end-to-end across vendors, layers, and domains.
4. Open standards compliance: Aligned with TM Forum, MEF, ETSI NFV & ZSM, ONF, 3GPP, and other standards to enhance interoperability with hyperscalers, system integrators, and application developers.
5. Productized and vendor-agnostic design: Fully configurable to avoid vendor lock-in, with access to low-code tools and an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for co-innovation with partners to expand the digital ecosystem.

Transform service delivery today

As CSPs accelerate their journey toward autonomous networks, automating the order-to-service process is essential to delivering differentiated services, driving innovation, and achieving impactful business outcomes. With Blue Planet Orchestration, CSPs can simplify operations, reduce costs, and deliver exceptional service experiences at scale. For more information on Blue Planet Orchestration, visit here.