TM Forum, a global alliance of telecom and tech companies, announced this week the expansion of its Open Digital Architecture (ODA) Canvas with the integration of Microsoft's cloud assets via Github, bringing more of its operator resources to the cloud. This collaboration enables Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to quickly build carrier-grade ODA solutions on Microsoft Azure using pre-built modules, simplifying telecom software lifecycle management.
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Key Benefits of ODA Canvas for CSPs
The ODA Canvas, a cloud-native environment, allows CSPs to move away from legacy systems and adopt a modular, agile, plug-and-play approach, significantly reducing costs and improving agility. By leveraging Microsoft's cloud capabilities, such as Azure Kubernetes Service and Microsoft Entra ID, CSPs can build their own ODA Canvases, reducing time-to-market for new services and operational complexity.
Microsoft's contribution to the open-source TM Forum Reference ODA Canvas encourages wider industry collaboration, providing CSPs, from startups to major operators, with access to customisable, open-source toolkits via GitHub. This move is expected to foster innovation and competition in the telecom sector, TM Forum said.
Vodafone Leads the Way with ODA Implementation
Vodafone, a founding member of TM Forum's Innovation Hub, is already implementing the ODA Canvas in Greece and plans to require IT suppliers to adopt the framework by 2025.
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George Glass, CTO, TM Forum: "Microsoft's contribution of commercially supported Canvas Operators to the TM Forum Reference ODA Canvas is a significant step towards making the vision of a truly interoperable and open ODA ecosystem a reality. Microsoft is empowering CSPs of all sizes to build and deploy carrier-grade open source ODA Canvases tailored to their specific needs. This is a powerful example of the collaborative innovation that’s required to drive the global telco industry towards a more agile and efficient future."
Lester Thomas, Head of New Technologies and Innovation at Vodafone: "A major benefit of the ODA Canvas is how it enables hyperscalers and software companies to offer innovative solutions that can automatically plug in to a CSP's existing IT environment using new cloud-native software features that are ODA-compliant. At Vodafone, we expect to realise significant benefits from this approach. It’s as a win-win for the industry."
Rick Lievano, CTO Worldwide Telecommunications Industry, Microsoft: "The implementation of TM Forum’s ODA Canvas on Microsoft Azure marks a significant milestone in the telco industry. By combining the strengths of TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture with Microsoft’s powerful cloud platform, this initiative promises to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and strengthen industry partnerships."
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A Collaborative Shift
Microsoft's contribution begins the evolution of the ODA Canvas from a standalone open source reference implementation to a toolkit with which CSPs and system integrators can build a customised Canvas to suit their exact needs on their chosen cloud platform, the industry group said.
The collaboration between TM Forum, Microsoft and other partners like Amdocs and Exos Systems is set to accelerate the adoption of cloud-native, ODA-compliant technologies across the industry.
Anthony Goonetilleke, Group President of Technology and Head of Strategy at Amdocs: "As service providers move to the cloud, Amdocs and Microsoft are accelerating the journey, delivering faster time-to-market, cost efficiencies and enhanced flexibility. Leveraging TM Forum’s ODA Canvas on Azure and Amdocs' ODA-ready components, we empower service providers to deploy modular, future-ready IT and network systems that support the evolving needs of the communications industry."
