What on earth is "provisioning" ?

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Stephen Riek - 23 Sep 2003 16:02 GMT

I keep seeing the term "provisioning" used in cellular communications
and when working with mobile network operators. Sorry if this is a dim
question but what does "provisioning" mean in cellular parlance ?

The dictionary definition is "the act of providing something" but
people in the GSM world seem to use it as if the 'something' is
defined.

Thank you to anybody who can help enlighten me :~)

Stephen

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"RDT" - 23 Sep 2003 18:15 GMT

>The dictionary definition is "the act of providing something" but
>people in the GSM world seem to use it as if the 'something' is
>defined.

Provisioning is the act of turning on a subscriber's service and
providing them access to the network. When I worked in telecom, an old
AT&T guy stated that provisioning included any interactions that occurred
between a CSR and a customer during the activation process. He probably
made that point since there is a cost associated with the whole process,
not just the point at which the wireless switch is programmed to accept
the subscriber's SIM, ESN, CSN or whatever.

Provisioning is generally the point at which a customer also becomes
revenue producing, which is the reason trade journals make such a big deal
of it.

RDT

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Stephen Riek - 26 Sep 2003 08:32 GMT

> >The dictionary definition is "the act of providing something" but
> >people in the GSM world seem to use it as if the 'something' is
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> revenue producing, which is the reason trade journals make such a big deal
> of it.

Wow, thanks for clearing this up for me, RDT.

Reading the Openwave Provisioning Manager description
(http://www.openwave.com/products/mobile_services/provisioning_manager/mobile/)
- which I couldn't even understand until you explained the above - can
I hazard that provisioning is also any subsequent configuration of the
phone (over-the-air), not just at the time of sign-up and activation
as you suggest above?

Thank you again,

Stephen

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Jer - 26 Sep 2003 13:49 GMT

>>>The dictionary definition is "the act of providing something" but
>>>people in the GSM world seem to use it as if the 'something' is
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> Stephen

I suppose so, with the consideration that provisioning is a
multi-event, multi-protocol process. That process is used at the
onset of a new subscriber account, and subsequently to improve the
service value of an existing subscriber account.

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"RDT" - 29 Sep 2003 20:25 GMT

>Wow, thanks for clearing this up for me, RDT.

You're welcome.

>Reading the Openwave Provisioning Manager description
>(http://www.openwave.com/products/mobile_services/provisioning_manager/mobile/)
>- which I couldn't even understand until you explained the above - can
>I hazard that provisioning is also any subsequent configuration of the
>phone (over-the-air), not just at the time of sign-up and activation
>as you suggest above?

I'm not sure about that. I would say that if the configuration is
intended to make them revenue generating, then yes. If it is a part of
ongoing regular maintenance, then no. Because if it is the former (to
make them revenue generating), I would say it is part of the activation
process. Jer pointed out in another message that any additional services
or features added also have to be provisioned.

RDT

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"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the
inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries."
--- Sir Winston Churchill

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