New functionality and capabilities are added to mobile phones at an astounding pace. Ten years ago, most people didn't even have cell phones. Now, mobile phone users can access the internet at broadband speeds, take pictures and make videos and participate in live video conferencing, just to name a few. These new features place new and increasing demands on telephony infrastructure. Additionally, more mobile phone users translate to increasing network size and increasing network complexity. Service quality must remain excellent. If it does not, mobile phone users will not continue to accept new features and functionality. Additionally, network costs are currently growing faster than network complexity. This poses a challenge for telecom companies. How can they continue to provide outstanding service and new features in a cost-effective manner?

Part of the challenge is that network operators work in a stressful environment. They are faced with a constant stream of alarms, some important and some unimportant. Critical network events can be easily missed while sorting through thousands of alarms and dealing with routine tasks.

[click to enlarge] FMX applies rule logic using a G2-based graphical language.

Ericsson, the world's largest supplier of mobile systems in the world, is applying real-time rule technology to drive the performance and quality of it telephony systems. Ericsson's FMX, a G2-based application, automates the network fault management process. G2's rule-driven engine captures the knowledge of expert network managers and hen applies this knowledge to network management at Ericsson. When a network event occurs, FMX takes intelligent, expert action. It hides unimportant alarms and highlights very important alarms. This allows the network operators to focus on only the events that will impact network integrity. FMX then provides more detailed information on specific alarms and recommends corrective actions. FMX successfully manages over 500,000 alarms/events per day on 50 different equipment types.

With FMX, Ericsson is intelligently managing its network in a consistent manner. It is in use in about 500 system installations 100 countries. As a result, Ericsson is streamlining the network management process. Service quality is high and the company has seen a reduction operating expenses and better utilizing capital expenditures.