SaskTel International, a provider of telecommunications OSS/BSS offerings and consulting services, has released version 6.0 of its OpenSwitchGate (OSG) activation and order management software. It is built in Java SE, an industry open standard software platform that offers flexibility and simplified integration into a service provider’s business.

According to SaskTel, the new OSG offering enables communications companies to provide a range of services to their customers, all activated in real-time on any network. It provides instant discovery, remote programming and communication with network elements including voice and ATM switches, soft switches, HLR switches, messaging servers and voice mail platforms, DSLAMS, routers, gateways, ethernet switches, NGDLC equipment, application and authentication servers, service delivery platforms, LDAP servers, SMSC servers, DOCSIS equipment, test heads, and any other device that requires provisioning to facilitate activation of a customer’s service.

Additional benefits include automated reconciliation between the network and billing systems, programming of multiple network elements through a single gateway, service order orchestration, automatic connection failover, and a scalable and portable architecture, the company said.

The company said that by implementing its Java-based OSG offering helps carriers lower costs and increase revenues through improved operational efficiencies. It can completely automate provisioning, provide instant service-on-demand activation, and integrate service assurance processes.

Robert Watson, president and CEO of SaskTel, said: “In today’s demanding market, it is critical for service providers to have the ability to activate a service instantly while the customer is on the phone. It is also critical that carriers have the ability to program multiple network devices through a single activation gateway that eliminates silos or the need for manual intervention.”