What’s Next for 6G OSS? Standards, Vision, and Future Network Management

3. OSS‑Related Network Management Standardization Progress

ITU‑R WP5D released its first study report (June 2022) on IMT trends toward 2030, covering AI‑wireless convergence, sensing‑communication convergence, massive MIMO, advanced modulation, intelligent metasurfaces, terahertz, and new network architectures. 3GPP will start 6G‑related work in Release 19 (2023) and plans formal standardisation in Release 20 (second half 2025) with commercial 6G products expected in the second half of 2028.

3.1 3GPP Network Management Standards

3GPP SA5 is responsible for Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAMP). In Release 18 the focus is on network intelligence & autonomy, management architecture, and support for new services. To enable intelligence, 3GPP introduced:

Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) – provides on‑demand analytics to 5GC, OAM, and application functions. In Rel‑18 NWDAF is decomposed into logical functions: AnLF – Analytics Logical Function for data analysis. MTLF – Model Training Logical Function for managing ML models. DCCF – Data Collection Coordination Function. ADRF – Analytics Data Repository Function for storage of results.

Management Data Analytics Service (MDAS) – a service that analyses management‑domain data (RAN or CN) and can be consumed by MNF, NF, SON, SLS, operators, and AFs.

3GPP expects 6G standardisation to start in Rel‑20 (H2 2025) and to define new research topics such as space‑air‑ground orchestration and joint communication‑sensing‑computing scheduling.

3.2 ITU‑T Network Management Standards

Since 1985 ITU‑T has defined the Telecommunications Management Network (TMN), the most widely adopted framework for telecom network management. TMN specifies five management layers:

Network Element Layer (NEL)

Element Management Layer (EML)

Network Management Layer (NML)

Service Management Layer (SML)

Business Management Layer (BML)

It also defines the FCAPS functional model (Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, Security). Current work is carried out by:

ITU‑T SG2 – AI‑enhanced Telecom Operations Management (AITOM).

ITU‑T SG13 – Self‑intelligent Networks and Network 2030, which explores scenarios such as holographic communication, ultra‑fast emergency response, and high‑precision communications.

3.3 TMF Network Management Standards

The Telecom Management Forum (TMF) provides the NG‑OSS reference model (eTOM, TAM, SID, TNA) and the Open Digital Architecture (ODA). ODA replaces legacy OSS/BSS with cloud‑native, plug‑and‑play components exposed via standardized APIs. TMF also defines:

AIOps Service Management – extends DevOps/Agile/ITIL with AI‑driven principles to manage large‑scale AI components in CSP environments.

Intent‑Based Networking – in self‑intelligent network projects, intents express user goals and constraints, enabling automated behaviour adjustments across domains (L0‑L5 levels).

3.4 ETSI Network Management Standards

ETSI’s relevant work items are:

Zero‑Touch Network and Service Management (ZSM) – defines a fully automated end‑to‑end management framework for both horizontal (cross‑technology) and vertical (resource‑to‑customer) domains, targeting 100 % automation of tasks such as provisioning, configuration, assurance and optimisation.

Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) – specifies MANO (Management and Orchestration) for the full lifecycle of virtualised network functions, with ongoing integration of cloud‑native technologies and new use cases (industrial verticals, vRAN) from 2023 onward.

Experiential Networked Intelligence (ENI) – provides a model‑driven, policy‑based, context‑aware intelligence layer that supports self‑learning, closed‑loop decision making and assists both human and machine operators.

3.5 O‑RAN Network Management Standards

The O‑RAN Alliance defines a three‑layer architecture:

O‑Cloud – the compute and storage platform.

O‑RAN Network Functions – virtualised RAN functions.

Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) – replaces traditional OAM/NMS, providing FCAPS interfaces, O‑Cloud orchestration, workflow management and the non‑real‑time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) for intelligent control loops.

4. 6G OSS Overall Vision

Integrated air‑space‑ground management

6G OSS must extend beyond terrestrial cells to include high‑orbit and low‑orbit satellite constellations, high‑altitude platforms and UAVs, and jointly manage communication, sensing and computing resources. This integration aims to improve resource utilisation and energy efficiency across the entire air‑space‑ground continuum.

Automation, digital twin and end‑to‑end lifecycle support

Beyond intelligent management, 6G OSS should provide full automation, digital‑twin representations of network elements, and support the complete lifecycle (design, construction, optimisation, operation, maintenance) to deliver unprecedented digital experiences.

Evolution from 5G self‑organising networks (L5) to 6G OSS‑ready

5G self‑organising networks are progressing toward high‑level autonomy (L3‑L4) with a target of L5. 6G OSS will build on this foundation, integrating communication‑sensing‑computing to achieve higher self‑intelligence, full automation and deep digital‑twin integration, enabling a unified intelligent ecosystem.

Incorporating ESG considerations

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals must be embedded from the design phase of 6G OSS, promoting green, low‑carbon network construction and supporting carbon‑peak and carbon‑neutral objectives.

Secure and trustworthy framework

Given the heightened security requirements of 6G, OSS must adopt an endogenous security paradigm that leverages automation, intelligence, digital‑twin and orchestration to provide robust protection for the network and its applications.

References

[32] 3GPP SA‑WG5, “Rel‑18 & Rel‑19 time plan proposal for OAM”, 2022.

[33] China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, “6G Global Progress and Outlook White Paper”, 2021.

[34] ITU‑T FG NET‑2030 White Paper: “Network 2030 – A Blueprint of Technology, Applications and Market Drivers Towards the Year 2030 and Beyond”, 2019.

[35] ITU‑T FG NET‑2030 Deliverable: “New Services and Capabilities for Network 2030”, 2019.

[36] ITU‑T FG NET‑2030 Technical Report: “Network 2030 – Additional Representative Use Cases and Key Requirements”, 2020.

[37] ITU‑T FG NET‑2030 Technical Specification: “Network 2030 Architecture Framework”, 2020.

[38] TM Forum, “Autonomous Networks: Empowering Digital Transformation for Smart Societies and Industries”, 2020.

[39] ETSI, “Terms of Reference for ETSI ISG Zero‑Touch Network and Service Management”, 2021.

[40] ETSI, “Terms of Reference for ETSI ISG Network Functions Virtualization”, 2022.

[41] ETSI, “Terms of Reference for ETSI ISG Experiential Networked Intelligence (ENI)”, 2022.