 consulting, implementation and other services to telecom carriers. 10.9.1 Visionael and AFO Visionael has established strategic partnerships with system integrators (SIs) to enhance the installation and support of its network inventory management solution. Visionael's implementation partners include Logica, Getronics, Norsistemas, Global Management Systems, Inc. (GMSI), ADC, NetAxis, GuideComm and Windward Consulting. Advance Fibre Optics (AFO) is a provider of network management software and services for fibre-optic networks. AFO joined the Visionael Service Affiliate Program in order to help bring network inventory management solutions to CLECs, cable companies and utilities offering network services. Fibre networks enhanced the ability of companies to process transactions across networks. AFO provides OSP InSight fibre network documentation and mapping software to manage telecom networks. The alliance was intended to help AFO broaden its offering so that its customers would be able to manage every aspect of their network, including inside plant, ultimately increasing their ability to handle increased network transactions without growing pains. This particular partnership had borne fruit by late 2001. AFO and Visionael developed an interface between the Visionael 6.0 and OSP InSight. The latter allows OSS for Telecom Networks providers to archive network data, link it geographically to create a digital model of the network and then retrieve it to support mission-critical operations. The inte- grated solution gives network engineers access to inside and outside plant network details, where the network is based on fibre-optic, coaxial and/or copper cabling technology. Unification of inventory management is a common theme in OSS systems, where network inventory is often stored in disparate systems/media. It is the mission of many OSS vendors in developing inventory management software to unify the inventory management aspect of telecom operations. In the case of the Visionael - AFO partnership, an understanding o