vices can be provided using common network resources. A single edge node (such as Ericsson's AXI 540 router) can aggregate traffic from different customer sites without using dedicated circuits in the backbone. 6.8 Service Provisioning and Activation Products We shall look at a number of service provisioning and activation products that are offered by OSS vendors. 6.8.1 NetBoss Suite from Harris Harris's NetBoss suite includes a module for service activation called Activate. IT. This module extracts service design/delivery data (such as design layout records) from inventory management, converts this information into the NE non-machine language, communicates with the NEs and confirms the ability of the NEs to support service delivery. Activate. IT is a functionality of the NetBoss's "Application Suite", which is a set of functionality of the NetBoss communications management platform. Activate.I' integrates the activation of the various services ordered and assigned by the service provider to the individual network elements. Activate. automates the tasks involved in service activation, including: receiving assigned service orders and design layout records reading service assignments and features applying process rules and scripts to the appropriate network element. 22 Paradoxically, a closer business relationship can be established by reducing the visibility of the service provider, since customers want transparency from basic utility-like services such as telecommunications. OSS for Telecom Networks The module also provides automatic recording and reporting of all service tran- sactions. To ensure interoperability with common network components, Activate.IT uses Harris' interfaces called Smart Agents in order to interface with various sys- items, software, and devices. Features of Activate. as a service provisioning solution include: activates circuit-switched and digital network elements and ISP services automatically configures elements expands network management capabilities records transactions for auditing w