BT Group, the UK’s leading fixed and mobile telecommunications provider, has extended its strategic partnership with Optiva (TSX: OPT) to develop and monetize new B2B, B2C and B2B2X services. Optiva’s application server, a key component of the Optiva Charging Engine, will be upgraded to a next-generation, cloud-native, open architecture service creation platform. It will include Optiva’s Open API framework, enabling integration with new cutting-edge technology partners, including blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) tools, fostering the growth of new services and new revenue opportunities.
BT Group plans to achieve greater than 90% penetration of 5G network coverage by 2028. To support these goals, BT Group needs a fully flexible service creation environment that enables rapid design, testing and deployment of new services. Additionally, it needs support for new partnerships in a wide variety of industries, such as banking, health care and insurance, and the ability to proactively address new challenges like fraud.
Optiva’s application server will enable BT Group to create the new services by leveraging an automated development framework powered by Optiva’s proven test automation platform, improving time to market and reducing operational overhead.
"Optiva has been a strategic partner for over a decade, enabling us to continuously innovate and meet our business goals. The next-generation Optiva application server will allow us to integrate with cutting-edge technology partners and build innovative new services for consumers and enterprises," said Nitin Patel, Head of Mobile and Messaging of BT.