Reducing OPEX in Telecom: The Automation Advantage of Cloud-Native NP

For a while now, telecommunication businesses have been doing their best to digitalize their operations completely. While doing so, their main focus was on improving service quality without suffering enormous operating expenses. In fact, companies that were frugal during the transformation currently have the best position on the market.  

Among other things, telcos were looking to optimize their expenses during NP or Number Portability. The concept is vital for users who want to retain their old numbers while switching to new operators. The biggest issue is that the NP methodology has changed significantly in this digital landscape, posing new challenges in front of operators. 

Luckily, with the introduction of cloud-native number portability, telecommunications companies can now switch to new-generation technology. In this article, we’ll talk about the relationship between cloud technology and NP, and how this union leads to massive cost savings for companies.

Cloud–Native Number Portability Explained 

While old NP solutions were quite effective, they were simply created for different times. Back in the day, operators relied on dedicated hardware, static architecture, and manual configurations. Although telcos had a lot of control over these systems, maintaining them was rather expensive.

As time went by, technology changed, so operators had to adapt to agile solutions that would not only ensure higher service quality but also lower costs. Modern cloud-native NP is the best example of the changing mindset. As a solution created through containerized microservices in Kubernetes, modern number portability technology offers unparalleled reliability, scaling, and speed.

A modern number portability solution has more to offer than a simple placement of old technology into a new environment. Instead, these cloud-native NPs offer companies full automation, simplified resource management, and modular design. The number portability now works with all telecommunication networks, from 2G to 5G, while also supporting IP-based services and fixed lines.

Serving as a centralized gateway that combines external and local data sources, as well as facilitating numerous signaling protocols, and cloud-native number portability gives companies enough agility for modern network challenges. As a result, telcos can enjoy better performance while minimizing direct human input. 

5 Benefits Affecting OPEX

Overnight solutions won’t do the trick if you wish to reduce your operating expenses. Instead, you must introduce new workflows and technology that will streamline daily processes. Cloud-native number portability is one of those solutions, having several features with direct impact on your bottom line. 

1. Simpler Infrastructure 

Old NP solutions require dedicated infrastructure and proprietary hardware to fulfil the company’s unique needs. Unfortunately, building such complex infrastructure usually costs a lot of money. As if that wasn’t enough, you need to spend additional resources to ensure peak performance. 

Cloud-native technology changes this basic premise by virtualizing all the components.  Instead of relying on hardware, you’re much more worried about the software side of things. Placing your processes only ensures high scalability. As microservices are no longer dependent on physical infrastructure, you’re able to reroute company resources based on current needs, thus maximizing their potential.

To make things even better, this methodology will not only increase your efficiency but will enhance the sustainability of your entire telecom business. Cloud-native NPs are also lauded for their environmental friendliness, as they drain much less energy compared to static, legacy infrastructure.  

2. Lyfecycle Automation

It is hard to imagine a modern, cost-efficient technology that doesn’t rely on some sort of automation. When using cloud-native number portability, you’ll benefit from fewer maintenance tasks, minimal configuration activities, and seamless deployment. In fact, in most cases, these processes are eliminated altogether. 

Telecoms won’t have to hire numerous, expensive IT technicians to maintain the system. Through automation, you’re able to hasten service rollout while minimizing human error. Automation is vital for combining disparate network functions and streamlining the procedures without incurring hefty administrative costs. 

3. Data Flexibility

Given that modern software and hardware are constantly changing, NP solutions must follow suit to facilitate innovation. For example, companies such as Titan.ium have created products that rely on local and external data source integration and the ENUM interface to ensure compatibility between different technologies. 

Added flexibility allows telecoms to introduce modern standards and technologies into their workflow without making principal changes. Whether we’re talking about connection to remote signaling endpoints or accessing distributed bases, cloud-native NP provides the necessary adaptability. 

4. Real-Time Performance

When routing portability data, telcos must ensure smooth transfer. Otherwise, they risk creating bottlenecks that will severely hinder the user experience. Cloud-native number portability is tailor-made for an environment with high-throughput and low-latency, capable of handling variable quantities of signaling traffic and porting requests without causing delays.  

By relying on resilient service distribution and smart load balancing, operators can ensure consistent performance regardless of traffic. As such, NP reduces human interventions while ensuring continuity. 

5. Easier Migration

Going from legacy to modern solutions is among the most significant challenges for operators. The standard migration procedure usually takes months and even years to complete. Telcos have to deal with major data transfer risks and various incompatibilities, causing stress for entire teams.

Luckily, cloud-native NP finally gives us a suitable workaround. The technology supports systems that are based on VNF or Virtual Network Function. This makes it much easier to streamline the process, reducing onboarding costs and downtimes, while ensuring phased rollouts. 

Preparing for Future Challenges With Automation

According to Deloitte’s 2025 study, telecom providers will have to modernize their procedures to stay competitive in the market. Digital transformation, in particular, is mentioned as a prerequisite for retaining clients and obtaining new ones. Besides NP, telcos should work on enhancing their compliance, customer service, and network operations.

That being said, introducing new number portability solutions will ensure you’re ready for future challenges. By relying on modular upgrades, automation features, and real-time analytics, operators can deploy the technology faster. The technology also gives them a chance to scale without draining the budget.

Also Read: Here is Why Kubernetes Automation is Important for your Company