For most CSPs, harnessing the scalability and flexibility of the cloud isn’t easy. That’s because CSPs’ existing IT systems tend to encompass many legacy platforms - which have grown organically over the years, or inorganically through acquisitions. Today, CSPs tend to be employ a mixture of physical network functions and virtual network functions, which coexist and need to be managed seamlessly. BT, the long-standing incumbent in the UK, is now scaling network virtualization rapidly, and is committed to rolling out a cloud native network to enable much greater automation and support self-healing network components. To support those objectives, this Catalyst aims to build a complete cloud native stack that will address key challenges in the network assurance and service management layer and enable ‘zero-touch’ operations use cases. To implement new innovations, while safeguarding existing investments in network infrastructure and operations support systems, BT envisions the creation of a ‘lights out’ or ‘dark’ NOC (network operations center), where operations located outside the NOC will define policies and automation workflows. The project aims to align with industry-standard architecture, such as TM Forum ODA (open digital architecture) and TM Forum Open APIs, while harnessing the power of AI by employing large language models to reduce costs and scale the solution across other fixed and mobile domains. Once complete, the Catalyst should help CSPs to modernize their service management and build a foundation for future cloud native networks.