How much does it take to get ready to benefit from Artificial Intelligence?

Automation journey principles for your own life and 5G Advanced network

Imagine this: you get a robot vacuum cleaner to automate your cleaning. But before it can work its magic, you must rearrange your furniture, eliminate obstacles, and ensure your home is set up for it. Even the artificial intelligence in your home appliance needs a well-prepared environment.

In the telecom world, preparing for the AI driven automation is similar to that. To get the benefits of the programmable purpose-built network while moving towards Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN), we must first prepare the network landscape - just like optimizing your home for that intelligent vacuum.

The arrival of 5G Advanced, a significant milestone before we even start talking about 6G, brings us closer to this goal. The new powerful network features and capabilities of 5G-A makes it possible to automate, innovate, and monetize with 5G in entirely new ways. Just as your robot vacuum learns and improves its cleaning with AI, enhanced Telecom AI and machine learning automate and optimize network functions in ways never seen before. But the journey doesn't stop there. The move to Openness is where things get truly exciting, transforming networks from rigid structures to flexible, software-driven ecosystems.

Why intelligent intent-based networks are essential

With the delayed sunsets of former mobile Generations, adding mission-critical expectations to the 5G network while continuing to maintain and monetize LTE, and adding silo automation tools for diagnosis to catch up with the ever-increasing expectations of end users, the level of complexity has skyrocketed.

While automation is important to every stage of the 5G journey, the complexity of end-to-end network slicing makes automation essential. RAN Intelligence with AI capabilities now have a role to enhance network energy efficiency, load balancing, mobility management, and network management through intent-based capabilities. With 5G Advanced functions in scale on the horizon, networks need to evolve into self-managing systems, handling their own adjustments without constant human intervention. It's all about self-healing, self-optimization, zero-touch, and dynamic network slicing without anyone having to lift a finger.

5G Advanced integrates AI into network management for innovative automation and improved performance. It is designed to be more power-efficient, reducing energy consumption while delivering top-notch performance. Additionally, it enables precise and efficient resource allocation for different network segments.

A Flexible Future Powered by AI: The Role of rApps and xApps

However, the future networks need more than just openness; it needs automation. This is where AI-powered solutions come into play, driving automation through RAN Intelligent Controllers (RIC), which use AI to manage and optimize network functions in real-time.

In the new ecosystem, rApps and xApps are the unsung heroes. These are microservices that make the automation magic happen. With these AI-driven apps, networks can predict traffic patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and even handle unexpected events autonomously. It's like a robot vacuum that not only cleans but also predicts when and where the mess will be before it even happens.

Preparing with and for 5G Advanced: Steps for Transformation

Networks need to be prepared for the shift to intent based networks that requires preparation steps with a business oriented transformational roadmap. Here's how operators can get ready:

1. Move to Cloud-Native Infrastructure: Networks need to be virtualized and cloud-native. This provides the flexibility and scalability needed to handle the dynamic demands of 5G and beyond.

2. Integrate AI and Machine Learning: AI is the key to unlocking true automation. Networks need to incorporate AI-driven tools (like rApps) to make intelligent decisions, optimize performance, and predict situations before they happen.

3. Open APIs and Standardization: Just as smart home devices use standard protocols to communicate with each other, the new ecosystem relies on open APIs to ensure seamless interoperability between different vendors' solutions.

4. Automate Lifecycle Management: From deployment to optimization and scaling, every part of the network lifecycle should be automated. This reduces human intervention and speeds up the time to market for new services.

5. Secure the Network: With more openness comes more risk. Security must be built into the automation process, ensuring the network is protected from external threats while maintaining flexibility.

A natural progression: The Future is Automated, Open, and AI-Powered

Programmable networks are more than just upgrades—they're the future of mobile networks. With AI at the helm, networks will become more intelligent, efficient, and responsive to users' ever-changing demands. But just like with any new technology, preparation is vital. By moving to cloud-native architectures, integrating AI tools, and adopting open standards, operators can ensure their networks are ready for the exciting future ahead.

As we already march toward 6G, 5G Advanced represents the next significant steps in delivering truly intelligent, automated networks. Just as your robot vacuum cleaner gets better with time, AI-powered 5G networks will continue to evolve—becoming faster, smarter, and more efficient.

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