التكنولوجيا وأخبارها بوابة الإمارات لتكنولوجيا المعلومات والإتصالات
From vision to reality: The journey towards cognitive and zero touch network operations
By : Mohamed Elsokkary , Head of Managed Services for Ericsson Gulf Countries
5G and next-generation technologies such as network
slicing and IoT, along with an increasing number of
connected devices and a spotlight on end user experience –
it has become integral for Managed Services Providers
(MSPs) to rewrite the rules of operations and focus on
data-driven, automated managed operations.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) plays
a key role in managing new operational complexities,
achieving cost efficacy, minimizing operational errors and
augmenting the human capabilities. As such, we are
shifting gears to become more predictable and proactive
than ever before by implementing AI & ML.
As automation and AI technologies improve, zero-touch
networks of the future will soon be able to automatically
determine which actions to take with minimal human
intervention. Introduction of AI cognitive algorithms enable
the network to perceive current network conditions –
making it easier to plan, decide and act on those conditions
to achieve better outcomes. With cognitive networks based
on AI techniques, we are getting closer to realizing the
zero-touch vision which is set to be a game-changer in the
next five years.
Self-adapting, scalable and intelligent agents will work
alongside human experts to improve quality and increase
the pace of decision-making in many ways, including:
· Automated provisioning, full service and domain-
orchestration (self-healing, scaling, slicing etc)
· Automated fault diagnosis to reduce recovery time
· Proactive and predictive maintenance to reduce fault risk
· Automated performance diagnostics for the network
· Augmented workforce management
· Automated reporting across all domains
· Plug & Play installation and integration (Zero touch during deployment)
Ericsson is an industry leader in AI and Machine Learning
for telecom network platforms. Its goal is to empower
people and machines to transform engineered networks
into continuous learning networks. At Mobile World
Congress 2019, Ericsson presented its AI driven operation
portfolios and its vision of the future as well as highlighting
the many benefits of zero-touch.
Furthermore, successful implementation of Self-Optimizing
Networks (SON) can also be considered as a way to get
closer to materializing the zero touch vision. Ericsson’s SON
philosophy is based on applying specific SON features
where they become most effective in a network topology
(Hybrid SON).
SON features that requires close to real-time decisions and
work in a limited network area are typically delivered as
Distributed SON features (D-SON), for example Inter-
Frequency Load Balancing (IFLB), Adjacent Neighbor
Relations (ANR) and Automated Mobility Optimization (AMO).
SON features that operate over the complete network and
thus require longer time span for data collection or need to
be multi-technology/multi-vendor capable in order to make
decisions are typically delivered as Centralized SON
features (C-SON), for example Remote Electrical Tilt
Optimization (RET).
Automation/AI is a journey and Ericsson has been on this
journey for years already with a large yearly investment in
R&D, and more than 300 R&D engineers on board in
different global centers – working non-stop to build more
and more AI/ML use cases.
Having implemented AI/ML on the ground in collaboration
with service providers, we have concluded that in order to
succeed in applying automation and AI, organizational
aspects are just as critical as the technological ones.
Change management, re-skills, upskills, developing
competencies and new ways of working, altering culture
and mindsets are all crucial building blocks in ensuring that
AI and automation are utilized in the best way possible and
transforming the operations function effectively.
