VIEWPOINT
Shanthi Ravindran, Principal Analyst at Appledore Analysis, offered and launched the white paper An Structure Evolution: Considering in a different way to attain success on the Autonomous Networks Trade Summit in Dubai, which TM Discussion board hosted throughout the Extremely-Broadband Discussion board (UBBF) 2023. The paper focuses on the structure evolution of Autonomous Networks (AN), outlines the newest tendencies in AN, and gives a number of AN case research and strategies for the trade.
Shanthi Ravindran, Principal Analyst at Appledore Analysis
The telecom trade is present process important transformation, as outlined within the white paper. With new applied sciences akin to 5G and cloud computing, main communications service suppliers (CSPs) have quite a few alternatives. Nonetheless, additionally they face stiff competitors from rising CSPs. To handle new networks successfully, CSPs should undertake an modern mindset and make basic modifications. Within the new digital ecosystem, CSPs should additionally deploy agile AN to capitalize on the alternatives for income progress. Surveys point out that the enterprise WAN market alone has the potential for income progress exceeding USD 100 billion. To make the most of these alternatives, CSPs should implement automated and clever community operations.
AN implements self-management by means of a closed management loop, considerably bettering agility and operational effectivity. A hierarchical and loosely-coupled structure is important for AN. This structure includes completely different technical domains forming unbiased, autonomous domains (AD) that work together with the cross-domain service orchestration layer by means of intent-driven APIs. Every AD should carry out closed-loop management for full-lifecycle service administration. This structure allows the seamless integration of latest applied sciences sooner or later. Famend machine distributors in numerous domains have began growing AN controller primarily based on their experience. Many CSPs, together with China Cell and AIS Thailand, are actively deploying AN in varied key situations.
The AN structure contains two layers: a technical-domain autonomous controller on the backside layer and a cross-domain service orchestrator on the higher layer. The underside layer contains units offered by distributors from completely different domains, whereas the higher layer is collectively deployed by system integrators and CSPs. Sooner or later, networks will evolve into an ecosystem the place companies are chosen from a website service library and assembled. This strategy is vital to bettering reusability and agility whereas additionally decreasing prices.
Rules for AN deployment embody:
- Whereas AN is a long-term technique, you will need to obtain fast wins to result in mindset modifications inside the group and ship speedy worth.
- The community consists of assorted ADs and is domain-specific. Community software program and O&M software program should be layered and loosely coupled. Self-management of particular person technical domains should be realized with out affecting the service layer.
- Information and logic should be distributed as an alternative of being remoted in separate info silos.
- All interactions should be applied primarily based on intents (declarative APIs) moderately than crucial particulars.
- Intent translation should be achieved by means of varied algorithms, akin to a rule engine and AI.
- Analytics and AI are essential in guiding the management loop to heal, scale, and ultimately optimize.
To attain AN, CSPs have to redefine their processes, organizational constructions, and worker capabilities. Typical OSSs are carefully tied to those constructions and should be reconstructed. Workers should additionally undertake a mindset that embraces the dynamic modifications in enterprise and expertise.
Regardless of the challenges, the telecom trade is steadily working towards community intelligence. CSPs can start deploying ADs in key technical domains after which step by step increase towards cross-domain automation on the service layer. This transformation requires collaborative improvements in software program, {hardware}, and organizational processes. Finally, it is going to unlock the great potential of CSPs, enabling them to take part within the digital ecosystem and uncover new sources of progress.
Learn the white paper at https://appledoreresearch.com/report/autonomous-networks-thinking-differently/.
Appledore Analysis is a worldwide analysis and consulting agency specializing within the telecommunication and software program market. We offer market share, forecast, enterprise fashions, trade pattern studies, and customized analysis within the areas of community automation, 5G, Edge compute, SD-WAN, SDN, AI, and analytics, within the telecommunication and media market segments.