5G Magazine Aug 2023 Edition
Welcome to our latest edition - a deep dive into the technological marvels of Open RAN and 5G. Join us as we unravel insider insights from Radisys Corporation's CEO, explore the transformative CAMARA project, and highlight pioneering entities like the Telecom Infra Project, Small Cell Forum, and Open RAN Policy Coalition. Delve into the future of consumer engagement in the Spatial Web era and discover the intersection of AI, AR, VR, and edge computing. We invite you to explore, question, engage and help shape our shared digital future. Welcome to the discourse. Happy reading!
Featured articles in this edition
Spotlight Your Innovation in 5G Magazine
- March 23, 2024
Introduction
In the swiftly advancing landscape of wireless communication, the introduction of 5G technology has marked the commencement of a new era. It promises to revolutionize how we perceive connectivity, delivering unparallel speed, reliability, and efficiency. One of the key mechanisms propelling this transformation is the Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN), a radical departure from traditional networking methods that fosters a new level of flexibility, interoperability, and control in designing and building next-generation wireless networks. This article provides an extensive exploration of the world of Open RAN and its multifaceted ecosystem. More than just technological innovation, Open RAN signifies a shift in the telecommunications paradigm, altering how service providers deploy, manage, and maintain their networks. At the forefront of this movement is Radisys, a global leader in open telecom solutions. They are pioneering new ways to harness the potential of Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN) and 5G, laying the foundation for the next wave of wireless communication technology.
Radisys is not just embracing change; it’s driving it. Committed to spurring innovation, the company has been making monumental strides in advancing the deployment and implementation of Open RAN. These advances are not merely theoretical but are realized in tangible projects that are revolutionizing the world of telecommunications. With its flexible software architecture, Radisys successfully bridges technological frontiers and addresses the coverage gap with Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) via Open RAN. Simultaneously, the company is also exploring the tremendous potential of Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), a pivotal tool in extending network coverage and capacity. However, Radisys’ contributions extend beyond technological innovation. By deploying private 5G use cases and championing energy efficiency with virtual RAN (vRAN), Radisys is underscoring the relevance of sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions in the telecom industry. Moreover, strategic collaboration forms the backbone of Radisys’ modus operandi. Working closely with an expansive network of partners, Radisys is catalyzing progress within the 5G ecosystem. This article comprehensively explores Radisys’ unique role in accelerating Open RAN adoption, highlighting its extensive collaborations, strategic focus areas in partner collaboration, and active involvement in industry and standard organizations.
“As we look towards the future, Radisys is poised to be a significant player in the network vendor ecosystem, thanks to our unique ability to operate across all broadband access networks. Leveraging our strong partnerships and our commitment to open standards and open source, we’re ready to bring a compelling, customizable, and scalable software story to the market.” – Arun Bhikshesvaran CEO, Radisys
Open RAN
Accelerating Network Transformation through Disaggregation
Open RAN represents a significant shift in the Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture. While traditional RAN systems use proprietary, hardware-centric technologies, Open RAN introduces an open, intelligent, and flexible approach to network construction. The concept is anchored on the disaggregation of hardware and software. It leverages standard processors and open interfaces to develop a robust and versatile network architecture. The concept of Open RAN (often referred to as O-RAN) is rooted in the standards set by the O-RAN Alliance. Established in 2018 by a consortium of service providers, the O-RAN Alliance aims to specify requirements and harness the potential benefits of open RAN architecture. O-RAN is characterized by four key functional blocks: Virtualized Distributed Unit (vDU) supporting Remote Radio Units (RRUs) Multi-connections, radio access technology (RAT) agnostic Virtualized Centralized Unit (vCU) RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) Centralized management and orchestration The above components work synergistically to form a flexible, intelligent, and cost-effective RAN, which can dynamically adapt to varying network demands.
From Legacy RAN to Open RAN: An Evolutionary Perspective
Traditional RAN architectures were based on the Distributed Radio Access Network (D-RAN) model. Here, Baseband Units (BBUs) and Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) were proprietary and usually co-located at the same cell site. The move towards a Centralized RAN (C-RAN) saw the creation of a “centralized BBU pool.” However, the Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI)-based fronthaul struggled to meet the capacity and performance requirements of 5G networks. Both D-RAN and C-RAN architectures come with high operating expenses (Opex), underutilization of RAN resources, and limited deployment flexibility for 5G. Cloud RAN, or C-RAN, emerged as a solution to these challenges. It built upon the centralization concept by running virtualized baseband functions on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) server hardware. This model leveraged Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) to create a more flexible and scalable architecture.
The Cloud RAN paradigm gradually evolved into Open RAN, expanding on openness and embedded intelligence principles. The openness in the architecture facilitated multi-vendor deployments, reducing vendor lock-in and promoting competition. The embedded intelligence leveraged advanced technologies like Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automate operational network functions, further reducing operational costs. Overall, Open RAN represents a substantial progression in RAN architectures, offering benefits in terms of cost, flexibility, and performance. Open RAN is poised to play a pivotal role in 5G deployments and beyond by embracing open standards and intelligent functionalities.
Harnessing the Power of Open RAN: The Radisys Approach
Radisys is paving the way for Open RAN adoption by serving as a reliable provider of 5G technologies. It has successfully demonstrated this through its global delivery of Open RAN solutions that function across multiple platforms and multiple forms, from small cells to macro base stations.
By teaming up with Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Radisys targets a range of 5G use cases across different verticals, leveraging both licensed and unlicensed spectrum (FR1 and FR2).
Integrated on Multiple-SoCs, Hardware, and Cloud Platforms
Radisys’ unique software has been expertly engineered to operate smoothly on multiple System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures and target hardware platforms. In spite of its hardware agnosticism, the software offers optimized integration performance on the chosen platforms. It can be deployed on bare metal Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) servers or as containerized network functions on cloud infrastructure, thus offering a high degree of adaptability. The software offers robust throughput performance and can function on a variety of processor systems, ranging from low-end to high-end, data center-grade servers.
Scalable End-to-End
Radisys’ Open RAN software is versatile and robust, offering near-peak throughput performance while optimally utilizing CPU cores. The scalability of Radisys’ software allows service providers to select the hardware that best aligns with their use cases and deployment strategies, ensuring consistent functionality and performance across different hardware configurations.
Flexible Architecture
Radisys Connect Open RAN exemplifies flexible architecture by supporting a variety of deployment scenarios. It can operate effectively in unlicensed spectrum environments like the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), or support a co-existence scenario of licensed and unlicensed bands in a multi-mode operation. The flexibility of Radisys’ solutions allows service providers to choose the optimal network topology to meet their specific requirements.
Interoperability
Radisys also emphasizes interoperability through its extensive partnerships within the ecosystem. The company regularly participates in industry events like the O-RAN Plugfest and OTIC lab activities to validate its solutions’ interoperability. The Radisys software supports standardized management interfaces for FCAPS and data models, allowing for seamless integration with existing element and network management systems.
Standards Compliance and Future-Proof
A core strength of Radisys lies in its adherence to 3GPP Release 15 standards, with anticipated support for Release 16 and Release 17. This steadfast commitment to compliance and future-proofing reassures service providers of Radisys’ continuous alignment with evolving technological advancements.
Conclusion
In summary, Radisys is enabling Open RAN adoption by providing a comprehensive, high-performance, and feature-rich software package. This package is designed for interoperability across multi-vendor Open RAN deployments in both public and private network deployments. With a history of wireless domain expertise, Radisys ensures hardened protocol layers for diverse indoor and outdoor deployment scenarios, delivering best-in-class RAN performance. Additionally, system integrators like Radisys play a crucial role in determining the optimal network topology for Open RAN. With their extensive experience in IT cloud and telco cloud multi-vendor integrations, they can help reduce costs, optimize time-to-market, and ensure smooth transitions between different network topologies.
Bridging Technological Frontiers: Radisys’ Success Stories with Open RAN in 5G
From Micro to Macro: Leveraging the Flexible Software Architecture
When it comes to the deployment of 5G networks, Radisys has demonstrated exceptional aptitude, seamlessly utilizing the flexible software architecture that Open RAN provides. Through multiple RAN split options, the company has successfully handled deployments ranging from micro to macro levels. Open RAN’s potential lies in its flexibility and scalability, both of which have been effectively harnessed by Radisys to cater to diverse use cases and network requirements.
This innovative approach is manifested in three key 5G use cases that Radisys has excelled in, namely enabling FWA and CBRS use cases for broader network coverage, advancing private 5G uses through the implementation of Open RAN on various platforms and form factors, and fostering interest in VRAN while realizing energy savings with Open RAN for macro deployments.
Bridging the Coverage Gap with FWA via Open RAN
Radisys has made considerable strides in its goal of bridging the coverage gap through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) enabled by Open RAN. The company has recently attained data rates of over 2Gbps, integrating their 3GPP Release-16 compliant Connect RAN FR2 standalone (SA) RAN solution with the Qualcomm® FSM™100 5G RAN Platform. Radisys’ advanced solution harnesses the power of mmWave features, specifically beamforming and carrier aggregation, providing high-capacity solutions for FWA, private 5G, and industrial market segments. With the integration of Qualcomm FSM100 baseband and advanced mmWave Radio capabilities, Radisys’ FR2 SA RAN software can offer high throughput and low footprint solutions. These are ideal for enhancing mobile broadband services in FWA and private 5G deployments. The Connect RAN FR2 SA 5G solution from Radisys is feature-rich and offers complete interoperability and comprehensive manageability support. This combination is instrumental in facilitating the deployment of small cells across a variety of verticals, which in turn reduces operational and capital expenses, as well as time-to-market. Furthermore, Radisys also extends its 5G FR1 solution, which supports concurrent standalone and non-standalone operations, to the Qualcomm FSM100 and Qualcomm FSM200 platforms.
In an attempt to enhance its mmWave RAN solution on Qualcomm FSM100, Radisys has introduced FR2 SA capabilities to its existing FR2 NSA offering. This solution is compact and robust, supporting between 128 and 256 subscribers. Moreover, it delivers an impressive peak TCP/UDP throughput of 2.2 Gbps when integrated with the Qualcomm FSM100 baseband and the QTM 2T2R mmWave radio. The solution has been rigorously tested with a variety of commercial CPEs and various modems on the widely available FR2 bands. The FR2 SA solution also comes equipped with beamforming, network slicing, QoS, robust cryptography, and low latency features, making it an optimal fit for private 5G and industrial use cases. It also provides comprehensive FCAPS, simplifying integration with legacy ACS and new ORAN O1-based Management Systems. Radisys also plans to evolve this solution further to support higher capacities and data rates by leveraging carrier aggregation across 10 carriers with a total bandwidth of 1000 MHz on the Qualcomm FSM200 platform.
Harnessing CBRS: A New Era of Network Coverage
Radisys has pioneered the implementation of Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) via Open RAN, bringing a new level of flexibility to the wireless deployment model. CBRS, a radio-frequency spectrum that spans from 3.5GHz to 3.7GHz, was established by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015 as a shared spectrum. This spectrum offers tiers of usage for incumbent users, priority licensees, and generally authorized or lightly licensed users. Designed for the US market, the CBRS band aligns with the 3GPP Band 48, and overlaps Bands 42 (3400–3600 MHz) and 43 (3600–3800 MHz). CBRS facilitates a robust, LTE-like private network performance with the simplicity of Wi-Fi. For CBRS-based deployments in LTE and 5G New Radio (5GNR), Radisys offers integration with small cells and Distributed Units (DU) through a Spectrum Access Server (SAS) agent or a domain proxy. Radisys has also contributed an Automated CBSD Certification Test Harness to the CBRS Alliance for its OnGo certification program. Radisys has developed a Test Automation Platform and Software Framework for CBRS that accelerates market readiness and commercialization. This platform employs a spectrum analyzer to monitor RF emissions from CBSDs, an SAS emulator, and automation instructions to execute CBRS scenarios to ensure compliance with CBRS specifications.
Radisys’ platform also provides a framework for writing new test cases and automation instructions, making it a 100% automated solution that can be integrated into a CI/CD setup. By utilizing Radisys’ software framework and expertise, small cell vendors, system integrators, and service providers can expedite the commercialization of CBRS-based custom Fixed Wireless Access, Private Enterprise LTE, and Neutral host services. Radisys’ CBRS-ready eNodeB software allows vendors and service providers to deploy their own OnGo-compliant CBSDs cost-effectively. Moreover, Radisys’ first-to-market Connect RAN 5G Software Suite, along with their comprehensive software frameworks, are based on a modular and scalable architecture that meets both Small Cell and Macro Cell Cloud RAN requirements. These frameworks come pre-integrated with 3rd Party L1 Baseband and ODM platforms and provide extendible software using APIs, demonstrating the company’s commitment to fostering 4G and 5G open network innovation. Overall, Radisys’ commitment to leveraging the benefits of CBRS via Open RAN is enabling a new era of robust, flexible, and effective wireless coverage solutions, effectively bridging the coverage gap. The firm’s initiatives, solutions, and frameworks are instrumental in accelerating the commercialization and deployment of CBRS-based systems.
Deploying Private 5G Use cases with Open RAN
Radisys has not just been successful in public network deployments but has also been effective in delivering on private 5G use cases. Here, the flexibility of Open RAN has been crucial. Integrating disaggregated RAN with Private 5G allows a remarkable degree of flexibility, allowing private networks to be configured to meet specific enterprise needs and accommodate the requirements of individual venues or locations. The benefits reaped from this approach extend beyond mere customization; these include ultra-low latency, high network availability, high device density capabilities, the adoption of an open and cloud-native platform, and the capacity for a large volume of data aggregation. Radisys’ LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) protocol software for private networks is founded on the Open RAN approach. By incorporating open interfaces, the virtualization of RAN, and support for compact 5G core stacks, Radisys offers the unique ability to enable flexible deployment options. These range from compact deployments on-premises to edge cloud or centralized deployments. The disaggregated architecture provided by Radisys offers unparalleled deployment flexibility. Through control/user plane separation, Radisys’ RAN and core network software stacks can facilitate integrated small cells of the Central Unit/Distributed Unit (CU/DU) with option 2 split and other combinations.
This flexibility extends to Distributed Antenna systems (DAS)-like distributed radio environments where multiple Radio Units (RUs) can connect to a DU either directly or through a switch or gateway. Radisys also offers open fronthaul gateway software to interwork between eCPRI-based DU and CPRI-based RUs. Moreover, the software stacks of Radisys can support small-cell hardware in both FR1 and FR2 spectrum for indoor and outdoor scenarios. Adding a further layer of flexibility, Radisys enables multi-access edge computing capabilities for private networks by leveraging a cloud-based architecture and integration with partner hardware platforms. With support for the European Telecommunications Standards Institute’s (ETSI) Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) architecture, Radisys brings workloads for RAN, User Plane Function (UPF), and voice/video processing closer to the edge, creating a powerful MEC offering for enterprise users. In a nutshell, Radisys’ approach to private 5G use cases is all about flexibility and tailoring solutions to specific needs – an approach made possible by the power and versatility of Open RAN.
Powering the Future: vRAN and Energy Efficiency with Open RAN Macro Deployments
Radisys Partners with Industry Leaders to Pioneer Energy-Efficient Open RAN Solutions
Radisys, in collaboration with Deutsche Telekom and Keysight, has successfully demonstrated a solution for dynamic scaling of CPUs in the operation of Open RAN virtualized network functions (vDU and vCU). This scalability feature results in enhanced energy efficiency and superior workload-sharing gains. Energy costs, a dominant factor in RAN operation, can be significantly reduced with this innovative approach, promoting efficient resource utilization. This solution not only enables multipurpose usage of compute resources but also allows for rapid scaling, which is a challenge in RAN and Kubernetes environments. This success highlights Radisys’ commitment to pioneering energy management solutions in the open RAN setup.
Radisys Partners with Industry Leaders to Pioneer Energy-Efficient Open RAN Solutions
Radisys, in partnership with Vodafone, Wind River, Intel, and Keysight Technologies, has effectively showcased energy-saving mechanisms in a diverse Open RAN setting at the Global PlugFest Spring 2022 event hosted by the O-RAN ALLIANCE.
The team conducted a successful experiment at the University of Utah’s POWDER laboratory that reduced the power consumption of an Open RAN infrastructure by 9% and 12% during high and low mobile traffic peak scenarios, respectively.
These results represent the first-ever measurements of Open RAN energy savings based on real-life traffic scenarios. Further trials are being planned to verify if these efficiency improvements can be translated to multiple Open RAN sites supporting real customer traffic. This marks a significant stride towards Radisys’ contribution to energy-efficient and sustainable networking solutions.
Radisys’ Strategic Focus Areas in Partner Collaboration
Radisys, in its concerted efforts to advance the telecommunications industry, has identified specific areas of focus in its collaboration with partners. These areas represent the vital needs in the telecom sector, underlining Radisys’ commitment to offering innovative and effective solutions.
Indoor and Outdoor Small Cells
Radisys focuses on indoor and outdoor small cell deployments to optimize 5G network coverage and capacity. Radisys offers solutions for indoor coverage using licensed and unlicensed spectrums (FR1 and FR2), addressing residential and enterprise needs. These solutions are built on various platforms, showcasing Radisys’ adaptability and versatility in delivering custom solutions based on varying requirements. In terms of outdoor small-cell solutions, Radisys primarily targets FR1-based solutions across numerous bands based on regional demands. This includes the use of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum. Furthermore, Radisys offers unique solutions for FR2-based coverage, addressing high-capacity broadband needs where the millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum is available. Radisys’ small cells protocol software complies with the latest standards from 3GPP, the O-RAN Alliance, and the Small Cell Forum (SCF). It supports Self-Organizing Networks (SON) to fully manage and control user data traffic, policy, mobility, and session continuity. It supports LTE and 5G NR in both NSA and SA modes across 4G and 5G NR licensed bands, including FR1, FR2, and CBRS for both LTE and 5G. Other key features include compliance with 3GPP Release 15 and upgradeability to Release 16, Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR) features, seamless mobility, interference management, and integration with OAM/EMS via NETCONF YANG and TR069. In partnership with industry peers providing small cell SoC platforms and PHY layer software, Radisys ensures that their small cells software delivers top-notch uplink and downlink data throughput with optimized CPU usage for both indoor and outdoor scenarios. Radisys also provides 5G NR NSA and SA small cell software for FR1 and FR2 bands on various SoC-based small cell platforms. They offer a fully integrated software package with customizable Layer 2 and Layer 3 implementation to fit deployment needs. They also provide CBRS small cell solutions for both LTE and 5G NR with SAS agent or domain proxy-based integration with SAS servers.
Neutral Hosts Outdoor Solutions
Radisys and Partner Pioneer Enhanced 5G Small Cell RAN Solution
Radisys has joined forces with a key partner, a provider of broadband solutions, to develop a 5G small cell Radio Access Network (RAN) solution. This initiative is designed to enhance coverage and capacity in 5G standalone networks by leveraging both licensed and shared spectrum. The innovative solution is built on Radisys’ 5G RAN Centralized Unit/Distributed Unit (CU/DU) software and implemented on the partner platform, enabling them to deploy shared streetside 5G small cell clusters using millimeter wave (mmWave) fronthaul over O-RAN Split 6 interfaces. The collaboration has resulted in a significant industry first – the use of O-RAN Split 6 interfaces for streetCell RU cluster deployment. In summary, this collaboration between Radisys and its broadband solutions partner represents a major advancement in the development of highly differentiated 5G RAN solutions, utilizing advanced 3GPP features, open interfaces, and O-RAN-compliant software across multiple platforms.
Radisys Engages in Innovative Open RAN Testing at SONIC Labs
In partnership with Ofcom, our partner has inaugurated its new Open RAN testing facilities as part of its SONIC Labs (SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre) programme, supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The SONIC Labs programme aims to advance the rollout of Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN), promoting diversity among equipment suppliers. The new facilities provide an unbiased platform for multiple Open RAN vendors, including Radisys, to experiment, validate, and accelerate the evolution of their products. The initiative aims to bolster the UK government’s 5G Telecoms Diversification Supply Chain Strategy, driving security, accessibility for new market entrants, and innovation in the Open RAN domain. The upcoming technical activities will delve into the RAN Intelligence Controller (RIC) and the exploration of outdoor-focused products, alongside the ongoing enhancement of indoor products.
Industrial Private 5G
Radisys Connect LTE and 5G New Radio (NR) protocol software stand out as an optimal solution for private networks due to a number of distinct features and capabilities. Firstly, it’s grounded in the Open Radio Access Network (RAN) approach. By leveraging open interfaces, Radisys ensures compatibility with a range of devices and technologies. Furthermore, with the virtualization of the RAN and the incorporation of compact 5G core stacks, Radisys offers unmatched flexibility in deployment options. This means users can opt for compact on-premise setups or deploy their networks on edge clouds or through centralized methods based on their specific needs and circumstances. Secondly, Radisys capitalizes on the power of disaggregated architecture and the Control/User Plane Separation (CUPS). These elements enable the integration of small cells of Central Units (CUs) and Distributed Units (DUs) with an option 2 split and other combinations. This flexibility allows network customization to a granular level, facilitating precise control over network configurations. In addition, Radisys’ Distributed Unit (DU) software stacks are designed to operate seamlessly with third-party Radio Units (RUs). This allows for an adaptable, distributed radio environment in which multiple RUs can link to a DU directly or via a switch or gateway. Furthermore, Radisys’ open fronthaul gateway software ensures smooth interoperation between eCPRI-based DUs and CPRI-based RUs. Another advantage is the compatibility of Radisys software stacks with small cells hardware in both FR1 and FR2 spectrums, enabling deployment in a wide variety of indoor and outdoor scenarios. Finally, Radisys also provides potent Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) capabilities for private networks. Radisys’ MEC can manage workloads for RAN, User Plane Function (UPF), and voice/video processing closer to the network edge using a cloud-based architecture. By aligning with the ETSI MEC architecture, Radisys can deliver a powerful, tailored edge computing solution that meets the specific needs of enterprise users.
Satellite 5G, Non-Terrestrial Network, & Integrated access and backhaul (IAB)
Radisys continues to assert its pioneering position in 5G R&D innovation through the introduction of its Release 17 compliant Radio Access Network (RAN) software. The software supports a broad range of 5G network connectivity applications, notably in the areas of ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC) and enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) use cases. It offers compatibility across an extensive selection of FR1 and FR2 bands, allowing for versatile deployment and access options. A notable feature of the Connect RAN 5G software by Radisys is the NTN component, which facilitates access to geostationary, medium, and low earth orbit (GEO/MEO/LEO) satellites. This feature is backed by a flexible and scalable software architecture and clearly defined interfaces to satellite communication (SATCOM) infrastructure.
By harnessing the substantial investments being channeled into SATCOM technology, Radisys’ NTN software offers OEMs and ODMs an opportunity to explore new business avenues. In addition, the software includes an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) feature, which fortifies both centralized (CU) and distributed (DU) units to function as service relay nodes, fulfilling the 3GPP compliance as Donor CUs and Donor DUs. The IAB feature package consists of IAB-DU and IAB-MT software, enabling an end-to-end IAB solution that is seamlessly integrated with industry-leading platforms. The Release 17 compliant RAN software from Radisys also provides a base for features such as New Radio (NR) positioning, reduced capability (RedCap), and NR SideLink. This empowers OEMs, ODMs, and network operators to expand their 5G networks cost-effectively.
In summary, Radisys’ targeted areas of focus underscore its strategic alignment with emerging trends and needs in the telecom industry. The company’s ongoing collaboration with partners in these specific areas further solidifies its commitment to accelerating open, disaggregated, and flexible telecom solutions.
Radisys’ Collaborations within the 5G Ecosystem
Radisys boasts a wide range of strategic collaborations within the 5G ecosystem. Their partnerships span across several key players, including SoC and PHY providers, Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs), Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), RU partners, hyperscalers, RIC/SMO providers, and xApp/rApp vendors.
Starting with System-on-Chip (SoC) and PHY providers, these companies deliver the fundamental building blocks that enable Radisys to develop and enhance their range of innovative 5G solutions. These strategic partnerships form the foundation of Radisys’ ability to design high-performance, cost-effective solutions for a wide array of 5G applications.
Moving on to ODMs and OEMs, these collaborations empower Radisys to accelerate the time-to-market of their offerings. The partnerships with ODMs and OEMs ensure that Radisys’ solutions are readily available for deployment in a wide variety of equipment, contributing significantly to the seamless delivery of 5G services across different environments.
RU (Radio Unit) partners also play a critical role in Radisys’ 5G ecosystem. Through these partnerships, Radisys leverages state-of-the-art radio technology to deliver optimal performance in their 5G network deployments.
In terms of RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) and SMO (Service Management and Orchestration) providers, Radisys’ collaborations enable the delivery of intelligent, orchestrated 5G network services. These partnerships are critical for maintaining high levels of efficiency and flexibility in the rapidly evolving 5G landscape.
Radisys’ partnerships with xApp/rApp vendors further expand the company’s capabilities in the 5G ecosystem. These collaborations lead to the development of innovative applications that can tap into the power of 5G, creating new opportunities for end-users and businesses alike.
Radisys also collaborates with a range of hyperscalers, both in private and public domains. On the private side, partnerships with Red Hat, Windriver, and VMWare are key to delivering reliable, efficient, and scalable cloud solutions. On the public side, partnerships with major cloud providers such as Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) further bolster Radisys’ ability to offer robust, scalable, and secure 5G services.
Radisys’ Impactful Contributions to the Telecom Industry
Radisys is highly recognized for its outstanding involvement with numerous industry and standards organizations, exemplifying its commitment to open architectures and standards in the telecom sector.
From its active participation in several Open RAN organizations to spearheading key industry initiatives, Radisys has notably positioned itself at the vanguard of open architecture and standard development. Its role varies across different organizations, ranging from memberships to leadership in various working groups, and from contributions to open-source projects to standardization of protocols.
Small Cell Forum (SCF)
Radisys’ engagement with the SCF dates back to 2007, marking its role as one of the pioneering members. Radisys was one of the early adopters to provide FAPI-based implementation, and it has been leading the standardization of 5G nFAPI for the past four years. Moreover, the company’s open RAN contributions were acknowledged with awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Telecom Infra Project (TIP)
TIP has also seen significant contributions from Radisys since its early days in 2016. Radisys has been instrumental in leading contributions in the “Unbundled RAN” initiative, which focuses on defining open APIs in base station layers 2 and 3. Radisys also has contributed to 5G Open RAN community labs and has played a role as an LTE eNB RAN system integrator in TIP projects in various locations, such as Menlo Park, SKT, and TIM (Italy).
Open Networking Foundation (ONF)
As an early member of the On.Lab initiative that was later integrated into the ONF, Radisys has been a pioneer in providing CORD architecture-based implementation. The company has initiated multiple CORD-based projects with Tier-1 operators and made open-source EPC contributions to M-CORD. It is also the founder of the SD-RAN initiative in ONF, where it facilitated the successful integration with ONF’s near RT RIC.
O-RAN Alliance
Within the O-RAN Alliance, Radisys co-chairs Working Group 8 and is instrumental in driving reference software design specifications and test specifications. Radisys’ contributions to O-RAN span various working groups, including WG3, which has made key contributions to E2SM and E2AP, TIFG for test specification contributions, and WG6 for energy savings use cases. Since 2019, Radisys has been leading the open-source 5G DU project as its project head.
3GPP
As part of the 3GPP, Radisys has been actively driving contributions from Release 16/17 in RAN2 and RAN3 groups and is geared up for further contributions to Release 18 and beyond.
Open Source
Radisys also maintains memberships in other industry forums like the ORPC, NextG Alliance, and OnGo Alliance. Its contributions extend to open-source projects under the Linux Foundation, where it plays a key role in the development of the 5G DU for the O-RAN open-source community. Radisys serves as the Project Technical Lead for DU development and is a voting member of the Technical Oversight Committee for this open-source community.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Radisys’ widespread involvement and leadership roles in industry and standards organizations showcase its continuous dedication to fostering open architectures and standards within the telecommunication field.
Radisys Wins Big in 5G Challenges, Furthering Open RAN Innovation
Radisys Shines in the Federal 5G Challenge with Dual Victories
In a significant achievement, Radisys has secured both the Best Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) prize and the Network Integration Prize in the Distributed Unit (DU) category in the final stage of the Federal 5G Challenge. This victory underscores their ability to effectively integrate their 3GPP Release 15 and O-RAN compliant DU solution with a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Radio Unit (RU) from different vendors, creating an integrated Open RAN solution. As the only DU vendor to reach Stage Three, Radisys has proven its commitment to excellence in the 5G landscape with these prestigious awards.
Radisys Joins Winning Consortium in ‘Future RAN Competition’
Adding another feather to their cap, Radisys is part of the consortium that has secured funding from the UK’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS). As a key player in this consortium, Radisys is set to deliver the Coordinated Multipoint Open Radio Access Network (CoMP-O-RAN) solution. By integrating their award-winning, standards-based ConnectRAN software portfolio for disaggregated O-RAN architecture, Radisys is contributing to the revolutionization of the performance and cost of densified 5G networks.
Radisys Passes Stage Two in the 2023 5G Challenge
Following the successes in the Federal 5G Challenge and the Future RAN competition, Radisys has also announced that they have passed Stage Two testing in the 2023 5G Challenge. This achievement reflects their consistent commitment to open RAN solutions, further solidifying their standing in the 5G industry.
“At Radisys, our mission is clear, to lead the field in the future of networks. We’ve built strong relationships with key ecosystem partners such as Intel and Qualcomm, and we’re pioneering the development of multi-platform, flexible software to empower industrial 5G and Open RAN systems.” – Arun Bhikshesvaran CEO, Radisys
- March 23, 2024
Introduction
Telecom Infra Project (TIP) is an industry organization that accelerates the commercial adoption of secure, high-performance & low-cost open & disaggregated solutions for all deployment use cases through test and system validation. Our Product project groups are divided into three strategic network areas that collectively comprise an end-to-end network: Access, Transport, Core, and Services.
Open RAN as a technology domain remains the most complex, and although we will hear of some great examples of commercial trials from our community, there is still some more work to do to truly make multi-vendor, interoperable, integratable Open RAN accessible to not only the large CSPs in the world, but also the tier 2 and 3 players in the market. We need to work towards building trust and confidence in the vendor configurations but also lower the barriers for procurement and deployment.
TIP’s Role in Open RAN
TIP is there to catalyze and support the industry effort and help to resolve some of the challenges, such as by proving out various configurations for Open RAN fronthaul sub-systems or Open RAN Cloud, the role of SIs, reskill/upskill transformation within organizations, lowering the cost of hardware. And let’s not forget there’s more necessary innovation required in Open RAN, such as further disaggregation at the chipset and radio level, network performance & energy management through RIC and xAPPs/rAPPs, and orchestration and automation models in Open RAN.
TIP has done critical foundational work to help build purchaser confidence and address supply chain efficiency issues vis-a-vis its:
- Open RAN Project Group and its sub-groups
- It’s badging of products and solutions
- Its marketplace processes, called “TIP Exchange”
TIP’s Open RAN Project Group and sub-groups – in cooperation with leading operators, vendors, systems integrators, and other stakeholders throughout the world – seek to harmonize requirements for Open RAN solutions that comprise radio units (“RUs”), distributed units (“DUs”), and centralized units (“CUs”), as well as the RAN Intelligent Controller (“RIC”) platforms and applications, and many other components of Open RAN solutions. Like other TIP project groups, the Open RAN Project Group emphasizes creating joint roadmaps that are built on market demand, then building and testing products at scale. TIP’s process encompasses technical roadmaps, solution blueprints that correspond to deployment scenarios as well as testing activities, and a range of resulting deliverables that document the results of the process.
Four major stages of Flow
Creation of technical roadmaps, where operator requirements, commercial priorities, and use cases are identified and translated to definitions with a feedback loop with participating vendors, ensuring that all inputs from the industry are accounted for; Testing and validation based on blueprints and test plans that ensure that components integrated as a solution can operate as a complete Open RAN system and be deployed in a live network; and Publishing the blueprints, the test plans as well as the badged products and solutions on the TIP marketplace, TIP Exchange. TIP Exchange enables participating operators to identify suitable solutions and vendors to promote their products and services based on documented results from participating in the process. Lifecycle management of the badged products and solutions.
All four stages are supported by TIP Academy, which provides industry-leading training and education programs for Open RAN. The SCOPE process gets its initial technical documentation from the TIP OpenRAN Project Group, which makes system Blueprints and Test Plans needed for the process. The participating operators have approved these deliverables to represent the targeted deployment scenarios. Actual Open RAN configurations chosen by operators will be integrated and tested as a system in a TIP-accredited System Certification Laboratory. The testing will be based on approved Test Plans, and results will be documented and provided as input for the formal TIP System Certification process. Successful Certification will enable the products and the system as a whole to be allocated TIP Badges according to the SCOPE criteria.
In 2020, TIP carried out a successful pilot of a System Release Certification process for Open RAN, proving that new releases of Open RAN would be tested 60% faster with a centrally coordinated Certification process. The learnings from this successful pilot have led to the development of the SCOPE T&E framework.
Global Coordination and Cost-Effectiveness
The global coordination by TIP ensures cost-effectiveness and total market impact. TIP prioritizes Open RAN configurations corresponding to deployment scenarios aligned between a large cross-section of global operators, thus saving duplication cost and time for the vendors, system integrators, and operators involved.
SCOPE will increase operators’ confidence in deploying Open RAN technology into live networks today. Operators want carrier-grade solutions and lower integration and testing overhead. For vendors and operators – SCOPE, alongside the TIP community-driven Project Groups and TIP Exchange, presents a way to meet both these challenges and increase the availability of Open RAN solutions.
FYUZ 2023: Showcasing the Momentum of Open and Disaggregated Solutions
Fyuz, TIP’s flagship conference in October 2023, continues to be the landmark event for the industry showcase & debate on Open & Disaggregated Network Solutions. We are looking forward to coming back to Madrid – at the same venue, with an improved and knockout format and a transition to a new theme of showcasing the momentum across open and disaggregated solutions in the industry. We are looking forward to hearing more from the pioneers across the industry on what has been commercially deployed, but more importantly, what still needs to be done to scale Open RAN, OpenWiFi, Open Transport and where the pockets of new innovation are opening up.
Over the past year, the industry has also seen a broader set of Governments pushing forward on their supplier diversification strategies and opportunities to develop global approaches toward scaling a diverse telecom supplier ecosystem. The TIP Open RAN community is growing stronger and driving an industry-relevant roadmap of innovation and solutions. FYUZ will continue to have Open RAN as an agenda item (along with other flagship programs such as OOPT and OpenWiFi, as well as those that some might say sit on the sidelines, including NTCS, TelCo Cloud, and Private Networks). Visit fyuz.events to learn more about it and register.
- March 23, 2024
In many ways, the principles behind an open, multivendor RAN have been pioneered in the small cell environment. The small cell ecosystem has always supported new and established vendors together, and SCF has developed a range of open interfaces within the RAN, including FAPI (functional API), internal to RAN products, and Network FAPI, which defines a fronthaul connection between radio units and functional baseband units.
Small Cell Networks: A Low-Risk Environment for Open RAN
The industry is now moving towards these open and disaggregated architectures in every part of the RAN, and many organizations, including SCF and the O-RAN Alliance, are working together to address the challenges of developing and deploying a RAN that is not only multivendor but in many cases virtualized, with some or all of the baseband elements (distributed unit and centralized unit) running on cloud infrastructure. There are many lessons to be learned from the early experiences of open networking in the small cell world, including ways to simplify roll-out, management, and automation. SCF is distilling this experience into operator requirements and blueprints to help lower cost and risk for early adopters (How blueprints unlock the potential of 5G networks.) Many of the early commercial open RANs have been deployed as small cell networks, often for enterprise or private network scenarios. This is because such networks are often greenfield, are usually localized, and do not need very high complexity/cost technologies such as Massive MIMO. All these factors mean small cell networks are often a relatively low-risk environment in which to learn about Open RAN while targeting some immediate new revenues, whether the deployer is a conventional MNO or a new player such as a neutral host or private network operator.
Choices in RAN Functional Splits
There is no one solution that will fit all requirements. 3GPP has defined a large number of ways to split RAN functions between two or three units (Radio Unit RU, Distributed Unit DU, and Centralized Unit CU), and SCF’s annual survey of deployers shows there is market need for a choice of approaches. 3GPP has standardized split 2 and SCF has pioneered split 6, which places the Layer 1 network functions (the most processor-intensive) on the RU, while O-RAN Alliance is working on split 7.2x, in which some of the Layer 1 functions run in the DU. In the spirit of true and complete openness, SCF’s split 6 work (i.e. (n)FAPI work) strives to ensure that the control plane, user plane, and management plane are all fully open to support multiple hardware and software offerings in each plane.
Our survey of 113 deployers highlighted the need for both the split 6 & 7.2 options (and others such as Split 8 and Split 2). And many roll-outs will still focus on integrated small cells, which in some networks can provide the simplest and most power-efficient approach. 44% of deployers expect to support three or more splits by 2027, across their various networks (whether macro or small cell), according to our survey.
The functional split is not the only choice to be made. Whether to collocate the RU and DU, or DU and CU, is another deployment decision, as is potential integration with edge compute nodes and the type of fronthaul connection. In each case, the options chosen must relate directly to the applications and use cases that are most important to the deployer.
The SCF survey indicated that Split 6, for instance, is the preferred goal in enterprise and indoor networks, while Split 7.2x is more preferred for urban macro RANs.
Simplifying Small Cell Network Deployments
SCF is ensuring diversity without fragmentation
There is a huge diversity of environments, applications, deployers, and commercial models enabled by dense 5G networks. That inevitably means there must be a diversity of network architectures, but this raises the danger of fragmentation, which in turn would deprive vendors of the scale that they need to enter the market. The solution is to ensure operators or integrators can select multiple different approaches while innovating on a common platform.
SCF’s work in promoting openness and interoperability
This has been a central tenet of SCF’s work on open small cell networks. FAPI takes open interoperability right down to the components on a system-on-chip, while nFAPI implements Split 6-based fronthaul in a way that provides a wide choice of fronthaul transport technologies, including enterprise Ethernet (5G FAPI_PHY API Specification.) But this is not a simple Lego set of options – choosing and integrating them is complex and can add to the cost of deployment. The cost of integration can be particularly serious in a small cell network where TCO is often a critical consideration.
Tools and reports to assess impact and performance
SCF supports several ways to ease this burden, providing tools for assessing the impact of each architecture choice on the chosen use case, deployment blueprints, and support for plugfests and testing. SCF has published reports assessing the impact of some of the key factors that influence performance in different use cases, including fronthaul bandwidth, latency requirements, and how complex the RU and/or DU can be. (See – Options for split RAN: Flexibility within a common framework)
Introduction of SCF DARTs for quantitative evaluation
It also provides a ground-breaking tool for making quantitative evaluations of these network options. This is SCF DARTs, a calculator that enables organizations to plan, design, and budget for transport networks for open RANs. (DARTs – An analysis tool for Disaggregated RAN Transport). In this way, operators can use objective tools and data to assess the best options for their use case and implement their chosen architecture within open frameworks to allow for future-proofing and future changes.
Flexible and cost-effective reference designs
Reference designs are also essential for product developers, who have to make their own decisions about which options to prioritize and create product lines that are flexible enough to support multiple options cost-effectively. For instance, there is an emerging demand for multiband enterprise small cells that support 4G and 5G and allow existing LTE networks to be migrated to 5G vRAN over time.
Open testing and certification for successful standards
To build operator confidence, the resulting solutions must be proven to be open and interoperable without the deployer having to invest in significant custom testing. Open testing and certification is the key to many successful standards and will be crucial for Open RAN to gain scale. SCF, O-RAN Alliance, and Telecom Infra Project (TIP) have been heavily focused on supporting standard, industry-wide testing processes, including participation in plugfests. Robust certification of compliance with Open RAN standards will be a critical success factor, especially for enterprise small cell networks where deployers will be buying large quantities of cells but will typically not have in-house interoperability testing capabilities.
Stakeholder collaboration across industry alliances
Collaboration between stakeholders and between all the industry alliances focused on open networks will be important to accelerate progress and share best practices. SCF works with O-RAN Alliance, 3GPP, Open Air Interface (OAI), and many others in technical, commercial, and regulatory dimensions. These cooperations help to drive confidence and a vibrant ecosystem but also educate the whole community of potential deployers. Open systems, coupled with the emergence of open source code and shared spectrum, can enable a host of new deployers, especially in enterprise and smart city spaces where small cells are essential.
These new operators, alongside the established MNOs, can accelerate the availability of high-performance cellular connectivity for every scenario. However, they lack the long years of cellular experience of the MNOs, and so education and confidence building will be as important to the work of industry associations as specifications and certifications.
Driving Open RAN Adoption in All Domains
With a combination of all these efforts, technical and commercial proof points can be quickly established in small cells, and this knowledge will help to foster the adoption of Open RAN in all domains, regardless of use case and architecture. That, in turn, will result in significant growth in the deployment of open vRAN architectures, which will account for over half of the small cell installed base by 2028, according to SCF’s latest forecast (Figure 2), with 94% CAGR between 2021 and 2028.
- March 16, 2024
In an era defined by digital transformation and seamless connectivity, we find ourselves at the forefront of a paradigm shift in telecommunications, and the importance of international cooperation on Open RAN cannot be overstated. Open RAN, which emphasizes a disaggregated and open approach to network architecture, has the potential to revolutionize global communication networks by enabling interoperability, fostering innovation, and democratizing access to advanced wireless technology. However, to harness its true potential, governments worldwide must embrace pro-Open RAN policies, unlock funding to encourage new deployments, and encourage cross-border investments.
Global Momentum Towards Open RAN
The shift to openness and interoperability in networks has gained tremendous momentum in recent years. This is in part due to government support worldwide, which has played a critical role in driving the transition to an open approach to 5G. Collaboration among governments, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and standards bodies is helping to facilitate the deployment of Open RAN and ensure seamless interoperability across networks. By continuing to foster global standardization, governments can use Open RAN to their advantage in enhancing connectivity in remote and underserved regions, narrowing the digital divide, and promoting socio-economic development worldwide.
Facilitating Open RAN Cooperation
The Open RAN Policy Coalition has been privileged to facilitate a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue track 1.5 discussion series on Open RAN, with participation from governments and association partners in Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. Bringing together government and industry leaders to discuss advancements in Open RAN deployments and fostering innovation, we have underscored the importance of secure and trusted infrastructure for 5G and advanced wireless networks. Initiatives like this are crucial as Open RAN plays a significant role in delivering on key priorities like security and vendor diversity across the telecoms ecosystem.
Policy Roadmap for Open RAN
Policymakers across the globe have a crucial role to play in shaping the future of telecommunications, and as such, a well-structured policy roadmap is vital for supporting Open RAN deployments. By providing clear guidance and incentives, governments can facilitate more private sector investment in infrastructure and more commercial deployments. This includes measures to encourage research and development, testing, and establishing favorable regulatory frameworks that promote competition and innovation. A comprehensive policy roadmap can act as a guiding light for nations looking to embrace the Open RAN revolution.
Fostering a Robust Ecosystem for Open RAN
Fostering a robust ecosystem of Open RAN vendors and solution providers will maximize the impact of pro-Open RAN policies. Promoting research and development in this sector can lead to breakthrough innovations, further driving down costs and improving the performance of Open RAN networks. Governments can also support initiatives that promote Open RAN awareness, education, and workforce development, ensuring that a skilled workforce is available to deploy and maintain these advanced networks.
Public-Private Funding for Open RAN Initiatives
While the benefits of Open RAN are evident, significant investments are required to deploy next-generation networks on a global scale. In order to do that, governments must actively explore avenues to unlock funding for Open RAN initiatives. Public-private partnerships can be instrumental in mobilizing financial resources, with governments providing initial funding or incentives and the private sector contributing technical expertise and capital. Another strategy that has been successful in promoting commercial deployments is the earmarking of a portion of existing telecommunications budgets specifically for Open RAN projects, which also signals government commitment to the technology and attracting additional investment from private stakeholders.
Policy Strategies for Interoperable Networks
Other policy strategies that encourage network operators to make the transition to open and interoperable networks can include tax incentives, grants, and simplified regulatory procedures for infrastructure deployment. By creating a level playing field for Open RAN solutions, governments can spur competition among vendors and drive down equipment costs, benefiting consumers and businesses alike.
International Open RAN Cooperation
In the United States, foreign assistance can play a crucial role in supplementing non-U.S. programs aimed at advancing Open RAN. By granting exemptions from stringent lending requirements by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Export-Import (EXIM) Bank for advanced wireless telecommunications infrastructure projects, the U.S. can demonstrate its commitment to global connectivity. Such support can foster international cooperation, encourage cross-border investments, and solidify the U.S. as a leader in the Open RAN revolution. Modernizing the EXIM Bank is an example of how the federal government can use existing institutions to create new mechanisms and opportunities for foreign investment. The EXIM Bank can and should serve as an attractive partner for American businesses working abroad; small and smart incentives or creative partnerships through the EXIM Bank can help offset enough risk to make opportunities for overseas investments more attractive.
Conclusion: Advancing Open RAN
Open RAN holds the key to enabling secure and diverse telecoms infrastructure, supporting the advancement of 5G and advanced wireless networks, and fostering innovation and competition in the telecommunications industry. By continuing to work globally with policymakers, standards bodies, and industry stakeholders, we can incentivize deployments, unlock funding for Open RAN, and foster policies that will usher in a new era of global connectivity to bridge the digital divide, stimulate economic growth, and propel humanity towards a more connected and prosperous future.
- March 23, 2024
CAMARA APIs: Introduction
The telecommunications industry is entering a new era of innovation, unlocking significant potential through the integration of customer use cases with open networks via APIs. As we navigate through the dynamic digital landscape, these integrations not only enable enhanced service capabilities but also contribute to generating new revenue streams for telecom providers. With the advent of the CAMARA APIs, we witness a seamless bridging between customers and Telecom network capabilities across various networks and countries, hence simplifying the complexity inherent in these networks.
Telco network capabilities, while partially available in 4G, have seen an impressive evolution with the advent of 5G, offering us not just the ability to extract information from the network but also enables us to configure it according to our needs. CAMARA APIs provide on-demand, secure, and controlled exposure to these capabilities, transforming operator networks into powerful service enablement platforms. This evolution opens a multitude of possibilities for improved application-to-network integration, a critical aspect for delivering enhanced and service-tailored customer experiences in the 5G era. A deep dive into the capabilities of the 5G network, like identifying the location of user equipment, monitoring the number of user equipments in a geographical region or in a network slice, adapting video resolution based on network congestion, enabling augmented reality through Quality on Demand, supporting low-energy IoT devices, and managing crises by blocking user equipments in a geographic region, shows us the vast potential of these APIs and the new horizons they open up in the telecom sector.
Tackling Telecom’s Hurdles Head-On
The CAMARA Project takes aim at several critical issues faced by developers and multinational corporations in today’s interconnected telecommunications landscape.
Ensuring Scalability through Standardization
A significant hurdle that the CAMARA Project tackles is the quest for scalable business solutions. With the rapid evolution of the digital world, customers now anticipate the same APIs to be accessible across all telecom networks and countries. This expectation presents a demand for the standardization of APIs, which is crucial to ensure scalability and aid developers in their pursuit of creating the next globally recognized product, application, or service.
Achieving Consistency in a Diverse Network Environment
In a world where multinational corporations operate across multiple markets, the CAMARA Project aims to deliver consistent API experiences. Corporations require APIs that work seamlessly, regardless of the network or country, eliminating the need to cater to the unique characteristics of each network.
Simplicity amidst Complexity
The inherent complexity of telecom networks can be a deterrent for developers. The CAMARA Project is striving to cut through this complexity and provide simple, intent-based APIs. These APIs make the process of integration less cumbersome, encouraging more developers to leverage the power of telecom networks.
Enhancing Accessibility through Open Source
In an effort to make APIs more accessible, the CAMARA Project has embraced an open-source model, choosing the Linux Foundation as its home. This approach allows API users to work directly with Communication Service Providers (CSPs) in creating the service, facilitating a more collaborative, modern, agile, faster, and transparent development process.
A Demand-driven Approach to API Development
Finally, the CAMARA Project is committed to a demand-driven approach to designing and developing APIs. By gathering demand from organizations like the GSMA Operator Platform Advisory Group (OPAG) and directly from customers, CAMARA ensures that the APIs developed meet its end users’ needs and requirements.
Defining the Boundaries: The Scope of the CAMARA Project
The CAMARA Project has a broad scope, focusing on several pivotal API development and deployment aspects. It begins with the collection of API requirements from the GSMA Operator Platform Group and other sources to ensure the APIs developed meet the current needs of the industry. Subsequently, the Project sets out to define Service APIs and Service Management APIs, laying a solid foundation for development and testing. A key part of the CAMARA Project’s scope involves creating detailed test plans, cases, and tools from an API consumer’s perspective. This step is crucial to ensure that the APIs function as intended and meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. Additionally, the Project aims to develop comprehensive, developer-friendly documentation, making the APIs easy to understand and utilize, thereby maximizing their potential impact.
As part of its deliverables, the CAMARA Project provides clearly defined and well-documented Service API and Service Management API. Optional API codes are also made available for easy adoption of APIs in telco networks. Furthermore, the Project delivers thorough test plans, cases, and tools, all packaged conveniently for deployment. All these resources, including the API definitions, test plans, and documentation, are readily accessible in the project’s GitHub repository (https://github.com/camaraproject). From a functional standpoint, the Project’s scope is restricted to telco customer-facing service and service management APIs. These APIs cater to various aspects of the telecommunications landscape, including mobile networks, fixed-line networks, edge cloud, and other related areas.
Charting the Course: The CAMARA Project’s Journey So Far
The CAMARA Project began as an initiative to de-facto standardize APIs by code, kicking off its journey at MWC22 with the support of 22 partner companies. The objective was to implement a modern, agile approach that would make the standardization process quicker and more efficient than traditional methods. The open-source nature of the project made it easily accessible to developers, with the development of the API definitions always staying in tune with customer demands.
Today, the CAMARA Project has experienced exponential growth, boasting participation from over 230 companies and more than 650 individuals.
- 78 Named Partners
- 236 (+142) companies participating in CAMARA
- 13 Active API development repos
- 130+ regular participants in Open Steering Calls
- 695 (+777) people joined CAMARA
- Development ”home” for GSMA Open Gateway
The project has successfully covered 12 API families, each catering to a distinct aspect of network functionality. These include:
- Blockchain Public Address – Manage a blockchain public address associated to a phone number
- Carrier Billing CheckOut – Purchase, pay, and follow up on fulfillment of products
- Commonalities – Guidelines and assets mandatory for all CAMARA sub-projects
- Device Identifier – Check the identity of the subscribers’ device
- Device Location – Check the location of the device
- Device Status – Check the network connection and roaming status of a device
- Edge Cloud – Provide and manage network and compute resources for an application
- Home Devices QoD – Request prioritization of traffic on a specific device on the home network
- Identity and Consent Management – Provides solutions to capture, store and manage user consent
- Number Verification – Allows users to verify the phone number of the connected device
- OTP Validation – To offer secure user authentication to service providers
- Quality on Demand – Allows users to set mobile connection quality and get notifications
- SIM Swap – Allows users to get information on SIM pairing changes
The project’s successful growth can be largely attributed to its agile and user-focused approach to API development, with each new feature designed to enhance user experiences and streamline network functionalities. In addition, the project encompasses considerations of API security, scalability, and performance to ensure the optimal user experience.
Illustrating Impact: The CAMARA Project Network API Showcases
The CAMARA Project, in collaboration with the industry-wide GSMA Open Gateway initiative, has seen significant implementation in live networks across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. More than 20 showcases were presented at the MWC23 event in Barcelona in February. These showcases offer real-world examples of how CAMARA APIs are revolutionizing various industries, from music to healthcare to fintech.
Below are some exemplary showcases that highlight the diverse range of applications of the CAMARA APIs:
Remote Maintenance
This project, in collaboration with Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Siemens, and T-Mobile US, demonstrates the power of the QoD API for remote maintenance tasks.
Recognizing the value of network APIs, Microsoft Azure has opened up a new section in its marketplace called Azure Programmable Connectivity SDK to offer CAMARA APIs to its developer base. Siemens Energy uses Quality on Demand APIs from Deutsche Telekom / T-Mobile US and this SDK to improve the connectivity for their Remote Field Service Solution. Junior technicians or customers on site are supported by remote experts using the Mixed Reality Remote Assist app on Microsoft HoloLens 2 headsets. The Quality on Demand API prioritizes the data traffic of the HoloLens in the mobile network and reduces latency and jitter to a minimum. Technicians can now see the augmented video in the HoloLens with minimum delay in outstanding quality.
Music Over MEC Cross-Operator Jam Session
This project, in collaboration with 5GFF, Open Sesame, Rogers, Verizon, and Vodafone, showcases the power of the Edge Cloud API, enabling a seamless jam session across different operators.
Remote Surgery with XR
In this showcase, apoQlar, Microsoft, & Telefonica use QoD API to facilitate remote surgery with extended reality (XR), exemplifying the transformative potential of CAMARA APIs in healthcare.
Cloud Gaming
In this showcase, Blacknut, Ericsson/Vonage, Orange, Telefonica, and Vodafone use QoD API to facilitate a new generation of cloud gaming experiences providing stable connectivity to activate higher-quality games with a tap of the finger.
Remote Maintenance
AT&T and Microsoft collaborated to leverage the QoD API for remote maintenance, demonstrating the efficiency and practicality of CAMARA APIs in real-world scenarios.
Fintech
In a partnership with Bank Daycoval and Telefonica, the Device Location API was used to enhance financial technology services, showcasing the flexibility of CAMARA APIs across different industries.
Holographic Video Telephony
Deutsche Telekom, Matsuko, and Orange used the QoD and Edge Cloud APIs to create a holographic video telephony solution, demonstrating the future-facing applications of CAMARA APIs.
At the Mobile World Congress 2023, MATSUKO showcased the improved holographic experience using 5G Network APIs provided by Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile US, and Orange in hologram resolution, framerate, latency and bandwidth recorded during real-time holographic calls. Radically improved hologram quality has been achieved thanks to the 5G network Quality on Demand and Edge Cloud APIs and their impact on latency and bandwidth.
For more showcases, visit the CAMARA Project’s resource page at https://camaraproject.org/resources/
Early Access Programs
Early Access Programs are currently provided by a number of telcos. These programs permit customers to trial the latest APIs/features in a dedicated mobile network. Moreover, they allow telcos to gather early feedback and gauge customer demand for the APIs. Below are some examples:
Deutsche Telekom Hubraum program
Deutsche Telekom has labs in Berlin, Krakow,and Seattle with dedicated 5G cores from different vendors. These allow tests to make sure the APIs work in different environments. Using a defined method to onboard customers, perform tests and structured research the labs enable high valuable feedback for the APIs.
5G Future Forums – 5G MEC Acceleration Program
Abstracting Complexity: The Architecture of CAMARA APIs
The CAMARA Project champions an abstraction API architecture aimed at simplifying the complex technical landscape of telecom networks. The goal is to provide customers with intent-based APIs that eliminate the need for detailed technical know-how and allow for a more streamlined, user-friendly interaction with the network capabilities. This approach does away with the complexities often associated with terms like ‘cell ids’ or ‘slices’, which tend to vary from network to network. Instead, the APIs are designed to respond to the intent of the request while the back-end telecom infrastructure executes the necessary technical steps. For instance, a customer might request low latency for the next hour with the Quality on Demand feature.
To fulfill this request, the telecom network would then optimize various elements – device connectivity, RAN, exchange point location, fixed line optimization, application edge location, and WIFI devices. All the while, the customer sees only their initial request and the final result, thus abstracting the underlying complexity. Abstraction from Network APIs to Service APIs is a crucial part of the CAMARA project as it: Simplifies the complex telecom network, creating APIs that are easy to consume even for customers with limited telecom knowledge. Ensures compliance with data privacy and regulatory requirements. Facilitates the integration of applications with the network.
This strategic approach helps to bridge the gap between the complex world of telecom networks and the simpler, more accessible world of user-end applications.
The Open Gateway Ecosystem: CAMARA’s NaaS API Development
In the world of API development, standardization and interoperability are critical. The CAMARA Project works in collaboration with leading organizations like the GSMA, TM Forum, and the Linux Foundation to harmonize API standards through the Open Gateway Initiative. This collaborative effort resulted in a whitepaper providing a single, industry-wide solution. CAMARA abides by the “exposure” doctrine, outlining how capabilities are made available for external consumption via APIs. The project maintains repositories for various Consumer-facing API families. Service APIs’ definition, development, and validation are executed within different CAMARA Sub-Projects, while Service Management APIs are developed as specific API families within CAMARA. The CAMARA Commonalities working group delineates the API design guidelines, ensuring a uniform API language for developers. These guidelines, focused on elements like header, naming convention, error codes, etc., are designed to be developer-friendly, and all Service and Service Management APIs must comply with them.
From a functional standpoint, CAMARA’s focus is on telco APIs, covering domains like mobile networks, fixed-line networks, and edge clouds. The project primarily emphasizes the northbound interface (the interface between the telco operator and capability consumer), with east-/westbound interface APIs falling outside of CAMARA’s scope (that is covered by GSMA Open Gateway.)
The Northbound APIs are organized into the following categories:
- Service APIs: These APIs are designed for end consumers and are integrated by developers to utilize specific telecommunications capabilities, such as checking the latency and requesting quality on demand.
- Service Management APIs: These APIs are used by end consumers to control or gather information about the offered Service APIs in application runtime. For instance, they may be used to monitor current network performance.
- Operate APIs: These are operational and maintenance APIs provided by telcos to channel partners to assist in service fulfillment and assurance. For example, they are used to link hyper-scalers and aggregators with telcos environments.
While Service APIs and Service Management APIs fall within CAMARA’s purview, Operate APIs do not, as they are already covered by other Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) such as the TM Forum.
From Telco Service Exposure Platforms, CAMARA APIs are exposed through Telco-owned portals and third-party marketplaces like hyperscaler and aggregator portals to the end consumers. Hyperscalers and aggregators have the possibility to create their own enriched products based on the CAMARA APIs and expose that in addition to the CAMARA APIs.
Synergizing CAMARA and GSMA Open Gateway Initiative
The GSMA Open Gateway initiative is a transformative framework of Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) devised to offer developers and hyperscalers universal access to operator networks. This global endeavor is rooted in GSMA’s expertise and aims to support its members in exposing and monetizing telecommunications network capabilities through Open APIs and universal federation. It serves as the unifying ‘glue’ that melds cloud infrastructure-based services with terrestrial telecommunication networks. The initiative is set to fast-track the development of immersive technologies and services in various areas, including industrial systems, fintech, identity, smart mobility, gaming, Extended Reality (XR), and further Web 3.0 innovations.
In the context of the CAMARA Alliance, the GSMA Open Gateway introduces commercial topics and east-west federation to complete the ecosystem. It ensures standardized northbound business agreement templates for customers utilizing CAMARA APIs and facilitates the development of operator-to-operator interfaces, processes, and APIs to enable federation. The below architecture of this collaborative endeavor showcases the strategic alignment of CAMARA with the GSMA Open Gateway Initiative.
Forging Ahead: The Roadmap for the Future of the CAMARA Project
Looking towards the future, CAMARA is set to become the one-stop destination for all customer and developer-centric northbound APIs. Our forward-thinking strategies include:
- Addition of more APIs and synchronization of roadmaps across Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and Hyperscalers, aiming to provide comprehensive service offerings that meet various customer needs.
- Establishing a Technical Steering Committee (TSC) and fortifying project governance, enabling CAMARA to serve as a reliable partner for the entire industry.
- Consistency in API lifecycle management and global documentation of API versioning. This means knowing which version of an API is in production at each operator, being able to notify when new versions are released, and maintaining ecosystem compatibility as much as possible.
- Ensuring federation through GSMA Open Gateway, which uses API roaming (operator to operator) but also API aggregation. This federation will enable seamless access for customers, thus enhancing their user experience and fostering customer loyalty.
Numerous API aggregators have begun establishing platforms for CAMARA APIs, facilitating the integration of APIs from various operators. This results in a unified and smooth access experience for the users. Some notable examples include:
- Nokia: They’ve developed a ‘Network as Code’ platform, which can be found at the following link.
- Microsoft: They’ve introduced the ‘Azure Programmable Connectivity’ that powers network-aware programming. More information is available at this link.
- Vonage: They offer a suite of communications APIs that can be found at this link.
In essence, CAMARA’s future is rooted in the broadening of its API offerings, fortifying its governance, ensuring API lifecycle consistency, and fostering federation to enhance customer experience.
- March 16, 2024
Introduction
Young demographics, predominantly consisting of Millennials and Gen Z, have emerged as key consumer segments in the market. Their digital acumen, a strong affinity for authenticity, and unending pursuit of innovative shopping experiences are redefining the consumption landscape. Recently starting work after completing his undergraduate degree in computer science, Rithu, a 22-year-old Gen Z consumer, was browsing the spatial web one day in search of a new, unique, and stylish watch. He stumbled upon a website that utilized generative AI to curate a selection of luxury watches tailored to his preferences.
Rithu was impressed by the AI’s ability to cater to his taste. He found a watch that he loved and clicked on it. A digital trigger, such as a QR code, on the website transported an AR model of the watch to his mobile device, allowing him to try it on in real-time and envision it with various outfits. Convinced, Rithu purchased the watch from the comfort of his home, receiving a non-fungible token (NFT) as proof of authenticity. This NFT also contained a 3D model of the watch, which he could use for his avatar in the metaverse. Excited to wear his new watch both in the physical world and the metaverse, Rithu knew he possessed a unique and authentic piece of jewelry to cherish for years to come.
This is just one instance of how generative AI, AR, and NFTs are reshaping the luxury jewelry retail industry on the spatial web. As these technologies continue to advance, we can anticipate an increasingly innovative and immersive future for all kinds of shopping experiences. While desktops, laptops, and mobile devices offer a degree of interaction with the spatial web, the most profound, immersive experiences truly come to life through head-mounted displays (HMDs). These devices transport users into virtual environments, fostering deeper engagement with the digital content. The domain of HMDs and haptic devices is undergoing rapid innovation, with technologies continually evolving to enhance the immersive experience they deliver. Market-leading HMDs like the Apple Vision Pro, Lenovo ThinkReality VRX, Meta Quest 3, HTC Vive Pro 2 and Sony PlayStation VR2 are at the forefront of this technological revolution, continually pushing boundaries to redefine the user experience in the spatial web.
The global Spatial Web market is expected to reach $30.7 billion by 2025, with the US market accounting for $14.24 billion of that value, according to Statista.
The Spatial Web: The Next Frontier
The Spatial Web, an anticipated successor to Web 2.0, is set to revolutionize our interaction with the internet, introducing a more immersive, three-dimensional, and engaging experience. It incorporates key technologies such as AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), 5G (the pinnacle of internet speed), IoT (Internet-connected everyday objects), AI (Artificial Intelligence), and, critically, Blockchain as the framework for establishing trust. In the landscape of Web 3.0, three principal elements profoundly influence user interaction with digital content – Spatial Web, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence. Spatial computing, a crucial component, facilitates a tactile, spatial interaction with digital content, thereby cultivating a sensation of real-world engagement. This immersive experience is enabled by the use of advanced technologies like Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and 3D mapping.
Spatial computing, a cornerstone of Web 3.0, offers the following transformative capabilities: Immersive Experiences: Spatial computing can immerse users in digital environments, creating a feeling of being physically present within the virtual world. This is achieved using AR and VR technologies, which overlay digital content onto the real world or construct entirely virtual realms. Real-time Interaction: Spatial computing provides the capacity for real-time interaction with digital content. This can be facilitated through methods such as gesture recognition, voice commands, and other input methods. Collaborative Experiences: Spatial computing also allows for real-time collaboration among users within shared AR or VR environments. Trust Framework: Blockchain technology plays a crucial role within the Spatial Web by serving as a trust framework. It creates secure, decentralized networks where information and transactions can be verified and recorded reliably, enhancing security and transparency. With these remarkable capabilities, spatial computing emerges as a formidable tool for applications within Web 3.0. As the adoption of Web 3.0 proliferates, we can expect a concurrent rise in the development and refinement of spatial computing applications.
New Challenges and the Role of Telcos
The Spatial Web, the next frontier of the Internet, combines immersive and intelligent technologies, creating a demand for enhanced services from telcos, cloud providers, and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs). This paradigm shift brings new challenges in terms of payload and artificial intelligence processing, all while maintaining robust security measures.
Payload
The Spatial Web carries 100 to 1000 times more payload than Web 2.0. It demands considerably more bandwidth and storage due to the nature of its content, which includes not only text and images, but also data-rich 3D models, audio, and haptic feedback.
Compute Cycles
The processing power required for Web 2.0 and AI-powered Spatial Web workloads is significantly different. While Web 2.0 tasks—like loading a webpage with a list of products—are relatively simple, requiring only a few hundred compute cycles, the Spatial Web workloads are exponentially more complex. For instance, a Spatial Web application that allows users to interact with a 3D model of a city could necessitate millions of compute cycles. Presently, the pressing requirement is to increase bandwidth by a factor of 1000 and compute cycles by a factor of 1 million. This increase must handle the complexity of shifting AI workloads across cloud platforms, telco distribution centers, and AI Delivery Networks (AIDNs)—the Spatial Web’s equivalent of Web 2.0’s CDNs—to far-edge or mobile devices. Meanwhile, the provision of high-performance, reliable, and secure 5G networks, fiber, and satellite communications remain paramount.
The timely maturity of both public and private 5G networks serves as a pivotal component amidst this paradigm shift towards the Spatial Web. As telcos continue to provide high-speed, reliable 5G networks, they’re meeting the rising bandwidth demands brought about by larger data transfers inherent in the Spatial Web. These transfers encompass not just text and images, but also 3D models, audio, and haptic feedback. This development is instrumental in guaranteeing seamless and immersive user experiences for consumers like Rithu. With the Spatial Web demanding a significant surge in compute cycles compared to Web 2.0 due to AI-powered workloads, the role of telcos is critical. By leading the development of advanced AI Delivery Networks (AIDNs), telcos can efficiently distribute AI workloads across cloud platforms, edge networks, and distribution centers. This strategic optimization of compute resources results in smooth, responsive interactions for users immersed in the Spatial Web. Amidst these technological advancements, security remains paramount. With the Spatial Web incorporating an increasing volume of sensitive data, telcos are duty-bound to uphold rigorous security standards. Implementing robust encryption protocols, sophisticated threat detection systems, and maintaining secure infrastructures are key to ensuring consumer privacy and preventing data breaches. As we navigate this paradigm shift, the focus for telcos must be on infrastructure upgrades, bandwidth expansion, enhancement of compute resources, and the strengthening of security protocols. Addressing these areas will ensure seamless, immersive, and secure consumer engagement within the evolving landscape of the Spatial Web.
The Future of Telcos and the Spatial Web
As we navigate the transformative phase brought upon by the advent of the Spatial Web, telecommunication companies (telcos) are proving themselves to be indispensable partners for businesses. Their ability to stay ahead of trends to provide necessary performance, reliability, and security is instrumental in shaping the evolving landscape of consumer engagement in the Spatial Web. In response to the increased demands of the Spatial Web, telcos are focusing on infrastructure upgrades, bandwidth expansion, and compute resource enhancement. Their commitment to strengthening security protocols ensures the promise of the Spatial Web – a realm of immersive, real-world-like interaction – is realized on a broad scale, without compromising on user safety. Standing on the precipice of this new frontier, the role of 5G becomes ever more critical. Bolstered by the might of telcos, the harnessing of 5G is set to propel consumer engagement into an exciting, immersive future. Telcos, with their proven capability and readiness, are confidently leading us into the Spatial Web era, marking a significant evolution in consumer interaction and engagement.
Looking to the future, telcos are also preparing for the arrival of 6G. 6G is expected to offer even higher speeds, lower latency, and greater capacity than 5G. This will enable even more immersive and interactive experiences in the Spatial Web. In addition, telcos are exploring the use of Open RAN (radio access network) technology. Open RAN is a more flexible and open architecture for 5G networks. This could lead to lower costs and faster innovation for telcos. Overall, the future of telcos and the Spatial Web is bright. Telcos are committed to providing the infrastructure and services that businesses and consumers need to thrive in this new era.
- April 11, 2024
Introduction
With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the rise of edge computing, new doors have opened, paving the way for real-time solutions and improved operational efficiency. The digital transformation sweeping across the telecommunications sector has been nothing short of fascinating. In particular, the melding of artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing offers telecom companies some truly groundbreaking opportunities. In this article, we invite you to journey with us into the ‘art of the possible,’ as we examine a future where Generative AI and edge computing redefine telecommunications operations when combined with modern OSS/BSS platforms.
The Meeting of Three Worlds
Generative AI
Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence that uses machine learning models to produce content. It is called “generative” because it can create new content, such as images, music, speech, or text that is similar to the content it has been trained on. ChatGPT, a creation of OpenAI, is a type of generative AI. More specifically, is a powerful language model that can generate human-like text based on the input it receives. It’s been effectively utilized in various applications, ranging from dynamic chatbots to intelligent content-generation tools.
Edge Computing
Edge Computing is a concept that brings computation and data storage closer to the location where it’s needed. This improves response times, reduces latency, and conserves bandwidth—valuable assets for real-time applications. Edge computing breaks free from the traditional data processing model of sending raw data over long distances to a centralized location. Instead, it emphasizes on processing data near the edge of the network where the data is generated. In doing so, it speeds up the response time, enables real-time data analysis, and reduces the load on the network.
Operations and Business Support Systems (OSS/BSS)
Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) platforms are at the heart of telecom companies’ digital transformation. Network management, service delivery, customer care, billing, revenue management – you name it, and these platforms have it covered. The backbone of telecom operations, these platforms ensure customers enjoy uninterrupted services. Now, picture a future where these platforms are integrated with a large language model like ChatGPT. Operators can interact with the platform through a conversational interface, speeding up operations, trimming costs, and ramping up service delivery quality.
When we bring AI models like ChatGPT right to the edge of the network, or mesh them into the OSS/BSS system, they can chat with data and users almost instantly. It’s like a two-way street where the speediness of edge computing gives a practical boost to AI, and the braininess of AI makes the most out of the data crunched at the edge. This powerful combination could drive significant operational transformations, and fuel a new generation of intelligent, responsive services. However, there’s a significant hurdle to overcome: the sheer size of AI models. With their high resource demands, these models present a challenge for deployment on edge devices, which often have limited resources.
Optimizing AI Models for Edge Computing
The answer to this problem lies in techniques such as model pruning, quantization, and transfer learning. Model pruning is about cutting out unnecessary information from the model, shrinking it down to size and speeding it up, all without hampering its accuracy much. Quantization curtails the numerical precision of the model’s parameters, making the model more compact and less resource-hungry. Lastly, transfer learning lets a large-scale task-trained model fine-tune for a specific task, saving on resources required for training.
Transformation Use Cases for Telecom Providers
With the integration of AI, Edge & OSS/BSS platforms, the future of telco operations looks promising. Consider a telco network operations and engineering team that deployed AI-boosted network probes and now can play a proactive role in network management, detecting potential snags before they impact service quality. The result? A more reliable network and happy customers. And customer service and/or care teams can develop bots powered by ChatGPT that can offer personalized customer support or respond to queries and fixing issues in real time. It’s a win-win situation, improving customer experience and easing the load on customer service teams. Business intelligence is another area ripe for disruption. AI can churn out invaluable insights on network performance, customer behavior, and market trends, driving data-driven decisions for improved business outcomes. As for marketing and sales, AI has the power to supercharge campaigns and sales strategies. Analysis of customer data can uncover potential sales opportunities, fine-tune customer segmentation, and craft marketing messages that hit the right notes with each customer.
Use Case Deep Dive
Now Let’s Imagine a global telecom provider integrating Generative AI into its OSS/BSS platform and deploying AI-powered network probes across its extensive infrastructure. The outcome? A phenomenal transformation in network operations and customer service delivery.
A New Dawn in Network Operations | Use Case: 1
Gone are the days when network operations meant reactive and manual troubleshooting and scheduled maintenance routines. Now, AI-empowered network probes have brought about a paradigm shift in network management. These probes are the telecom company’s eyes and ears, continually examining network performance. The AI’s predictive capabilities identify anomalies, potential issues based on data usage and network traffic patterns. So, if the system sees an upcoming network congestion during peak hours, it takes charge, rerouting traffic or adjusting network resources to avoid any service disruption. And why stop there. This predictive maintenance model extends to hardware too. By analyzing past data on equipment performance, the AI can foresee when a device is likely to fail, prompting preventive maintenance. The result? A drastic drop in network downtime and a huge leap in service quality while also driving business operation optimization by reducing the operational complexity currently required when addressing these issues.
Customer Service Like Never Before | Use Case: 2
On the customer service front, it’s a whole new world with ChatGPT-enabled devices. The telecom can now offer its customers immediate, tailored customer support, all without needing a massive call center team. Imagine a customer struggling with their home Wi-Fi. Instead of a frustrating wait on a customer support call, they directly chat with the ChatGPT-enabled device, which walks them through basic troubleshooting steps. Be it resetting the router or tweaking the Wi-Fi channel, the AI steps in to help based on the problem’s symptoms described by the customer. In case the issue is more complex, rooted in a broader network problem, the device, drawing from the AI-enabled network probes, keeps the customer updated about the problem, the ongoing resolution efforts, and the estimated time for restoration of normal services. By taking routine customer queries and issues off the hands of human customer service representatives, the company not only enhances customer experience but also redirects human resources to tackle more complex issues. This results in greater efficiency and substantial cost savings.
These detailed use cases shed light on the power of integrating Generative AI, Edge and OSS/BSS platforms to truly revolutionize telecom operations. It’s a sneak peek into the future of the telecom industry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, telecom companies, it’s time to ride this wave of innovation. By embracing AI models like ChatGPT and edge computing, you can usher in a new era of efficiency, top-notch service, and business growth. It’s not just a distant dream – it’s a reality we should strive for today. We’re on the brink of an exciting shift that could totally transform how the telecom industry operates. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Read the complete article in the 5G Magazine
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