UBBF 2024 | ADN Summit Successfully Hosted in Istanbul

As a key part of the 10th Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF) 2024, the Autonomous Driving Networks (ADN) Summit, themed "Advancing Toward AN L4: Empowering Superior UBB Operations", successfully took place in Istanbul, Türkiye. Leading CSPs, well-known industry organizations, and analysts from around the world shared in-depth insights into the latest trends of Autonomous Networks (AN) and presented innovative commercial use cases and cutting-edge solutions across various UBB ADN scenarios. Mark Mortensen, Principal Analyst of ACG Research, hosted the summit. Dr. Philip (Xiaodi) Song, Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Carrier Business, delivered a speech.

The AN industry has experienced significant growth over the past year. Participation in TM Forum's fifth edition of the AN whitepaper has risen to 66 partners, with 50 enterprises signing the Autonomous Networks Manifesto. Currently, 14 leading global CSPs have set a strategic goal of achieving AN Level 4 by 2025–2027. The active collaboration of all partners is accelerating AN deployment and resulting in notable contributions to the industry. Leading CSPs in China, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America have implemented numerous AN practices.

Aaron Boasman-Patel, Vice President Innovation of TM Forum, elaborated: "The AN Level 4 industry blueprint provides systematic reference and guidance for CSPs to advance Level 4 deployment. We expect CSPs to set Level 4 objectives, select high-value scenarios, and collaboratively facilitate AN deployment and monetize the value offered by AN Level 4 with industry partners.

Dang Wenshuan, Huawei's Chief Strategy Architect, delivered speech on "Envision the Telcos in the age of AI" and released the new Striding Towards the Intelligent World 2024 - ADN White Paper. Dang said, "AI technologies have been continuously promoting full-scale intelligent transformation across all industries, we envision telcos to feature the 6A's in the age of AI. Built on the 6A's features and with Autonomous Networks (AN) Level 4 as the starting point, telcos will create more new value in the age of AI."

Eng Adnan Al Alawi, CEO of AWASR Oman Telecommunication Company, said, "We have worked with Huawei to build a digital experience awareness platform that includes scenario-based capabilities such as precise marketing, poor-QoE detection, and Proactive Poor QoE Handling, helping us improve efficiency and increase revenue. In the future, we will continue to take the lead in the new direction of experience-based operations and continuously evolve the Autonomous Network Level to consolidate the No.1 HBB brand in Oman."

Yue Wei, President of the NCE Optical Network Domain, Huawei, said: "The proactive assurance agent implementing "Network Aware User" and the fault diagnosis copilot enhancing "User Aware Network" are expected to further improve customer value throughout the lifecycle of the premium broadband "A-PRIME" and premium transmission "T-AUTO" scenarios. Looking ahead, the intelligent F5.5G premium all-optical network will guide carriers towards ADN L4, ushering in a new era of experience-driven operations."

John(Ji), Vice President of NCE Data Communications Domain of Huawei Data Communications Product Line, said, "With latest AI technology , Huawei Xinghe Intelligent ADN solution enables carriers IP networks to move forward to high-level intelligence, promote business growth, improve network reliability, and improve O&M efficiency."

Mark Mortensen, Principal Analyst, ACG Research, said, "AN is expected to reduce CSPs' OPEX by 1/3. CSPs should take the AN Level 4 industry blueprint as a starting point and increase investments in full-stack intelligence, scenario-specific self-closed loops, cutting-edge technologies, and E2E automation."

Huawei will fully integrate key technologies, including the telecom foundation model, into the ADN solution and develop high-quality Level 4 solutions targeting high-value scenarios, helping CSPs advance employee capabilities and enhance network productivity. The telecom foundation model will significantly accelerate the value-centric evolution from Level 3 to Level 4, enabling CSPs worldwide to achieve AN Level 4 systematically.