Nokia flags new 5G RAN smarts

Nokia is continuing its build up to Mobile World Congress (MWC) by announcing that it will be showcasing what it described as a new intelligent radio access network (RAN) operations solution at the event.

The new offering aims to make use of machine learning techniques to help operators better manage the "increasing complexity of 5G networks" through enhanced automation.

The Finnish vendor made some bold claims for the effectiveness of the solution, saying the "framework and its underlying products enable mobile operators to boost 5G network quality, efficiency, and the subscriber experience while reducing operational costs, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions."

Figure 1: Build it: Nokia's MWC prep includes announcing a new Intelligent RAN Operations solution aimed at helping operators better manage the complexity of 5G networks.
(Source: Reuters / Alamy Stock Photo)

James Crawshaw, principal analyst at Omdia, a sister company of Light Reading, agreed that different types of tools are needed to help manage these more complex networks.

"As mobile networks have evolved from 2G through 5G they have become much more performant and sophisticated. Management and configuration tools largely kept pace with this evolution – until now. To optimize operational, capital, and energy efficiency in the 5G era requires a paradigm shift," Crawshaw said.

Automation for the carriers

Crawshaw noted that manual configuration is no longer feasible because of the "thousands of parameters available in network nodes, a ten-fold increase on 4G."

"Operators need automated solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to augment and relieve human intelligence which can then be brought to bear on the manifold RAN operational challenges that computers are not yet able to solve," he said.

Nokia explained that Intelligent RAN Operations implements several machine learning functionalities that help operators manage network density and complexity.

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Light Reading.

"It enables the automation of routine network management tasks, with a greater ability to detect, categorize and solve network issues in real-time. This saves time and eliminates human error," it said.

The vendor also claimed that operators trialing the solution on a live network have seen an operational efficiency gain of up to 80% with zero-touch optimization, and 70% fewer issues to resolve.

It also noted that the solution also includes intelligent energy-saving features that reduce base station power consumption by up to 15%. Nokia itself has committed to reducing its emissions by 50% across both its operations and products in use by 2030.

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— Anne Morris, contributing editor, special to Light Reading