Ericsson Launches Intelligent Automation Platform

Ericsson has launched its Intelligent Automation Platform, a service management and orchestration product that allows automation of any mobile network.

According to a statement, the solution facilitates AI and automation; it will further improve network performance, operational efficiency, and customer experience, and create smarter networks. Further, the cloud-native solution will work across new and existing 4G and 5G RAN. It will also support diverse vendors and RAN technologies, including purpose-built and OpenRAN, it added.

Ericsson Launches Intelligent Automation Platform for Mobile Networks

According to Ericsson, the Intelligent Automation Platform automates the RAN using AI and rApps with different functionalities. The platform also includes a non-real-time RAN intelligent controller that operates rApps; similar to an OS that automates operations, resources, and identifies improvements needed. What's more, the platform supports ecosystem innovation by enabling software developers to build products through an SDK.

Along with this, Ericsson will provide a suite of Ericsson rApps with field-proven capabilities. These apps will help with efficient automated deployment; network healing; network evolution; and network optimization. It added that the suite will continue to grow in collaboration with customers.

Jan Karlsson, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Digital Services, Ericsson, said, "We look forward to providing our customers with an open platform that enables operational efficiency, enhances customer experience, and drives service innovation. I am happy to hear the reactions from our customers already being positive towards our new product and we look forward to future development and innovation.”

Neil McRae, MD Architecture & Strategy, BT Group Chief Architect, added, "I’m pleased to see that Ericsson is launching the Intelligent Automation Platform for automating networks, based on the O-RAN Alliance Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) concept. Ericsson’s vision to extend that SMO concept to support both OpenRAN and existing 4G and 5G networks, using a single operational pane-of-glass is an innovative approach".

Toshikazu Yokai, Executive Officer, Chief Director of Mobile Technology, KDDI, also said, "SMO combined with an open software-development toolkit (SDK) has the potential to drive application (rApps) innovation and diversity, unleashing CSP, telecommunications vendor, and third-party software provider innovation to optimize network performance, improve operational efficiency and drive superior customer experiences. KDDI looks forward to collaborating with Ericsson to explore the potential of these solutions".