Insights from the 2023 Heavy Reading Survey
The advent of 5G technology has brought unprecedented opportunities and challenges for mobile network operators. Crucial technologies that can address the complexities of 5G RAN include cloud-native technology, disaggregation, advanced analytics, and automation. These technologies enable capabilities like real-time service management, operational insights, and lifecycle change support. The Heavy Reading 5G Network Analytics and Automation Operator Survey conducted in May 2023 offers valuable insights into network operator views in these critical areas.
Support for 5G SA in the public WAN
According to the survey, 58% of respondents expressed their company’s intention to support 5G Standalone (SA) in the public Wide Area Network (WAN) within the next 12 months. This optimistic outlook suggests that 5G SA deployments are becoming more frequent, including limited launches in restricted areas or to specific user groups. Mobile broadband emerged as the most attractive 5G SA service for revenue growth, followed by private 5G and network slicing.
Prioritizing performance management and automation technologies
Performance management was identified as the highest priority for network automation by 36% of respondents, emphasizing the importance of optimizing network performance. The survey also highlighted the critical need for automation technologies, such as orchestration and CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) to help network scalability and agility. Respondents showed enthusiasm for network API exposure, indicating the significant role of APIs in automation strategies.
AI/ML-driven automation strategies and challenges
The survey revealed that network automation strategies driven by Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) would be needed primarily by the RAN domain, given its scale, complexity, and optimization potential. Respondents ranked “end-to-end service delivery over multigenerational, multivendor networks” and “customized service delivery insights and recommendations” as the second and third priorities. The most significant obstacle in applying ML to the RAN is identifying individuals with expertise in both ML applications and RAN domains.
Assurance challenges and network visibility
End-to-end network and service visibility emerged as the most significant assurance challenge, reflecting the complexities introduced by 5G and the aggressive deployment timeframes. Operators need help 1) managing/testing multivendor network environments and 2) gaining visibility into public edge clouds. The survey indicated that operators use multiple vendor solutions, highlighting the need for consolidation to improve operational efficiency.
Testing practices and importance of NWDAF release 17
The survey found that Proof of Concept (PoC) testing and field trials remained the preferred working practices for validating new RAN designs and infrastructure. Most respondents expressed the importance of the NWDAF (Network Data Analytics Function) release 17, particularly network and traffic security protection and predictive network analysis.
RAN security and mitigating risks
Mitigating risks and vulnerabilities in RAN operations was a significant concern for operators. Respondents identify RAN security anomaly monitoring as the most critical approach to identifying and responding to potential security breaches. Detecting malware-compromised User Equipment (UE) and mitigating outbound traffic anomalies, such as DDoS attacks, were essential for operators to address.
Valuable insights into the views and strategies of network operators
The Heavy Reading 5G Network Analytics and Automation Operator Survey provides valuable insights into the views and strategies of network operators in the rapidly evolving landscape of 5G networks. The survey highlights the importance of performance management, automation technologies, AI/ML-driven strategies, network visibility, and security. As operators embrace the potential of 5G, these findings will help shape their strategies for successful deployment and management of future networks.
