5G Network Optimization and the Role of Artificial Intelligence
With the advancement of 5G, telecommunication service providers (TSPs) face growing challenges. Connectivity, once considered a luxury, is now recognized as a fundamental right by the United Nations. Simply selling airtime is no longer enough to sustain expenses, as recent job cuts show: in 2023, T-Mobile US eliminated 5,000 jobs in the US, while AT&T reduced its workforce by 45,000 in the last two years and Verizon lost 18,000 positions.
As network traffic increases, so do the costs of managing and storing Big Data. To remain competitive, it is essential for TSPs to adopt 5g Network Optimization strategies through AI, rapid automation and business diversification.
This article explores how artificial intelligence is turning data challenges into revenue opportunities, driving automation in the telecommunications industry.
Data Literacy and Harmonization in Telecommunications
The telecommunications industry is witnessing a radical transformation, driven by the exponential growth of valuable data and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to identify new revenue streams. To capitalize on the full potential of AI and automation, it is crucial that professionals and organizations in the industry improve their data literacy and harmonize available information. In an environment dominated by personal data, preferences and biases, it becomes crucial to develop a deep understanding of data, enabling telecommunications companies to collect, organize and extract value effectively.
Although AI can process Big Data quickly and accurately, the discrepancies between the different systems used by operators create significant challenges. This complexity hampers the ability of AI algorithms to interpret data accurately. Solutions such as IFS Cloud aim to overcome these obstacles by offering a unified platform with a master dataset, which emphasizes the importance of harmonizing data to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Research by Nokia points out that although 87% of operators have started to implement AI in network operations, legacy systems and proprietary interfaces limit access to the high-quality data needed to effectively integrate AI. Only 6 per cent of respondents consider themselves able to successfully apply machine learning algorithms to realize fully automated network operations (‘zero touch’).
Optimizing the 5G Network with AI is, therefore, a key goal to turn challenges into tangible opportunities.
Enhancing the 5G Network with AI: Innovation with Network Slicing and Mobile Edge
Network Slicing enables the creation of multiple virtual networks on a single shared physical infrastructure, each characterized by specific Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
At the same time, mobile edge computing positions applications and services at the network’s edge, optimizing performance and minimizing latency. These technologies empower operators to provide flexible, scalable, and efficient solutions for various customer segments.
For effective implementation of such strategies, a deep understanding of customer needs and associated costs is essential. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) comes into play, proving crucial in supporting telecommunications operators in analyzing network data to drive informed decisions.
AI facilitates 5G Network Optimization through various functions:
- Analyze usage patterns, preferences, and issues to identify customer segments and beneficiary sectors.
- Identify emerging use cases such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive IoT, ultra-reliable low latency communications, smart cities, intelligent manufacturing, and autonomous driving.
- Evaluate the feasibility and profitability of each use case.
- Design, optimize, and manage network slices and mobile edge applications needed for implementation.
With AI integration, operators can not only better respond to market demands but also predict and meet future needs, ensuring a smarter and more responsive management of the 5G network.
Benefits of Utilizing AI in the Telecommunications Industry
AI in telecommunications provides essential benefits by enabling the efficient processing of large amounts of data to derive valuable customer insights and forecast future demand.
This technology greatly enhances productivity through the automation of repetitive tasks like handling customer service inquiries, thus enhancing customer satisfaction and reducing the burden on human agents.
Moreover, cutting-edge AI-driven solutions like IFS Planning and Scheduling Optimization in IFS Cloud showcase how implementing innovative software can enhance real-time resource management.
These examples highlight the effectiveness of leveraging AI to streamline 5G Network operations, illustrating the technology’s capability to revolutionize network functions for enhanced efficiency and responsiveness.
Creating New Revenues: B2B Networks and Use Cases
Innovations in the B2B and industrial sectors receive a significant boost from the seamless integration of artificial intelligence with 5G technology.
For instance, as reported by Telecoms.com, Ericsson has engineered a specialized 5G SA network that empowers cutting-edge applications like data gathering through interconnected robots, livestock supervision, and agricultural mechanization.
Thanks to 5G connectivity, agricultural enterprises now have the ability to deploy robots equipped with stereoscopic cameras for collecting phenotyping data. This extension of network coverage reaches agricultural and livestock firms, as well as various regions within the city of Ames.
Complementing the exceptional ERP, EAM, and FSM functionalities available in IFS Cloud, the recent acquisition of Falkonry, Inc. by IFS has further enhanced the capabilities of IFS Cloud. Falkonry brings advanced AI-driven anomaly detection features to the IFS ecosystem, facilitating the ongoing surveillance of industrial assets, machinery, systems, and operational procedures.
These adaptive solutions play a crucial role in identifying and investigating unusual behaviors and root causes of malfunctions, underscoring the pivotal importance of optimizing 5G network infrastructure with AI in driving the digital transformation of the industry.
Conclusion
Cutting-edge technologies such as Network Slicing, Cloud Computing, and Mobile Edge Computing are essential for catalyzing new business models and opportunities in the telecommunications sector.
Utilizing solutions based on artificial intelligence, like IFS Cloud, to explore emerging use cases enables operators to stand out by offering more personalized and high-performing services than their competitors.
A crucial element in this process is data harmonization, which ensures that operators have access to high-quality, consistent, and comprehensive network data, essential for effectively powering their AI algorithms.
The synergy between data harmonization and AI-enabled enterprise software, such as IFS Cloud, transforms operators’ networks into agile platforms. This enables advanced data analytics for innovation and value creation, highlighting the role of optimizing the 5G Network with AI in redefining the telecommunications sector.
Curious about unlocking the value of AI in the telecommunications industry? Discover how IFS Cloud empowers CSPs to establish a robust foundation for AI success here.