Nokia and China Mobile announced the successful trialing of AI-powered RANs to predict bandwidth traffic and detect network anomalies, showcasing technology to automate networks that could drastically reduce reliance on human resources.
In a statement, the Finnish vendor said the two companies finished an AI-based real-time user equipment traffic bandwidth forecast in Shanghai, with the anomaly test conducted in Taiyuan.
During the trial, China Mobile unveiled its ‘i-wireless-intelligent and simplicity 5G network’ concept, a series of technologies designed to create a greener, smarter, and more efficient 5G network.
Additionally, a RAN Intelligent controller (RIC) was included in the edge cloud using Nokia’s AirFrame Edge server platform which, “enables increased network optimization capabilities through policy-guided, closed-loop automation. These are fundamental to further advance the 5G RAN architecture, enabling a wide range of intelligent, real-time data-driven, network automation, and optimization applications.”
Real time traffic prediction accuracy exceeded 90% in a live 5G network test.
For the network anomaly trial, around 10,000 base stations were examined across China Mobile’s 4G/5G networks. With AI and ML technology solutions network problems were detected more “accurately and automatically”, and “drastically decrease the time needed to analyse issues and find the root cause”. Nokia said this would reduce more than 70 per cent of human resources to process such issues.
Huang Yuhong, China Mobile Research Institute deputy director said: “RIC plays a key role in enabling AI/ML capability in the RAN, which is of great significance to realize the concept of the ‘i-wireless-intelligent and simplicity 5G network’. Nokia and CMCC’s trials are very meaningful for RIC commercialisation. China Mobile has put effort into the AI-assisting RAN network technology. We are pleased to complete these trials using AI to forecast UE transmission bandwidth and detect anomalies on CMCC’s live network with our partner Nokia. The field trial proved the availability of RIC enabling network enhancements through customized real-time BTS data analysis and control.”
Pasi Toivanen, Nokia head of Edge Cloud Platforms, added: “We are excited to have worked with China Mobile on this project to advance RAN network intelligence. We believe it will be a key asset in improving the wireless network efficiency and the experience of its subscribers. This is an example of Nokia’s commitment to supporting our customers in the delivery of world-class network performance.”
