Ericsson and Malaysian wholesale 5G operator Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) said on Wednesday that they have successfully completed a proof of concept that uses intent-based operations powered by AI and ML to manage radio sources more efficiently.
Intent-based operations works by providing a statement of what the operator wants the network to do, or the needed outcome. The intent-based system then automatically manages the network to achieve the stated goal using AI/ML technology. According to Ericsson, this effectively enables the network to adapt to changing demands and conditions in real time and dynamically allocate network resources.
As part of the POC, DNB deployed the technology in its multi-operator core network (MOCN) to help it manage the competing needs for radio network resources from the mobile operators that use its network to offer 5G services, including Telekom Malaysia, Maxis, U Mobile, YTL and CelcomDigi.
The automation enabled by the intent-based system allows DNB to automate the manual configuration of individual network elements, which reduces the maintenance period for upgrades and maintain its service level agreement (SLA) obligations, Ericsson said.
David Hägerbro, head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, said in a statement that the POC demonstrates that intent-based operations can be used to support each individual operator concurrently in providing connectivity through network slicing.
“The successful trial demonstrates that operators using DNB’s MOCN will be able to set up a multitude of network slices with varying characteristics to suit specific uses for consumer and business customers such as mobile gaming, video applications or industrial uses in IoT, and be assured of reliable delivery of that specified connectivity to the customers”, he said.
DNB CTO Ken Tan added that the POC “has shown a way to manage the complexities involved in delivering tailored 5G differentiated connectivity to multiple parties while adhering to strict SLAs with our customers.”
