Ericsson is launching its Intelligent Automation Platform, a service management and orchestration product to help automate mobile networks, including those built on open RAN standards. Building on Ericsson's existing offerings, including its 5G core and cloud RAN portfolio, the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform and the associated suite of rApps make possible AI and automation that can improve network performance, operational efficiency and customer experience to help create smarter networks, the company said.
The cloud-native platform will work across new and existing 4G and 5G radio access networks (RAN) and will support diverse vendors and RAN technologies, including purpose-built and Open RAN, Ericsson said. This will create greater choice for communications service providers as they evolve their networks.
Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform automates the radio access network using AI and radio network applications (rApps) with different functionalities. In a similar way to an operating system that automates operations, resources and identifies improvements to be made across the network, Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform includes a non-real-time RAN intelligent controller (Non-RT-RIC) that operates rApps.
The platform supports ecosystem innovation by enabling software developers to build products through a software-development toolkit (SDK), the company said. A suite of Ericsson rApps with field-proven functionalities will be made available on the platform across four domains: efficient automated deployment, network healing, network evolution and network optimisation. The suite will continue to grow in collaboration with customers.
