This article originally ran in Riot’s sister-service, Wireless Watch. Click here to find out more about this service. Telefónica is one of the most vocal and enthusiastic operators about the 5G idea of a highly automated network, which can use artificial intelligence (AI) to plan and optimize a RAN dynamically according to the needs of particular use cases, and can proactively identify likely faults and heal itself. At the recent Zero Touch & Carrier Automation Congress, the Spanish carrier said it was planning to increase its investment in automation tools, including a “cognitive self-optimizing network (SON)” technology based on AI. This would see Telefónica making an early move towards what Rethink Technology Research, in its recent report about AI-driven SON,…