One of operators’ key motivations to move to new, software-centric network architectures is to improve their ability to implement AI/ML for network automation and optimization. This is often cited as a reason to embrace Open RAN (see below), but is also increasingly a selling point for traditional vendors. Ericsson said that a private 5G network, deployed with Vodafone for Foxconn’s factory in Hungary, would deliver higher uptime than a traditional network because of the use of the vendor’s AI service – and this could be scaled up to public macro networks in time too. Nello Califano, head of strategy and portfolio management for Ericsson Networks, said the algorithms used in the private network perform regular checks on network health including…