Published 2nd January 2018 Wireless Watch

AI, SON and the Self Driving Cellular Network

AI, SON Self Driving Cellular Network

“Artificial Intelligence is being groomed to partner with SONs(Self-Optimizing or Self-Organizing Networks) to create cellular networks that know the user, perform brilliantly and defy complexity…”

The rise in self-optimizing networks, along with a huge increase in the total number of cells, will lead to a radical uptake of virtualized Software Defined Networks. This will make it possible to dial network resources up and down on-demand, but only if MNOs (Mobile Network Operators) can cope with another level of network complexity.

To find out more about AI and the Self Driving Cellular Network and to see our Forecast of the technology players which it will benefit, buy a copy of our RAN Research paper “The Self Driving Cellular Network.”

The report shows how those operators who can attract AI expertise will lead the shift into truly intelligent networks.

For more information contact:

Chloe Spring (Marketing Manager): [email protected]

Office Phone: +44 (0)1179 257019

Download Executive Summary:

Download a copy of the executive summary

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Subscribing to RAN Research includes 6 more forecasts a year, covering Small cells, the structure of 5G, Optimization and SON, Macro Layer RAN, Cloud RAN and Mobile Edge Computing.

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Questions

1. The emergence of the fully automated mobile network
a) The hyperdense network will require new levels of automation
b) Standards activities
c) The move to SDN will drive SON and AI
d) The process will not be a rapid one
e) Customer QoE and network efficiency are twin goals

2. SON – the key enabler of network automation
a) The growth in SON deployment
b) Operators will turn back to outsourcing in 5G

3. The key driver of SON and automation – density
a) The rise of hybrid SON platforms
b) Rising levels of density will make SON indispensable

4. More drivers of SON and automation – 5G and virtualization
a) The migration to 5G will accelerate SON deployment

5. The convergence of SON/automation and AI
a) The convergence of AI and SON
b) Plans to deploy AI to support SON/automation

6. Barriers to the self-driving telcoS

heet 1. Investment and deployment patterns 2014-2022
Sheet 2. Commercial priorities for SON deployment 2014-2022

CHARTS

Sheet 1. Investment and deployment patterns 2014-2022

Table 1 Annual investment in SON tools and services compared to total in RAN software

Table 2 Annual investment in SON by tools and services

Table 3 Number of projects or major upgrades initiated by MNOs per year, SON compared to all RAN software

Table 4 LTE, multimode and 5G macro and small cells total installed base

Table 5 Macro and small cells with centralized or hybrid SON capabilities

Table 6 Installed base of small cells with centralized or hybrid SON capabilities, by spectrum occupancy

Table 7 Small cell installed base by density

Table 8 Small cells with centralized or hybrid SON capabilities, by density

Table 9 Sites (macro and small) with SON capabilities, by technology

Table 10 Sites with SON capabilities, by SON architecture

Table 11 Sites with centralized or hybrid SON capabilities, by region

Sheet 2. Commercial priorities for SON deployment 2014-2022

Table 12 SON use cases supported, % of current deployments supporting each use case Q317

Table 13 SON use case priorities – number of MNOs placing each use case in top 5 priorities to support by 2022

Table 14 New SON deployment – inhouse vs hosted SON systems

Table 15 MNOs’ top four drivers to deploy SON

Table 16 MNOs’ top three barriers to deploy SON

Table 17 For which anticipated changes to your network do you think SON will be essential or valuable by 2022?

Table 18 Level of integration of SON with other network systems

Table 19 Critical MNO requirements for SON by 2022 (% placing in top 3)

Table 20 Plans to harness AI/ML for network optimization and SON

Table 21 Key drivers to integrate SON/optimization and AI/ML (% placing in top 2)

Table 22 Key barriers to integrate SON/optimization and AI/ML (% placing in top 2)