Autonomous networks: The big picture

This is the introduction to our new report Autonomous networks: Business and operational drivers. Download the full report and be sure to register for the accompanying webinar on May 6. TM Forum Chief Analyst Mark Newman and experts from Futurewei will join me to discuss the report’s findings. Any project’s business case must either increase revenue or reduce costs, or both, to a degree worthy of the time, effort and investment involved. The longer a project takes, the harder it is to predict the total investment required and the point of payback. Nor is it always possible to tell in advance where all the benefits lie or how to quantify them. Building the autonomous network (AN) is this kind of project. The reach of ANs is far and wide, touching all aspects of telecom operators’ businesses, with an uncertain outcome. ANs will provide fully automated network and ICT services for vertical industries, consumers and partners that support self-configuration, self-healing, self-optimization, and self-evolving infrastructure and operations. They comprise simplified network architectures, autonomous domains, and intelligent business and network operations resulting in full automation of the operations lifecycle and maximum resource utilization. The four primary domains of an AN are access, edge, transport and core. Communications service providers (CSPs) may subdivide these domains as they roll out specific autonomous capabilities. ANs have the following characteristics:

• Self-governing – actions and behavior of managed entities are controlled within an autonomous domain.
• Programmable – Open APIs and standardized external reference points support interoperability.
• Explainable – an autonomous domain can describe why a decision was made in terms understandable to humans.
• Composable – a function or service can be built from smaller functions or services.
• Business-driven – services are defined by business rules and goals.
• Model-driven engineering – the systematic use of domain models occurs in all stages of the software engineering lifecycle.

Benefits of automation

ANs can deliver on cost reduction. For example, in a recent TM Forum case study, Windstream Communications, a US broadband and managed services provider that recently exited from bankruptcy says it reduced the cost of network monitoring and troubleshooting by 82% by applying what it called a “sliceable, autonomous, programmable and scalable network”. Similarly, a TM Forum report published in December on AI operations, finds that a 20% increase in automation investment automation could reduce labor costs for operators by 90%. There is little doubt that automation could increase revenue by delivering high-value, real-time services, and CSPs see this as a primary driver. But building autonomous networks needs to be done strategically and carefully, with as little impact on the customer and business as possible. Good engineers and developers have built networks this way for years, but ultimately handing responsibility over to machines and algorithms is what gives CSPs pause and is partly why automation has been incremental to date. Based on our research, we expect it to remain that way for some, although others are far more ambitious.

Research methodology

Our report draws on a targeted survey of CSPs from around the world, conducted during the first quarter of 2021. All regions of the globe are represented, with about 20% of respondents indicating that they work for companies with global operations. Respondents’ roles include enterprise architect; engineers working in network optimization and analytics; and director of product management, among others. We also carried out in-depth interviews with CSP and supplier executives to discuss automation strategies and the challenges to implementing them. Read the report to understand:

• Where CSPs are in implementing automation
• Which issues are informing their AN strategy
• What the business drivers are for ANs
• What the operational drivers are for ANs
• The relationship between 5G and ANs
• The six-level journey to ANs
• Next steps toward autonomous networks and operations

Download the report

Register for the webinar