Driving autonomous operations and intelligent networks

On December 4th more than 50 participants joined a recent TM Forum workshop hosted by Orange in Paris, to explore the advancement of Autonomous Networks. The event brought together experts from 15 operators, five vendors, and four consulting firms, offering a truly global and ecosystem-wide perspective on the evolving landscape of autonomous networks.

The workshop showcased significant strides in achieving higher levels of network autonomy and underscored a shared industry vision for data-driven, AI-powered operations. Participants emphasized the importance of establishing robust frameworks for measuring progress, including Key Business Indicators (KBIs) and Key Effectiveness Indicators (KEIs), to support the evolution toward cognitive, closed-loop operations.

Discussions highlighted the growing focus on Level 4 (L4) autonomy, particularly in areas such as fault management, network optimization, and change management. Achieving L4 autonomy requires a blend of extensive automation and intelligent adaptation, moving beyond procedural efficiencies to unlock true cognitive capabilities. This direction aligns with the need for networks that are not only reliable and flexible but also sustainable and resource-efficient.

Another key takeaway was the critical role of TM Forum standards as a foundation for scaling autonomous capabilities across diverse markets and operations. These standards serve as a unifying force, enabling operators to align their strategies, evaluate progress, and accelerate innovation.

The workshop reaffirmed that intelligent, AI-driven networks are a cornerstone of next-generation architectures. By prioritizing energy efficiency, quality optimization, and end-to-end fault management, the industry is advancing toward networks that deliver greater value while addressing sustainability imperatives.

High-value scenarios (HVS): a value-driven approach to network autonomy

High-Value Scenarios were a key topic throughout the workshop. Designed to have a significant impact on a CSPs operations or business, participants shared they are working together to refine these important scenarios to pave the way for achieving Level 4 autonomy. To identify these HVS, CSPs must first define their key services and networks, then align them with network operation processes to create a full set of operational scenarios. From there, factors like cost, staffing, and technical feasibility are assessed to determine which scenarios should be prioritized as Level 4 HVS. Focusing on HVS helps CSPs to:

• Define the practical scope of autonomous networks
• Improve return on investment
• Achieve meaningful gains in business and operations efficiency

Next steps for the TM Forum community:

During the workshop, participants aligned on the need for actionable follow-ups to translate insights into tangible progress in the following areas:

• Collaboratively refine high-value scenario definitions, ensuring alignment with measurable KBIs/KEIs (IG1339).
• Contribute domain-specific expertise to update and enhance TM Forum assets, maintaining relevance as technology and market conditions evolve.
• Share case studies, data, and lessons learned from early implementations of autonomous capabilities.
• Participate in AN team calls (TM Forum login required)/working groups/events like Accelerate 2025 and take part in validation exercises to stress-test frameworks, ensuring their practicality and global applicability.
• Build the technical aspects such as APIs to implement the high-impact scenarios

Why these steps matter:

By building on the workshop’s momentum, the entire ecosystem—standards bodies, CSPs, vendors, and consultants—can collectively build the much-needed practical assets that will show how these high value scenarios will be designed and implemented to reach L4. High-value scenarios and robust standards help ensure that investments in autonomy yield measurable returns and ultimately push the industry closer to achieving intelligent, self-healing and self-optimizing networks.

The journey toward achieving Level 4 autonomy in networks requires collaboration, commitment, and alignment across the ecosystem. TM Forum invites all CSPs, vendors, and partners to actively engage in shaping the future of autonomous networks by contributing to our working groups, sharing real-world insights, and participating in upcoming events where we’re going to discuss AN like Accelerate 2025 and DTW ’25 or TM Forum’s Catalyst projects, which provide a unique platform to co-create and validate innovative solutions. Together, we can drive tangible progress, build practical frameworks, and deliver high-value scenarios that enable truly intelligent, self-healing, and self-optimizing networks.

For more information on how to get involved or to explore collaboration opportunities, please contact Olta Vangjeli, Autonomous Networks Lead at TM Forum, at ovangjeli@tmforum.org or refer to TM Forum’s website Member Projects, Autonomous Networks.