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21 October, 2021Guildford, UK. 19th October 2021 – Fuse has selected Highlight’s service assurance platform to deliver a unified view of the networks it delivers to multi-tenant commercial properties, covering leased line and broadband networks as well as each tenant’s individual LAN and guest Wi-Fi services.
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15 March, 2019With its promise of ultra-low latency, high speeds and capacity for an almost limitless volume of data traffic, 5G has been heralded as a revolution for mobile communications, writes Sameh Yamany, the chief technology officer at VIAVI Solutions.
According to GSMA, 5G technology will transform the role that telecoms technology plays in society, fueling economic growth and pervasive digitalisation of a hyper-connected society wherein people are connected to the network whenever needed, joined by myriad devices and things.
Service providers will all have a part to play in this radical transformation, of course, but their end game will always be to monetise network investments to replace revenue erosion from over-the-top (OTT) players and smartphone market saturation, to stabilise their capex and opex, and create new, expansive revenue streams. Each of the new use cases enabled by 5G, however, will have its own unique set of requirements in terms of performance, as well as network and service quality. As such, it’s vital that service providers slice the network according to use case and implement service assurance, test and measurement for each use case across every industry.
Testing times
While communications service providers (CSPs) like AT&T and Verizon deployed limited 5G networks toward the end of 2018, the launch of full end-to-end 5G networks is expected during the first half of 2019. With a full 5G rollout now imminent, CSPs have been carrying out critical testing across several aspects of the ecosystem. However, from lab testing of new features and interfaces specific to 5G, through to the validation of infrastructure used in pilot network deployments, much work remains.
The unique complexity of 5G creates several challenges when it comes to testing, assurance and optimization. In order to deliver more data bandwidth, for example, 5G new radio (NR) will make use of extremely high-frequency millimeter wave (mmWave) bands, which can only be demonstrated by using over-the-air (OTA) testing and some specialist chambers. The beamforming and massive multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) techniques employed to increase overall spectral efficiency present additional challenges. Massive MIMO in 5G can often have more than 256 array elements, requiring a large number of radio channels, meaning that traditional cable testing won’t always be viable or cost-effective, while the addition of complicated beamforming can seriously impact the testing process.
Network slicing, while crucial to meet the service demands of different use cases, is not without its challenges. Currently, there is a lack of slice definition or the associated network and service function distributions that mirror the demands of unique industry verticals. For example, each slice will have its own performance requirements, meaning services that make use of one slice will have entirely different service level agreements (SLAs) than those using another slice. For network slicing to deliver the multi-faceted benefits being touted, each slice needs vigorous prototyping, testing and continuous assurance and optimisation. Robust testing and continuous assurance are essential to guaranteeing that each network slice delivers the particular benefits it promises.
Automate assurance
Once a 5G network is finally deployed, the priority for CSPs becomes the ongoing testing of services and applications to reassure customers that they will perform as expected in their respective use case. In time, however, as the number of networks grows, and the number of multiple different network slices along with it, CSPs will inevitably turn to automation for service assurance and optimisation.
With virtual network function (VNF) agents deployed within each service slice, assurance and optimisation will be intrinsically linked to the services themselves, thereby enabling automated root-cause analysis with service impact assessed in real-time, and any issues will be automatically addressed and remediated to minimize impact on end users and to optimize the service slice efficiency. Should component failure or insufficient computation or storage be the root cause of a problem, for example, a ticket automatically will be created for either the repair of the defective element, redistribution of the virtual components or to initiate a request for additional computational or storage resources.
Real-time analytics will ensure that SLAs are met, even as services evolve and change, by monitoring the network resources or functions infrastructure for overload, congestion, faults and anomalies that might impact service, as well as providing detailed insight into the activities of services, applications and devices across the network.
With such measures in place, CSPs can be assured that every application and service on each specific slice of the 5G network delivers the best possible performance.
Reach the end game
5G represents huge potential for CSPs to provide a range of new and enhanced services and applications, offering speeds, latency and data bandwidth never before possible. Assuring the performance of these services and applications is crucial, however, if CSPs are to effectively monetise the 5G network.
It’s vital, therefore, that they address the testing, assurance and optimisation challenges that this new network technology presents, employing virtualised, automated solutions to monitor and measure the performance of every service on every slice for the best possible performance for every use case. Because ubiquitous connectivity without quality of experience would fall far short of the end goal.
15 November, 2018The rapid explosion of over-the-top (OTT) services has forever changed the business model of mobile operators globally, writes John English, the director of marketing for service provider solutions at NETSCOUT.
25 May, 2018In April, UK regulator Ofcom announced that the auction of frequencies for 5G mobile networks had raised £1.36bn – even though 5G isn’t expected to launch until 2020. However, several US telecom operators are planning to launch their 5G services by the end of the year, writes Michal Medrala, the head of OSS Project Management at Comarch.
It’s no surprise that operators are keen to get the technology up and running – ABI Research predicts that mobile broadband operators will see 5G revenues of US$247bn by 2025. The move to 5G will not be a smooth process. Yes, 5G is within reach, but there are significant preparations to make, and challenges to overcome, before we see 5G in the UK.
What is the point of 5G?
As Deloitte argues, 5G is a “critical enabler to new technology adoption”. As our world becomes more connected, and we come to depend on connected devices in our everyday lives, we need wireless technology that can increase the speed of communication. We also need systems that can handle the demand without causing a significant drain on resources.
One of the goals of 5G is to reduce how much power network devices consume. This will be achieved by virtualising network resources, and by implementing intelligent network management systems that are constantly monitoring the use of resources. When resource utilisation is low, the software can optimise the network by moving services from several resources to a single one, powering off anything that isn’t being used.
Ofcom also predicts that 5G will enable greater innovation. As it said in its recent report Enabling 5G in the UK: “The greater versatility and capability of 5G means that it will likely be used for a much wider range of purposes than mobile broadband for businesses and consumers, and by a diverse set of providers beyond the mobile network operators.”
5G is an essential step towards managing an increasingly connected world.
The challenges of 5G roll-out
While we may be technologically capable of delivering 5G, there are some challenges the industry must overcome before it’s ready to implement the technology.
Regulations must be changed
Governments around the world are reviewing their existing telecom regulations to benefit 5G and optimise the process of site provisioning.
Current regulations are strict and will cause problems getting some of these new services to market. Commissioning a new site usually takes months. Unless these regulations are changed, it will be a real challenge to ensure adequate provision for 5G – and we need to put thousands of small or micro-sites in big cities).
The UK government has created the National 5G Innovation Network and is working with regulators to smooth the way for a successful launch of the service.
Operators need to increase investment in infrastructure
Network operators are preparing themselves too. There are massive investments all over the world in optical fibre networks which are required for ultra-high capacity 5G services.
Of course, operators monetise this network by delivering fixed services, but those same networks will be used soon as mobile network backhaul, and so they will monetise them again. Mobile broadband services will provide the same quality of service as fixed services, but with higher flexibility and customer experience.
Hardware and software vendors are investing heavily in new solutions and conducting their first field tests. They are investing in design and production of smart antennas supporting beam forming techniques; wireless fibres which allow high capacity communication in hard-to-access areas; low-energy wireless modules; high efficiency micro solar cells for powering IoT devices; and many more.
Networks must be optimised to work with 5G
Industries are developing technology built to run on 5G. This means one thing: networks must be optimised, and quickly, as the explosion of IoT has already started.
Investments are huge in software, too. One of the biggest and never-ending challenges for network operators is the high operational costs. They’re looking to reduce these by optimising resources utilisation; and automating network management processes.
Every resource in the network – whether that’s a connection or equipment device – should be used. Resources which are up and running but are not used to deliver services are nothing but a waste of money.
Do OTTs have the advantage?
Over-the-top providers (OTTs) were in a winning position because they could deliver services to end customers without the need to have their own infrastructure. This allowed them to introduce service changes smoothly and with low risk.
It’s more difficult for mobile and fixed service providers. Rolling out services to new locations requires construction, the manual installation of equipment and a lot of field tests. Of course, owning infrastructure requires significant investment in managing it, and squeezing every last drop of revenue from it.
Operators are looking to new ways of monetisation, such as using network virtualisation, and infrastructure can now be shared dynamically, automatically optimising all parts of the infrastructure and keeping costs low. This automation may level the playing field.
Now, the infrastructure can be owned by one company while another provides the customer service. The same infrastructure can easily be used by anyone, whether they’re a mobile network operator, an internet company such as an OTT or video service provider, or a driverless car company.
The rollout of 5G is essential to support the connected world we now live in. For operators, the focus has shifted to the most effective way to provide services that customer’s want, irrespective of who owns the infrastructure. There are still goals to meet before 5G can be successfully deployed, but operators and governments are working together to meet them.
15 December, 2017With more than one-third of IT Professionals citing ‘moving faster’ as their top goal for 2018, and an overwhelming 99% of IT and business decision makers noticing an increasing pace of change in today’s connected world, it’s clear that speed has become intrinsically linked to business success, writes Michael Segal, the AVP of strategy at NETSCOUT. For companies looking to compete in the digital economy, this pace of transformation is being driven by their customers and requires speedy software releases, agility through cloud services, and automation.
14 November, 2017Autonomous cars, 4K video, connecting the unconnected, augmented, mixed or virtual reality, tactile internet, industry 4.0 … the list of services and experiences that 5G could enable grows every day, writes Patrick Lopez, the vice president of Networks Innovation at Telefónica.
23 October, 2017The digital business transformation being experienced by operators and their enterprise customers also provides fertile ground for new services from smart communications service providers (CSPs). But first, explains Dima Alkin, TEOCO’s vice president of Service Assurance Solutions, CSPs need to get more specific about their enterprise support services.
23 June, 2017Recently I was on a train from Frankfurt to Nuremburg in Germany attempting in vain to get some work done, writes Robin Kent, the director of European operations at Adax. The issue I had is that, as there was no Wi-Fi available on-board, I was having to rely on the mobile phone network to remain connected. My frustration grew as my phone constantly flitted between 4G, 3G and 2G, causing emails not to sync correctly and an increasing amount of important messages becoming stuck in my outbox, as well as troubles with web browsing. (more…)
10 October, 2016SysMech’s Operational Intelligence Software has been implemented at Telefónica UK. The nationwide implementation is able to correlate data feeds from all elements of the network, giving Telefónica a complete overview of the performance of its 2G, 3G and 4G networks. (more…)
26 August, 2016Agama Technologies, a specialist in video service quality and customer experience, will be launching the new version, 5.1, of its video service assurance solution at this year’s IBC show in September. (more…)
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