In the ever-evolving landscape of telecommunications, Digis Squared stands as a trailblazer in delivering large-scale managed service projects across multiple Network Operator domains. With an extensive portfolio covering Field, RAN, Transport, IPBB, Core, VAS, and BSS domains, the company boasts profound experience and a robust foundation in managing Mobile Network Operator (MNO) networks. Leveraging multi-vendor expertise and diverse technological proficiency, Digis Squared ensures optimal operations for its Open RAN networks.
The emergence of Open RAN technologies has introduced a paradigm shift in network operations, presenting complexities attributed to an increased number of vendors, multiple integration points and interfaces as well as third parties solutions that are seamlessly integrated with MNOs network. In response, Digis Squared has ingeniously crafted its proprietary Managed Service Operations model. This model, aligned with the ITIL operational framework, the ITU FCAPS model, and SMO Standard guidelines provided by the ORAN Alliance, serves as a guiding structure for the company’s operational strategies across all Open RAN knowledge domains.
Within this model, Digis Squared meticulously covers a wide array of activities integral to Open RAN network management:
Radio Planning and Optimization activities including various types of RIC Operations
Field Activities
Field maintenance
Corrective Maintenance
Preventive Maintenance
E2ETesting Activities
Drive Testing
Network function testing
Network Operations Center (NOC) activities
Front Office Operations
Performance Monitoring
Service Desk Operations
Helpdesk
Change Management
Incident Management
Problem Management
Risk Management
Reporting
Back Office Operations
Integration activities that include third parties’ management and Operations.
Customer Experience Governance activities.
The encompassing nature of Digis Squared’s model extends its coverage across various essential components:
Radio
Site Hardware
RAN Software
Transport
Cloud Infrastructure
CaaS and O-cloud
The company’s expertise spans a broad spectrum of vendors, encompassing but not limited to VMWare, RedHat, Robin io, NEC, Mavenit, Altio-Star, Juniper, Dell, and HP. This expansive vendor landscape ensures a comprehensive understanding of diverse technological infrastructures, enabling Digis Squared to offer unparalleled solutions and support within the Open RAN ecosystem.
Digis Squared’s commitment to excellence and innovation in managed services within Open RAN networks continues to redefine industry standards. By blending extensive experience, a robust operational model, and a diverse vendor portfolio, the company stands at the forefront of delivering top-tier services in the realm of telecommunications.
As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, Digis Squared remains dedicated to pioneering advancements, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional service delivery in the dynamic landscape of Open RAN networks.
Embarking on the journey of SOC (Service Operations Center) transformation prompts a pivotal inquiry: does a Call Drop Rate of 0.5% represent a good or bad metric? Applying Schrodinger’s cat theory to this value unravels the multiplicity of its implications. From a network perspective, this rate may signify a positive standing. However, in the context of impacting strategic corporate accounts situated within buildings, it could potentially evoke frustration among CEOs and senior staff, thereby rendering the 0.5% rate unfavorable. This duality underscores the necessity for a broader vision that extends beyond network quality alone, focusing on service quality—a vision materialized through the SOC.
Understanding the SOC and its functionalities requires delving into the customer experience approach, especially as the telecom industry converges with rapidly advancing technology and heightened customer expectations. The advent of the Customer Experience Management (CEM) framework amplifies the significance of a dedicated customer experience team.
The primary goal of the CEM framework lies in augmenting customer satisfaction and fostering loyalty through the provision of effective technical support. This proactive approach not only contributes to sustained revenue growth but also serves as a linchpin for maintaining competitive differentiation in a dynamic market environment.
The SOC serves as the linchpin between network metrics and customer-centric service qualities. Its transformation represents a strategic shift towards a holistic perspective, acknowledging that network performance metrics, while vital, might not encapsulate the entirety of customer satisfaction. Integrating the SOC within the operational framework enables a more comprehensive
By amalgamating network-centric data with a nuanced understanding of customer needs, the SOC transformation aims to strike a delicate balance. It doesn’t dismiss the importance of network performance but rather complements it by incorporating the customer’s perception of service quality into the evaluation metrics.
In essence, the evolution of the SOC signifies a paradigm shift—a departure from a myopic focus on network metrics to a more encompassing approach that places customer experience at its core. Embracing this transformation not only elevates service delivery but also aligns telecommunications companies with the evolving landscape of customer-centricity, fostering enduring relationships and sustained growth in a fiercely competitive market.
The fundamental ethos of the SOC revolves around fostering a Customer-Centric network and operations, aligning every operational facet towards optimizing customer satisfaction.
Outlined below are the core functions that delineate the landscape of the SOC:
Service Surveillance:
This function entails the continuous monitoring and management of service performance and quality. From fault detection to real-time response mechanisms, its aim is to minimize service disruptions while upholding stringent quality standards and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Collaboration with network operations and customer support teams is crucial to gauge customer impact accurately. Robust reporting and documentation further drive ongoing improvements, ensuring high service reliability and customer satisfaction.
Service Analysis:
Delving deeper into customer usage patterns, service reliability, and network efficiency, this function identifies areas for enhancement or expansion. By assessing customer satisfaction levels, it informs future service development and enhancement strategies, paving the way for proactive service improvements.
Supporting CSI Initiatives:
The SOC actively participates in developing and executing action plans aimed at addressing identified gaps. Monitoring the impact of these changes is pivotal, as it supports continual service evolution, ensuring sustained high levels of customer satisfaction.
Reporting:
Systematic collection, analysis, and presentation of data and insights form the backbone of this function. Accurate and regular reports are indispensable for monitoring progress, identifying improvement areas, and supporting organizational success on a holistic level.
SOC teams have the below interaction map could be described as below.
As an integral component of the SOC transformation, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) must integrate additional tools to facilitate and fortify this evolution. Some of these crucial tools encompass:
Network Probing tools
OSS data Access
Trouble ticketing Tools.
The collaborative efforts between SOC (Service Operations Center) and CEM (Customer Experience Management) teams play a pivotal role in crafting Service Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Quality Indicators (KQIs). The creation of these metrics involves a strategic alignment between operational excellence and customer-centricity, focusing on various aspects that directly impact service delivery and customer satisfaction.
SOC SKPIs centers around the following.
Handsets Performance
Customer Segment Performance
HotSpots performance
OTTs performance
…. Etc
SOC use cases, We at Digis Squared have more than 70 ready use cases with insights and expected outputs, but use case generation is a continuous task and it shall be endless
Customers flip-flopping between radio technologies.
Customers with 4G handsets locked onto 3G.
Heavy data users with 3G handsets, we offer 4G handsets.
VoLTE performance variance across different handsets
Geolocation for data streaming activities
VIP and enterprise dashboards and proactive monitoring
Happy voice and data customers
CSFB analysis and delay investigations
…
Let’s explore a significant use case featuring our product, INOS, specifically the SOC – Active Probing scenario. In this scenario, we implement our INOS Watcher Kits in various high-traffic locations such as hotspots, VIP customer areas, corporate settings, shops, stations, or any other locations designated by the MNO. Subsequently, we establish continuously running scripts across these watchers, enabling these kits to instantly upload testing logs.
These logs are then utilized to populate a customized SOC dashboard hosted on the cloud. This dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of all Service KPIs and KQIs categorized by device, area, location, and/or IMSI. This solution empowers us to monitor service levels in specific areas and proactively identify any potential service issues experienced by customers in those locations.
In the ever-evolving landscape of telecommunications, the advent of 5G stands as a monumental leap forward. Beyond just speed, 5G introduces a transformative architecture known as the 5G core (5GC), revolutionizing the way we integrate, connect, and communicate. Let’s delve deeper into this advanced infrastructure and the pivotal concepts that shape its functionality.
The 5G core represents a fundamental shift from its predecessors, embracing a software-defined network architecture, cloud-native virtual network functions, and service-based architecture as well as full separation between the user plane and control plane through the full implementation of CUPS. Within this core, network functions play a pivotal role. These functions, ranging from authentication and policy control to session management and database management, are decoupled and virtualized, allowing for flexibility and scalability previously unseen in telecommunications networks. The Service-Based Architecture (SBA) in 5G represents a paradigm shift in how telecommunications networks are structured and function. At its core, SBA redefines network architecture by organizing various functionalities into modular and reusable services. These services, such as network slicing, authentication, session management, and policy control, are designed to be independent and interact through well-defined interfaces. This modular approach enables flexibility, allowing service providers to dynamically compose and deploy services tailored to specific user needs and applications. SBA facilitates efficient resource utilization, scalability, and rapid innovation, enabling the seamless integration of diverse services and applications across the 5G network.
Its emphasis on standardized interfaces and service-based components fosters interoperability and encourages an ecosystem where new services can be rapidly developed, deployed, and managed in a more agile and cost-effective manner, ultimately driving the evolution of 5G networks to meet the demands of an increasingly connected world.
This cloud-service-based approach in the 5G core revolutionizes how telecommunications networks operate, offering a level of flexibility and scalability crucial for supporting a wide array of services and applications in the 5G era.
Network slicing, a defining feature of 5G, enables the creation of isolated, end-to-end virtual networks tailored to specific services or customer requirements.
By partitioning the network resources, 5G can allocate bandwidth, latency, and other parameters on demand. For instance, a slice designed for autonomous vehicles may prioritize ultra-low latency, ensuring real-time responsiveness, while another slice optimized for IoT devices might emphasize massive connectivity. This ability to customize network characteristics within slices is pivotal in meeting the diverse needs of various industries and applications.
As part of 3GPP release 16 the Service Communication Proxy (SCP) has been introduced as a non-mandatory but vital node to have strong SBA deployment in coordination with multi-access edge computing (MEC) and it serves as a pivotal component within the 5G network, facilitating service-based communication between various network functions. Acting as an intermediary, the SCP ensures seamless interaction and coordination between functions such as the policy control function (PCF), user plane function (UPF), and network exposure function (NEF). It enables efficient handling of service requests, ensuring that data and control flow smoothly across the network, ultimately contributing to a robust and responsive network infrastructure and reducing the load on NRF (Network Repository Function)
Digis Squared stands out as a pivotal force in the domain of 5G system integration, renowned for its extensive proficiency in deploying both standalone and non-standalone 5G networks. our expertise spans across the entire spectrum of 5G infrastructure, encompassing radio, transport, and core networks. Through a meticulous approach to integration, we at Digis Squared ensure a cohesive and harmonized ecosystem, emphasizing seamless interoperability and optimal performance across these network layers.
Their in-depth understanding of 5G architecture enables us to tailor solutions that precisely address the unique needs and challenges encountered across diverse industries. For instance, in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, and entertainment, we at Digis Squared customize the integration strategies to accommodate specific requirements, whether it’s ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) for critical applications or massive machine-type communication (mMTC) for IoT devices as well as for the application that needs the enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB).
Digis Squared’s contributions extend beyond mere integration; they actively shape the 5G landscape by pioneering innovative solutions and best practices. Their role in driving the transition toward a fully connected future is instrumental, as they continuously refine their methodologies to adapt to the evolving demands of the 5G ecosystem. This commitment to innovation positions Digis Squared as a key enabler of the transformative potential inherent in 5G technology, propelling industries, and societies toward a more connected and technologically advanced era.
Leveraging advanced analytics and AI engine, IPM predicts and prevents network performance issues before they happen, building Capacity growth models and forecasting user behaviour and traffic load on the network, giving proper recommendations that keep network performance on track with this growth and user behaviour changes.
IPM Analytics is the heart of KATANA IPM module, and it offers the below different uses cases.
Anomaly Detection:employs a machine-learning algorithm to understand the patterns of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), making comparisons and autonomously recognizing deviations. The resulting scores are presented for each instance, facilitating straightforward identification of anomalies and their deviation from the typical cluster or common behavioral patterns within the network.
Forecasting Analysis: iPM encompasses various forecasting techniques within a unified interface, granting users the capability to analyze anticipated future trends in network usage for any counter and Key Performance Indicator (KPI).
Capacity Management: As networks expand and experience heightened traffic, there is often a decline in network performance. To prevent this deterioration, iPM Capacity management function becomes crucial to enhance performance and restore it to its initial levels. iPM is Addressing traffic shifts requires the strategic rebalancing of network traffic, ensuring even utilization across the network, thereby deferring capital expenditures on new equipment.
Worst Cell List: The Worst Cell List Report, an integral component of our iPM capabilities, is robustly supported by ranking conditions tied to specific periods for designated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This functionality empowers users to assess nodes with the poorest performance through detailed maps and charts.
Worst Degraded List:This module, seamlessly integrated into our iPM suite, efficiently troubleshoots and compiles a list of nodes with degraded performance over a specified period. It conducts in-depth analyses through maps and charts, facilitating immediate examination at the work area for detailed troubleshooting
Benchmark: After implementing an optimization action, users have the flexibility to initiate a benchmark across a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This benchmarking can be conducted on a Day-to-Day, Week-to-Week, or Month-to-Month basis, allowing for comprehensive performance evaluation over various timeframes.
Swap & Acceptance: In Swap Projects, users are required to compare Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) before and after the swap. iPM provides users with the convenient option to effortlessly compare the performance of vendors, facilitating a streamlined assessment of the impact of the swap on network performance.
In the world of mobile network testing, efficiency and accuracy are crucial for optimizing network performance. The “Eagle Eye” feature in INOS is a powerful tool that enables users to analyze large data sets in logfiles, extracting valuable insights through geofencing. This feature facilitates data-driven decision-making for network optimization.
Unveiling “Eagle Eye”
The “Eagle Eye” feature in INOS allows users to effortlessly search through logfiles containing millions of samples, making it a reality. Unlike the traditional method that required meticulous effort in recalling file names, dates, and locations, “Eagle Eye” offers an intuitive solution. Users can define their area of interest using geofencing, and the feature retrieves all relevant data within that area, saving both time and effort.
Optimizing Search Results
“Eagle Eye” offers various settings to streamline the search process, allowing users to optimize and narrow down their results efficiently. These settings include:
Time Aggregation: Users can pick time granularity (hourly, weekly, or monthly) to analyze data over specific periods, aiding trend identification.
Distance Aggregation: Users can set the desired distance aggregation for a detailed location-based network performance analysis.
Operator MNC/MCC: Users can filter their search results based on specific Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Country Code (MCC).
KPI Selection: Users can choose the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) they wish to extract from the logfiles.
Date Range and Time Clustering: Users can set a date range and cluster data in time to better understand network performance changes in specific periods.
Interpreting the Results
Once the search parameters are set, “Eagle Eye” presents users with an interactive map accompanied by a timeline.
Figure-2
“Eagle Eye” offers a user-friendly visual representation for easy navigation, providing insights into network performance across locations and timeframes. It also includes benchmark tables and histogram charts for comparative analysis and trend identification.
Use Case Scenarios
The application of “Eagle Eye” in INOS extends to various use cases like;
Pre-action Network Assessment
Performance Benchmarking
Team Performance Assessment
Investment Impact analysis
Conclusion
“Eagle Eye” in INOS is a game-changer for mobile network testing, with geofencing, result optimization, and visual representations that empower efficient insights extraction. It enhances decision-making, network performance, and operational excellence in mobile network testing.
INOS, Digis Squared’s vendor-agnostic, multi-network-technology solution delivering automated assessment, testing, post-processing and field optimisation of mobile networks, across all technologies, is now available as an AWS cloud-native tool.
The availability of INOS over AWS will enable Digis Squared’s clients to utilise the powerful mobile network testing and analytics capabilities with enhanced performance.
Abdelrahman Fady, Digis Squared CTO explained, “We’re excited to announce the deployment of INOS, our flagship product for network drive testing, benchmarking, post-processing and field optimisation over AWS. This deployment offers a host of benefits to our customers in the MNO industry, including a highly scalable and reliable infrastructure that can handle even the most demanding testing requirements.”
“With INOS’ advanced AI capabilities, our customers can gain predictive insights and automated optimizations that drive network efficiency and improve user experiences. This means that Digis Squared’s customers can proactively identify and address network performance issues, reducing downtime and improving overall network efficiency.”
“INOS’ deployment over AWS also means that Digis Squared’s customers can take advantage of a range of powerful tools and services that streamline network management, freeing up resources to focus on delivering value to their business. We’re thrilled to offer such a powerful and comprehensive solution to our customers and look forward to seeing the impact it has on their businesses.”
Digis Squared’s INOS is a vendor-agnostic, multi-network-technology solution delivering automated assessment, testing, benchmarking, post-processing and field optimisation of networks. Generating actionable reports in just 15 minutes, combined with live-view for instant adjustments, INOS significantly reduces the time taken to complete the work and opex cost, to deliver optimum customer experience.
INOS can be implemented as a public or private cloud, or on-premise solution, and is also available as a “Radio Testing as-a-service” model. Its extensive AI analysis and remote OTA capabilities ensure speedy and accurate assessment of all aspects of network testing: SSV, in-building and drive testing, network optimization and competitor benchmarking, across all vendors, network capabilities and technologies, including 5G, private networks and OpenRAN.
At Mobile World Congress 2023, the “world’s largest and most influential connectivity event”, Digis Squared showcased a number of solutions. In this blog post Obeidallah Ali, Digis Squared RAN Automation Architect & INOS Product Manager, shares INOS previews from the Digis Squared MWC23 exhibition stand.
INOS preview at MWC23
At MWC23, the Digis Squared team showcased and previewed new INOS kits, and a new graphical user interface (GUI).
Preview: new INOS interface
The live demos on the Digis Squared exhibition stand included 4G and 5G analysis of the live mobile networks in Hall 7 at MWC23, and featured a real-time INOS dashboard with 6x specialist widgets.
Mobile monitoring status: battery status, script status, temperature, and log files. Enables mobile device control, including sending of new scripts, locking on a certain band, or shutting down and restarting the device.
Time charts of serving RSRP (power level) of 5G. (The video shows some spikes which may occur due to mobile movement or activity, which is considered normal.)
Map with satellite view, displays the precise location of the mobile device within Hall 7 at MWC23.
Table of Layer 3 messages, deep signalling layer information from the air interface.
Table of radio and mobile side events, including starting and ending scripts, and multiple radio events, such as attach/detach, RRC setup, and more.
Time charts and multiple KPIs for downlink and uplink throughput. During speed tests, the charts change dramatically and show test results in real-time.”
Preview: new INOS kits
At MWC23 the Digis Squared team previewed 5 new physical INOS kits, for different deployment and measurement scenarios,
Static: in-building continuous active measurement
Single device: highly portable
Backpack: for indoor assessment, or along narrow streets on foot, bicycle or moped, enabling access to tricky-to-reach locations
Compact: cost-efficient, light-weight and holding up to 6 devices
Drive testing: self-contained, rugged and portable kit, holding up to 26 devices.
INOS updates to chipset & handset support
MWC23: With thanks to Obeidallah Ali and the INOS team, and in particular R&D EngineerYahia El-Ghayesh for his significant contribution to this demo and the development of the INOS kits.
Digis Squared’s INOS AI tool, developed in-house, is a vendor-agnostic, multi-network-technology solution delivering automated assessment, testing, benchmarking and optimisation of networks. Generating actionable reports in just 15 minutes, combined with live-view for instant adjustments, INOS significantly reduces the time taken to complete the work and opex cost, to deliver optimum customer experience.
INOS can be implemented as a public or private cloud, or on-premise solution, and is also available as a “Radio Testing as-a-service” model. Its extensive AI analysis and remote OTA capabilities ensure speedy and accurate assessment of all aspects of network testing: SSV, in-building and drive testing, network optimization and competitor benchmarking, across all vendors, network capabilities and technologies, including 5G, private networks and OpenRAN.
Mobile World Congress 2023, the “world’s largest and most influential connectivity event”, saw over 88,500 attendees join over 2,400 exhibitors, sponsors and partners, and over 1,000 speakers and thought leaders, in Barcelona at the end of February. Gwen Edwards, Digis Squared Marketing Director, recaps the team’s success, and shares INOS previews from the exhibition stand.
MWC is back, in full force
GSMA Mobile World Congress 2023 saw over 88k people visit the Fira Gran Via over 4 days, and with all the halls and the North entrance re-opened, there was a significant change in energy – the magic of MWC was back in full force!
Digis Squared team at MWC23
Participating as part of the UK Pavilion, the Digis Squared team had a full schedule of client and partner meetings – plus plenty of surprise opportunities to catch up with former colleagues and meet new connections in real-life for the first time.
Work with our partners is vital to the projects we deliver for clients, and MWC23 enabled the Digis Squared team to highlight their INOS solution on the vast Intel exhibition stand. As a Gold member of the Intel Network Builders Program, and a member of the Intel Partner Alliance, Digis Sqaured collaborates closely with the valued Intel team.
As part of the UK Pavilion at MWC23, and in collaboration with the Department for Business & Trade, Digis Squared participated in a Panel Discussion on “VR, AR & Network Optimization”, alongside Mike Jackson from UK Gov, Ed Greig FRSA from Deloitte Digital, and James Lee Burgess FRSA from UrbanXR.
MWC always delivers great networking opportunities, and the “Africa Mobile & Digital Economy Leaders Reception” was a special highlight this year.
New INOS hardware & GUI preview
Digis Squared used MWC23 to showcase a preview of the new form factors for INOS*, and the new fully-featured user interface. Watch this space for further INOS updates coming soon!
Thank you MWC23
The Digis Squared team were delighted to be back at MWC23 as part of the UK Pavilion, thrilled to be able to preview the new INOS interface and kits, and grateful to the brilliant Tradefair and UK Department for Business & Trade teams for all of their support.
The Digis Squared team are already making plans and looking forward to being back in Barcelona at MWC in 2024 – who knows, maybe next year we can fit the #DeloitteDigitalDog with INOS, and he can test coverage throughout every hall!
Digis Squared’s INOS AI tool, developed in-house, is a vendor-agnostic, multi-network-technology solution delivering automated assessment, testing, benchmarking and optimisation of networks. Generating actionable reports in just 15 minutes, combined with live-view for instant adjustments, INOS significantly reduces the time taken to complete the work and opex cost, to deliver optimum customer experience.
INOS can be implemented as a public or private cloud, or on-premise solution, and is also available as a “Radio Testing as-a-service” model. Its extensive AI analysis and remote OTA capabilities ensure speedy and accurate assessment of all aspects of network testing: SSV, in-building and drive testing, network optimization and competitor benchmarking, across all vendors, network capabilities and technologies, including 5G, private networks and OpenRAN.
Network Function Virtualization (NFV), is becoming increasingly important as mobile networks are being asked to handle an ever-growing number of connected devices and new use cases. In this article, Amr Ashraf, RAN and Software Solution Architect and Trainer, describes the benefits of NFV, capabilities and deployment considerations. Plus, we take a quick look at how Digis Squared’s powerful AI-tool, INOS, can help in the deployment validation of NFV.
Network Function Virtualization
Mobile virtualization – also known as network function virtualization (NFV) – is a powerful technology that has the capability to transform the way mobile networks are designed, deployed, and operated.
NFV enables the creation of virtualized mobile networks, and the isolation of different types of traffic on the same physical network infrastructure.
The creation of different virtual networks for different types of services or different user groups.
Multiple independent network operators to share a common infrastructure,
And improves the security of the network.
In this article, Amr Ashraf describes the benefits of NFV, capabilities and deployment considerations. Plus, we take a quick look at how Digis Squared’s powerful AI-tool, INOS, can help in the deployment validation of NFV.
The future of mobile network functions is virtual
Mobile virtualization is becoming increasingly important as mobile networks are being asked to handle an ever-growing number of connected devices and new use cases.
NFV & Infrastructure Sharing. One of the main benefits of mobile virtualization is that it allows for multiple independent network operators to share a common infrastructure. This can help to reduce the costs and complexity of building and maintaining mobile networks, and can also help to improve coverage and capacity in areas where it would otherwise be difficult or expensive to deploy new infrastructure.
NFV & Security. Mobile virtualization also helps to improve the security of the network by isolating different functions and providing a secure environment for each virtual network. This makes it an ideal solution for enterprise customers who need to maintain high levels of security for their sensitive data.
Deployment flexibility. Mobile virtualization is supported by software-based virtualized network functions (VNFs), which can be run on standard servers and storage systems, rather than specialized hardware. This makes it easy to scale and adapt the network to changing requirements. Additionally, it also makes it possible to deploy mobile virtualization solutions in a variety of different environments, including on-premises, in the cloud, or at the edge of the network.
NFV & 5G customisations. It’s worth noting that mobile virtualization is a key technology in building the 5G network. 5G network standards are designed to support network slicing, which can create multiple isolated virtual networks on top of a common physical infrastructure. This makes it possible to create customized solutions for different types of users and use cases, such as providing high-bandwidth services for multimedia applications, or low-latency services for industrial automation and control.
NFV is the future, and the future is now. Mobile virtualization is a rapidly evolving technology with considerable potential to transform the way mobile networks are designed, deployed, and operated. In the coming years, we expect to see more and more operators turning to mobile virtualization to meet the growing demands on their networks and stay competitive in the fast-changing mobile landscape.
Orchestration
Implementing mobile virtualization can present a number of technical challenges, including the management and orchestration of virtualized network functions (VNFs) and ensuring network security. Managing and orchestration of VNFs is a complex task, which involves provisioning and configuring VNFs, as well as ensuring their availability and performance. This is complicated by the fact that VNFs are software-based and can be deployed on a variety of hardware and virtualization platforms.
Security
As VNFs are software-based, they can be targeted by cyber-attacks just like any other type of software. Therefore, ensuring network security is vital when implementing mobile virtualization.
Additionally, virtualized networks may be vulnerable to new types of attacks that exploit the virtualization itself.
NFVO. One of the key solutions to these challenges is the use of network function management and orchestration (NFVO) systems. NFVOs automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of VNFs, and they help to ensure that the VNFs are highly available and perform well. They also play an important role in the orchestration of VNFs, which involves coordinating the actions of multiple VNFs to achieve a desired outcome.
Strong defences. Another key solution is the use of security solutions such as firewall, intrusion detection and prevention systems, secure VPN, and secure containers to protect the virtualized network, secure communication between virtualized functions, and protect virtualized infrastructure from unauthorized access.
Anomaly detection. Solutions based on artificial intelligence and machine learning can also be used to monitor and detect anomalies in the network, identify potential security threats, and take appropriate action to mitigate them.
Security strategy. In addition to these technical solutions, it’s also important to have a comprehensive security strategy in place to address any potential vulnerabilities and threats that may arise when implementing mobile virtualization. This can include implementing best practices for network design, conducting regular security assessments, and keeping systems and software up to date with the latest security patches and updates.
Skills & expertise. An often overlooked, yet important security consideration, is the need for skilled personnel who are well-versed in the technologies and best practices associated with mobile virtualization. As mobile virtualization is a complex technology that requires a deep understanding of network functions, security, and software development, it’s crucial to have a team of experts who can design, deploy, and maintain secure mobile virtualization solutions.
INOS & NFV
Drive testing can be used to validate the performance of virtualized network functions and ensure that they are providing the desired level of service. This can help to identify and troubleshoot any issues that may arise, such as poor performance or dropped connections. Drive testing can also be used to compare the performance of virtualized network functions with that of traditional, hardware-based network functions, in order to ensure that the virtualized functions are providing an equivalent or better level of service.
Digis Squared’s AI-solution INOS is an essential tool in the implementation and ongoing optimization of NFV. It helps to validate and troubleshoot virtualized network functions and ensure that they are providing an equivalent or better level of service compared to traditional, hardware-based network functions. Additionally, drive testing provides key information about the environment in which the network is deployed that can be used to optimize the deployment of virtualized network functions.
Conclusion
Mobile virtualization is a powerful technology that has the capability to transform the way mobile networks are designed, deployed, and operated. Key benefits it enables include,
The creation of virtualized mobile networks, and the isolation of different types of traffic on the same physical network infrastructure.
The creation of different virtual networks for different types of services or different user groups.
Multiple independent network operators to share a common infrastructure,
And improves the security of the network.
However, implementing mobile virtualization can present a number of technical challenges, including the management and orchestration of virtualized network functions (VNFs) and ensuring network security.
The use of network function management and orchestration (NFVO) systems, security solutions, AI/ML-based monitoring and anomaly-detection systems, and a comprehensive security strategy can help to mitigate these challenges.
Finally, NFV is a powerful, yet complex technology – it’s essential to work with an experienced team with deep expertise who can design, deploy, and maintain mobile virtualization solutions.
In conversation with Amr Ashraf, Digis Squared’s RAN and Software Solution Architect and Trainer.
INOS can be implemented as a public or private cloud, or on-premise solution, and is also available as a “Radio Testing as-a-service” model. Its extensive AI analysis and remote OTA capabilities ensure speedy and accurate assessment of all aspects of network testing: SSV, in-building and drive testing, network optimization and competitor benchmarking, across all vendors, network capabilities and technologies, including 5G, private networks and OpenRAN.
See INOS in action at LEAP, Riyadh & MWC Barcelona
Digis Squared will be at LEAP in Riyadh at the start of February, as part of the UK Pavilion H4.G30, undertaking cloud-based INOS demos. Plus the team will be at MWC Barcelona at the end of February, with a full suite of all the INOS solutions and form factors on a dedicated exhibition stand Hall 7 B13.
Anomaly detection: efficiently identifying and resolving issues across mobile networks is vital for the success of any CSP or MNO. With 5G network deployment ramping up, and beyond that, work towards autonomous networks, the use of AI to handle anomalies is vital. In this article, Amr Ashraf, RAN and Software Solution Architect and Trainer, describes how CSPs can more efficiently identify and resolve the real issues hidden amongst all the noise.
This article is also available as a stand-alone paper, here.
Identifying the real issues hiding in all the noise
Data volumes are only going in one direction – there are substantial increases in data volume as more people connect online, with more devices, more solutions move to the cloud, continued changes in customer behaviour and movement of people and information across society, and more and more daily interactions move online. This increased volume of data also provides far greater noise for cyber threats to hide within. Whilst networks continue to perform well, and meet demand, efficient use of resources will become ever more important.
New tools and approaches are needed to be able to identify and resolve issues in all the noise.
Anomaly detection and resolution: the role of AI
AI and ML provide the vital tools to handle this ever-growing volume of data. Soon – if not already – there will simply be too much data to analyse everything – but we can use AI to identify the unusual issues and outliers, and dig deeper into these anomalies.
Digis Squared & anomaly detection
Digis Squared’s INOS AI tool is a vendor-agnostic, multi-network-technology solution delivering automated assessment, testing and optimisation of networks, across all technologies. The data collected by INOS is analysed in the cloud-based AI engine, and it is here where anomalies are detected, assessed and actioned.
INOS: Three data collection methods
“INOS collects data in the field by one of three methods – a traditional “suitcase” format for drive testing, or a highly mobile backpack which can be used in narrow streets, or walking through shopping malls for example,” explains Amr Ashraf, RAN and Software Solution Architect and Trainer. “And this paper focusses on the third method, the static INOS active probe, and how the data it collects is analysed and actioned.”
INOS active probe
“The active probe is a static box which is typically deployed inside a building – maybe a corporate HQ, a high-profile area within an airport, or a new business facility. Perhaps the location is selected because the CSP wants to proactively support a new VIP client, gather KPI data, or improve SLAs. Once deployed, the probe continuously monitors the networks, and data is streamed to the INOS platform in the cloud, where it is analysed by the INOS AI engine.”
“In the first step of the analysis, the data collected by the INOS active probe is used to identify QoE – the quality of experience – problems experienced by mobile devices in the probe. INOS will assess the data and carry out root-cause investigations to identify the fault that led to the problem. This is accomplished by gathering various performance measurements from several layers – the network, hardware, link, and operating system – which are then aggregated and delivered to INOS cloud.”
“To put it more specifically, the probe regularly initiates a test scenario while recording network, hardware, link, and OS measurements. Given that QoE problems can come from a variety of locations along the path, measuring the performance of each layer enables not only the detection of QoE problems, but also the determination of the problem’s root cause. A database on the INOS cloud receives aggregated metrics as soon as they are made available.”
Why use active probes?
“One of the best ways to understand how the end-user perceives the performance from beginning to end is using probes. They offer real-time and historical end-to-end call tracing, KPIs that continuously track network health and customer experience, and proactive alarming (QoE).”
“The two basic methods—probe measurements—that can improve performance and enrich end-to-end analysis (from the user terminal to the core network) are active and passive probe measurements, Because they give detailed information that enables service operators to assess the service quality across various transport technologies, probes play a significant role in the ever-increasing complexity of modern telecom networks.”
“By defining some parameters, the INOS probe uses AI models to detect anomalies in any field KPIs. For example, parameters such as deviation parentage and time windows can be used to calculate the deviation value. The example below for RSRP in LTE takes this approach, and identifies a deviation of 20%.”
“Additionally, INOS is able to assess data from other channels, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter and email, and can assess behaviour of those apps for network anomalies too.”
“To achieve the goal of end-to-end quality metrics, these probe measurements should be connected with numerous node-to-node performance data as well as customer data,” explains Amr.
“An integral view from the customer, network, service, or terminal perspective is provided by Digis Squared’s in-house developed INOS and RAI tools. Together these two AI-tools can proactively manage the network by continuously monitoring end-to-end KPIs, created from various perspectives in the network. They can immediately identify any deteriorating trends and anomalies, for example, dropped-call ratio and set-up times.”
“All Digis Squared’s tools are vendor agnostic – networks are such a complex mix of solutions, that our tools simply have to be able to work with and analyse data from all vendors. And, of course, they also handle data from all network technologies, legacy 2G platforms through to 5G, they’re designed for all of this.”
Prioritization: counter-intuitive approaches are sometimes best
The costs and impacts associated with low and medium-severity anomalies may be far greater than the total cost of high-severity issues – smaller issues are often harder to detect, and take longer to identify and implement a fix, so their compounded cost can be higher. AI can help ensure counter-intuitive approaches to assessing priority can be handled without bias.
“A proactive approach can save money in addition to ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction by reducing the number of trouble tickets and so optimizing resource allocation. The pre-defined INOS reports’ ability to show service quality makes root-cause investigation possible across all network layers.”
“Today, the Digis Squared AI tools are able to continuously receive data from active probes in the network, identify anomalies and negative trends. They are also able to identify root cause, and propose recommended solutions to fix the issue. Working with our clients, in some installations we enable those recommended fixes to be automatically implemented, ensuring that frequently occurring minor issues are identified and resolved automatically. Of course, all issues are included in reporting. This approach ensures that staff do not need to intervene in the mundane, predictable issues, and can instead focus on assessing the recommendations the system makes for more complex issues.”
Anomaly handling and autonomous networks
The use of AI in anomaly detection and, critically, resolution, has great value for legacy technologies, and even greater value for new technologies and transformations. It’s a vital step in network function virtualization (NFV), cloud-native computing (CNC) and software-defined networking (SDN) technologies. And provides important preparation for CSPs as they ready their organizations for operations based on autonomous networks.
“The Digis Squared INOS active probes are a vital tool in providing high-quality data on background network behaviour and performance,” shared Amr. “Using this, our AI tools are able to continuously assess the streamed data and identify anomalies, assess their root cause, and then propose and implement recommended actions. AI solutions like this will soon be the only way in which CSPs can efficiently identify and resolve the real issues hidden amongst all the vast quantities of noise.”
Find out more about INOS
INOS can be implemented as a public or private cloud, or on-premise solution, and is also available as a “Radio Testing as-a-service” model. Its extensive AI analysis and remote OTA capabilities ensure speedy and accurate assessment of all aspects of network testing: SSV, in-building and drive testing, network optimization and competitor benchmarking, across all vendors, network capabilities and technologies, including 5G, private networks and OpenRAN.