Vendor says that by collaborating this closely with MasOrange, it can tailor solutions to real-world environments and gain insights to aid the wider adoption of autonomous networks
MasOrange and Ericsson have deployed and continue to test the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), its service management and orchestration (SMO) solution and its ecosystem of AI-powered rApps. Ericsson is highlighting this as an exemplar of the platform in action in an open system, which is what it’s designed for. The plan is to optimise RAN automation and energy efficiency, to reduce cost and improve customers’ experience
During the project, EIAP was integrated with MasOrange’s commercial network through the already deployed Ericsson Network Management system. They also implemented the following rApps: the Ericsson Cell Anomaly Detector which allows service providers to detect network performance issues proactively and automatically; and the Future Connections Nix RAN Energy Saver which does what it says on the tin.
This initiative is hailed by Ericsson as a milestone, claiming that the joint effort accelerates the realisation of an autonomous, intelligent network and shows how operators can leverage AI-enabled automation to improve performance, reliability and efficiency.
SMO and open RAN ecosystem
In particular, it highlights the SMO platform which, it says, supports an open RAN ecosystem through a standardised architecture and interfaces to support multi-vendor interoperability. The SMO framework means network functions “can be seamlessly integrated”, according to Ericsson, so operators can deploy rApps from multiple vendors to advance automation and optimisation.
Ericsson and MasOrange have a long-standing relationship, from early 5G deployments in Spain to building what the vendor describes as of Europe’s most extensive, Open RAN-ready 5G Standalone networks. Note that about a third of MasOrange’s 5G network is ready to operate with Open RAN technology supported by Ericsson.
This project advances the joint work toward the programmable network announced in 2024 and reinforces the foundation of MasOrange’s architecture as the network evolves.
Future of network management
Jean-Christophe Laneri, Head of Cognitive Network Solutions at Ericsson, says, “rApps are the future of network management, with intelligent automation empowering service providers to deliver superior service quality with greater speed and precision. By collaborating closely with MasOrange, we are able to tailor our solutions to real-world environments and gather invaluable insights that will inform broader adoption of autonomous networks across the industry.”
The Ericsson detail is below, and linked here on our newsroom.
