AWS for Industries

Road to zero-touch automation

At Mobile World Congress, Las Vegas 2022, I had the pleasure to feature on a panel. Mobile carriers are continuing down the path to zero-touch networks automation with the promised potential to eliminate manual errors, improve operational efficiency and reduce time to market for new services. Below are some of the highlights of panel discussion.

The #1 Driver of Network Automation for Mobile Networks

Network deployment and operations vs. service rollout and support. The ultimate automation should run from service rollout, coming from higher level Service Orchestrators that in turn deploy network functions from Core to Edge and integrate them to deliver an E2E Service. For CSPs today network deployment and faster time to market is the key driver for automation.

Broad Strategic Drivers for Automation.

Especially the catalyst of 5G Cloud Native services that makes Automation to embrace DevOps/CICD tooling. CSPs are looking at cloud automation tooling and methods to embrace for Telco Automation. The API based Network programmability, DevOps CICD, cloud-native services that directly map to 5G Services have been a catalyst to embrace cloud automation. The results show embracing cloud automation brings massive shift in the time to deploy network in a matter of hours instead of weeks.

The Role of RIC and SMO in the ORAN context.

SMO applying automation at scale to simplify the complexity of networks, as well as improve network performance, enhances customer experience and minimize RAN operational costs. The RIC function enables control and optimization of RAN elements and resources, AI/ML workflow including model training and updates, and policy-based guidance of applications/features. (Non Realtime RIC that resides with SMO and Realtime RIC that resides at RAN).

Automation helps Sustainability

Using AIOPs Automation the gNB sites power is optimized as per use, enabling sustainability. Rather than having the NF’s compute resources staying on even when the traffic is low.

What are the roadblocks? Internal issues like lack of expertise, internal ownership, employee bias is the legacy way of working. We face industry issues such as a lack of cloud-native maturity of CNFs and therefore are yet to witness more of the telco industry to embrace hyperscale automation.

Want to know more?

Cloud automation for 5G network https://d1.awsstatic.com/whitepapers/cloud-automation-for-5g-network.pdf?did=wp_card&trk=wp_card
CICD for 5G network on AWS https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/cicd_for_5g_networks_on_aws/cicd_for_5g_networks_on_aws.html?did=wp_card&trk=wp_card
Network slicing with cloudify on AWS https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/industries/implementing-5g-network-slicing-with-cloudify-on-aws/

Vara Prasad Talari

Vara Prasad Talari

Vara Prasad Talari is 5G and Network Transformation Practice Lead in Global Telecom Professional services at AWS. He is responsible for AWS ProServe’s global 5G and 4G strategy, portfolio, and customer adoption. He works closely with CSPs, and ISVs to help them gain agility, cost-savings, resiliency, and cost-savings by leveraging AWS for their networks. He led the first 5G Network on AWS implementation for Dish Wireless as the Design authority /E2E Technical lead from Proof of Concept to Production. Vara Maintains C-level relationships with clients, stakeholders, boardrooms, and peers becoming the “trusted advisor” and Lead 5G Network cloud transformation planning and strategy. He is responsible to guide customers to select the architecture, migration, and modernization approach and formulate an effective roadmap to adapting 5G Network on AWS. Before AWS, Vara was Head of Core Services and Care - Portfolio management in Nokia. He also led Nokia’s Cloud collaboration hub and developed 5G cloud-native solutions. He was the services lead for the ONAP initiative. He comes with 25 years of experience spanning from LTE, IMS to 5G Core. Vara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics & Communication from India, a Master's in Information Systems Management (MIS) from Keller Graduate School of Management, Atlanta, GA.