MantaRay SON
Intelligent automation is a critical component in 5G RAN optimization. As the landscape of communication service providers (CSPs) evolves to embrace the opportunities presented by 5G, the accompanying surge in network complexity becomes unavoidable. The coexistence of 5G alongside 4G and other legacy infrastructures amplifies the intricacies of network management and optimization to an unprecedented level, surpassing the capacity of manual handling alone. Fortunately, manual intervention is no longer the sole recourse.
Nokia’s self-organizing networks (SON), powered by closed-loop automation and machine learning, herald a new era where every cell within your radio access network undergoes automatic optimization, ensuring optimal performance across the board.
Enhancing 5G Radio Network Quality, Efficiency, and Customer Experience
Nokia’s MantaRay SON empowers you to streamline operations and unlock the full potential of your existing 2G, 3G, and 4G networks while seamlessly transitioning to 5G. Offering a centralized SON platform automates operations across various technologies, simplifying the complexities inherent in multi-vendor and multi-layered networks.
Nokia’s extensive pre-built SON modules execute self-configuring, self-healing, and self-optimizing actions, elevating network performance and efficiency. Additionally, if specific needs demand customization, Nokia’s software development kit (SDK) allows you to craft tailored solutions precisely aligned with your requirements.
Nokia MantaRay SON Features and Benefits
Some of the features and benefits of Nokia’s MantaRay SON include:
Self-Configuring
- Streamlined automated configuration tasks, such as site creations.
- Maintained efficiency despite escalating network complexity.
- Reduced reliance on physical site visits.
Self-Optimizing
- Precision optimization of parameters and coverage usage.
- Enhanced network quality and performance, ensuring every user receives the best experience.
Self-Healing
- Automated fault resolution, leading to faster maintenance and reduced outage times.
- Decreased time and cost associated with system failures, minimizing manual intervention.
Improvement in 5G Network Quality
- Cognitive SON mitigates the risk of human errors by entrusting real-time problem analysis and solutions to machine learning systems.
Intelligent RAN Energy Management
- Leveraging AI/ML-powered intelligent RAN energy management facilitates automated energy savings across all radio network types, maintaining network KPIs without compromise.
MantaRay NM
Network management refers to the comprehensive set of activities involved in overseeing and optimizing the operation of a network infrastructure. In the context of mobile networks, network management encompasses configuration, automation, optimization, monitoring, analytics, and troubleshooting tasks.
Effective network management becomes increasingly crucial as mobile networks evolve, driven by increasing data traffic and complexity. Operators often contend with multi-vendor and multi-technology networks, which adds another layer of complexity to network management efforts. Therefore, network management systems must adapt to address the escalating network complexity and the expanding volume of traffic and data.
A network management system comprises tools and functionalities designed to manage various network elements in live and future environments. These systems provide a broad range of operation and maintenance capabilities for core, radio, and transport network elements. This includes managing physical network elements and virtualized network functions, ensuring the smooth operation and optimization of the entire network infrastructure.
Why Is Intelligence Necessary In Network Management?
Intelligence is essential in network management, particularly with the advent of technologies like 5G. Expanding network elements, sites, and cells in 5G networks introduces unprecedented complexity that cannot be effectively managed through traditional means alone.
Here’s why intelligence, primarily facilitated by machine learning, is necessary:
Operational Efficiency
With the vast array of network elements in 5G networks, simply automating tasks is insufficient. Machine learning adds a layer of intelligence that enables more sophisticated management techniques, increasing operational efficiency.
Complexity Management
Managing multi-technology networks, such as those incorporating 5G alongside existing infrastructures, is inherently complex. Manual management of these networks could be more practical and prone to errors. Machine learning algorithms can navigate this complexity more effectively, ensuring smoother operations.
Resource Optimization
By offloading repetitive tasks to machine learning algorithms, network engineers can focus on more strategic and value-adding activities, leading to better resource allocation and utilization.
Intelligence, driven by machine learning, is crucial for effective network management in the era of 5G. It enables operators to navigate complexity, reduce errors, accelerate service deployment, and optimize resource utilization.
Error Reduction
Human error is a significant cause of network outages. By incorporating machine learning-driven automation, typical mistakes can be identified and mitigated, reducing the likelihood of network disruptions.
Faster Service Deployment
Machine learning algorithms can automate routine tasks and streamline processes, enabling quicker introduction of new services and functionalities within the network.
Ensuring Seamless Network Management in 5G Environments
Nokia’s MantaRay NM empowers mobile network operators to effortlessly manage the ongoing surge in data traffic. Its seamless management capabilities shine brightest in environments characterized by multiple technologies and network layers. Developed with a forward-looking approach, MantaRay NM functionalities are adept at handling 5G requirements from the outset.
This commitment to continuous enhancement is evident through the introduction of premium features. Examples include zero-touch 5G rollout facilitated by Plug-and-Play functionality, streamlined mass base station rebuilding to facilitate smooth SRAN migration, and efficient mass change verification across network elements.
The World’s First Automated 4G/5G Slicing in the RAN Domain
Nokia’s network management system leads the industry by being slice-aware, starting from 4G. Implementing slice automation empowers operators to streamline their operations, reducing operational costs and meeting the demand for rapid service deployment. As an integral component of Nokia’s end-to-end 4G/5G radio slicing solution, MantaRay NM is Nokia’s flagship network management system.
The cutting-edge system provides automated Configuration and Performance management for 4G and 5G radio slices, ensuring optimal operation and performance across the network.
Machine Learning Integration in Network Management
Nokia’s MantaRay NM harnesses the power of big data, integrating it with machine learning techniques to enhance various functionalities. As the central hub for network-wide operations, MantaRay NM facilitates efficient management and is a valuable data source for other machine learning applications within CSP networks.
Ongoing collaborations between operators and Nokia focus on advancing machine learning concepts and implementing use cases, such as intelligent correlation of network alarms. These collaborative efforts drive innovation and maximize the value of machine learning in network management, leading to more intelligent and efficient operations.
Efficiently Minimize Radio Network Energy Consumption While Enhancing User Experience
Base station sites typically account for 70-80 percent of a mobile network’s energy consumption. Mobile operators are confronted with an annual increase of 10-30 percent in mobile network energy usage. Effectively managing energy efficiency becomes imperative to control costs while meeting end users’ service expectations.
As part of Nokia’s MantaRay Energy solution, MantaRay NM plays a pivotal role in significantly reducing power consumption in radio networks. By leveraging this solution, CSPs can work towards achieving their zero-emission targets while ensuring that end users experience seamless service quality.
Nokia MantaRay NM Benefits and Features
Nokia’s MantaRay NM offers a centralized view of multi-technology networks, encompassing 5G, 4G, 3G, and 2G technologies. It provides a suite of best-in-class tools for troubleshooting, administration, software management, configuration management, and 4G/5G slice management.
Key features include:
Comprehensive Toolset: MantaRay NM boasts a comprehensive toolset with high automation and machine learning techniques. This enables efficient rollout and rapid troubleshooting through ready-made, customizable workflows, REST-based APIs, and command-line interfaces.
Release Independence and Continuous Software Delivery: With MantaRay NM fast pass, Nokia offers an innovative solution ensuring release independence and continuous software delivery, facilitating seamless updates and enhancements.
Deployment Flexibility: The platform allows for software-only and bare metal deployment, running on virtualized environments such as OpenStack, VMWare, and CloudBand Infrastructure Software, ensuring deployment flexibility.
Easy Integration: MantaRay NM seamlessly integrates into existing OSS environments, offering open interfaces based on industry standards and toolkits for easy integration with third-party network elements, element management systems, and other upper-level management systems.
Carrier-Grade Availability, Security, and Robustness: The solution ensures carrier-grade availability, security, and robustness with superior security mechanisms, including self-monitoring, multi-VLAN support, network segregation with a built-in firewall, robust handling of unexpected outage situations, and advanced forensics and auditing of user actions.
MantaRay RIC
RAN Programmability at the Edge with MantaRay RIC
MantaRay RIC stands at the forefront of RAN innovation, offering support for cutting-edge RAN use cases. By implementing O-RAN standardized near-real-time RIC capabilities, MantaRay RIC delivers unique value, enabling efficient and flexible utilization of RAN control. This connectivity empowers the realization of valuable use cases, unlocking the full potential of RAN programmability at the edge.
Facilitating O-RAN Compliant RAN Programmability with Near-Real-Time RIC
The near-real-time RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) empowers external control applications, known as xApps, to manage various 5G radio network aspects. These xApps, originating from diverse sources, offer a multitude of benefits.
Some prominent use case scenarios for xApps include:
Automated AI/ML-Based Network Optimization xApps: Leveraging advanced AI/ML algorithms, these xApps automate network optimization processes, enhancing performance and efficiency.
Use-Case Specific RAN Customization: xApps enable tailored customization of the RAN to suit specific use cases, such as enterprise-specific RAN adaptations, ensuring optimal network configurations for varying requirements.
Innovation in the RAN: Introducing Service Awareness: xApps foster innovation within the RAN by introducing functionalities like Service Awareness, enhancing the network’s capability to adapt and respond to evolving service demands.
RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) xApps
As part of Nokia’s commitment to implementing near-real-time RIC use cases, they are actively developing several xApps and collaborating closely with customers and research groups on application development.
Nokia Advanced Traffic Steering xApp
Leveraging AI/ML-based optimization algorithms, this xApp dynamically enhances traffic distribution efficiency within the RAN. Its benefits include increased cell resource utilization, optimized spectrum usage, enhanced device throughput, and improved user experience.
Nokia Anomaly Detection xApp
Harnessing machine learning capabilities, this xApp swiftly identifies and classifies irregular behavior patterns within the RAN, including cell and potential future device issues. Reducing reliance on human intervention facilitates faster issue identification and can trigger automated network healing, enhancing RAN availability.
Use Case: Nokia’s Extreme Deep Sleep Mode Enhances Energy Efficiency for Orange’s Mobile Networks
In collaboration with Orange, Nokia has introduced a groundbreaking power-saving mode named ‘extreme deep sleep.’ This innovative solution, leveraging Nokia’s latest AirScale radio architecture and Reefshark System-on-Chip chipsets, will be deployed by Orange in the latter half of 2024. The primary goal is to bolster the energy efficiency of Orange’s mobile networks while maintaining optimal performance and customer experience.
The ‘zero traffic, zero Watt’ mode detects periods of low network traffic and strategically shuts down key components of selected radio units’ hardware to conserve energy. Nokia anticipates a remarkable reduction in radio unit consumption by a factor of eight through this solution. The extreme deep sleep mode will seamlessly integrate into the upcoming generation of Nokia’s AirScale RAN portfolio.
This solution uses software embedded within Nokia’s Habrok radio units in conjunction with Nokia’s MantaRay energy solution. MantaRay employs advanced AI and ML algorithms to optimize energy consumption within radio access networks. The extreme deep sleep mode surpasses previous deep sleep solutions by disconnecting additional hardware subsystems, further enhancing energy savings.
The telecommunications industry increasingly prioritizes sustainability, making the development of energy-efficient solutions paramount. Rising energy costs constitute a significant portion of network operators’ expenses, with the radio access network (RAN) alone accounting for approximately 80 percent of total mobile network energy consumption.
About Infinity Technology Solutions
Infinity Technology Solutions specializes in broadband and critical communications infrastructure development. We help our channel partners create and deploy private wireless, microwave backhaul, IP/MPLS, and optical networking technologies.
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