Blog
Samsung Highlighted its Approach for Intelligent Applications in the Open RAN Ecosystem at MWC 2024
Mar 20. 2024-
Ji-Yun Seol
Vice President, Head of Product Strategy, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics
As 5G networks continue to mature and start moving toward a cloud-based architecture, mobile operators face the challenge of managing increasingly complex networks. Operators need intelligent and easy solutions that can help with managing these complex networks as well as foster innovation to increase time to market and boost performance. In addition, the RAN needs to accommodate diverse use cases and devices while providing the best possible user experience for each one. To address this growing complexity, new intelligent network applications have emerged as a solution.
Simply put, RAN applications on RAN Intelligence Controller (RIC) platform are similar to smartphone applications. Years ago, 2G phones only supported voice calls, and subscribers needed separate devices for different functions. With the advent of smartphones, users can now download various apps all through software. Similarly, with RAN applications, operators can easily deploy necessary functions to improve the efficiency and flexibility of their Open RAN without requiring different hardware for each function.
At MWC 2024, Samsung highlighted its intelligent applications ecosystem to help operators manage their complex networks and introduce innovation faster. The open and interoperable application suite enables mobile operators to optimize network management efficiency by embedding specialized functions specific to their networks. Samsung’s RIC platform supports Open API, making it possible to integrate with Samsung applications as well as other market-leading offerings. This helps operators to have a range of service scenarios and use cases, including comprehensive network analysis solutions for troubleshooting and optimization.
As a pioneer and leader in the Open RAN community, Samsung is dedicated to expanding ecosystem to support:
- Open and interoperable applications that adhere to O-RAN standards
- Comprehensive network analysis solution for troubleshooting and optimization
- Development of the best-of-breeds portfolio with Samsung applications as well as those from third parties
Samsung also live demonstrated some of the essential intelligent application functions developed by Samsung and its third-party partners.
Samsung continues to utilize AI technology for operators to maximize the intelligence and automation in their network, enabling them to conduct more comprehensive analysis and optimization. Some of the essential functions offered by Samsung include:
- Anomaly Detection automatically detects any degradation in major key performance indicators (KPIs) at both cluster and cell levels supported by AI-based intelligence. This ability helps reduce the resolution time of trouble tickets by detecting abnormal performance in the early stage.
- Energy Saving Manager (ESM) is an innovative solution designed to optimize energy consumption in cells. ESM intelligently manages cell activation and deactivation, ensuring minimal energy usage without compromising customer experience or KPIs. By leveraging advanced predictive algorithms, ESM identifies the user experience and KPI while ensuring energy saving, and makes decisions about which cells can be intelligently turned on and off without affecting service quality.
- Load Balancing Manager (LBM) estimates IP throughput based on user volume, and predicts congestion situations that may impact desired KPIs. LBM offloads UEs from the congestion cell to other cells, while maintaining sector IP throughput is not degraded. Owing to LBM, operator can handle dynamic loading without costly human intervention.
In addition to developing in-house applications, Samsung is working with third-party partners to offer more applications to improve operators' network management efficiency. Samsung’s robust ecosystem partners include:
Capgemini
- QoS-based Handover (HO) Parameter Optimization assesses QoS changes driven by UE movement to optimize the HO parameter of a base station.
VIAVI
- VIAVI Geolocation is a foundational application which reveals highly accurate User Equipment (UE) positioning, along with geolocated quality of experience metrics, speed and density estimated outdoor and in-buildings. Precise and continuous geolocation information can be delivered as specific feeds to power other RIC applications that can benefit from subscriber-centric insights to make better informed decisions.
Zinkworks
- Network Traffic Prediction (NTP) offers adaptive tools for predicting network traffic. Integrating this prediction into the network control plane makes networks more proactive and resilient.
- Quality of Service (QoS) Prediction enhances the 5G network by predicting KPIs and providing QoS scores. These forecasts improve network performance by enabling proactive resource allocation and dynamic network slicing.
Samsung's intelligent application ecosystem presents vast potential for the future of Open RAN. Similar to how the app revolution transformed smartphones into multi-purpose devices, RIC promises to unlock the full potential of intelligent Open RAN infrastructure. With trailblazers like Samsung leading the research and development of an open intelligent application ecosystem, operators across the globe are set to experience significant gains in automating and delivering new service levels.
The RIC provides operators with on-demand deployment of network capabilities, more intelligent management, quicker optimization of usage patterns and increased value from 5G investments. Looking towards the future, the flexibility and adaptability of RIC are vital to keep pace with the upcoming wave of 5G innovation. The future looks bright to usher mobile networks into an era of unprecedented efficiency, automation and excellence.