5G technology has been at the forefront of recent telco investment waves. The global 5G services market was valued at USD 84 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 2.2 trillion by 2030 (growing at a CAGR of 59.4% from 2023 to 2030), according to Grand View Research.

5G offers revolutionary possibilities, such as enabling ultra-fast connectivity, low latency, and massive device connectivity. However, for many telcos, it’s now a case of recouping their large investments. Implementing and managing 5G networks presents unique challenges, from network planning and optimisation to service orchestration and operational efficiency. Perhaps even more front-of-mind for telcos is to identify attractive new offers to deliver to their customers.

SunVizion’s advanced OSS/BSS solutions provide telecom operators with the necessary tools to efficiently design, deploy, manage and optimise 5G networks, ensuring seamless service delivery and superior customer experience. They also provide many of the tools required to design new service types.

 

The 5G Challenge: Complexity, Scalability, and Automation

Whilst being technically advanced, the rollout and operations of 5G networks introduces several complexities that telecom operators must address:

  1. Network Densification – It’s quite common for telcos to use higher frequency bands to deliver 5G services. This typically requires network in-fill programs to deliver a dense network of small cells. It’s not just the cells, but it also requires management of fibre backhaul and dynamic spectrum allocation, making network planning more coordinated and intricate
  2. Dynamic Network Slicing – One of the features that is most innovative and provides the most potential for creative new customer offers is network slicing. It allows operators to create and manage virtualised network slices tailored to different applications and user requirements. It offers the potential to deliver private, segmented networks for customers over common infrastructure. However, this approach is so novel that many OSS/BSS solutions are unable to cope with this functionality yet
  3. Real-time Service Assurance – With ultra-low latency requirements, operators must proactively monitor and optimise network health and performance in real time
  4. Automated Service Fulfillment – Some of the new service types facilitated by 5G include high-volume end-points such as sensor networks or IoT (Internet of Things) clusters. Traditional manual provisioning is not feasible in this case, so automation is critical to managing these types of 5G services efficiently
  5. Massive Connectivity – Similarly, the sheer volume of these types of connected device necessitates highly efficient resource and service management

SunVizion has invested heavily in evolving its OSS/BSS solutions to address the unique requirements and features of 5G. These solutions address 5G-related challenges through intelligent automation, real-time analytics, clever design and seamless integration with 5G networks.

SunVizion’s Role in 5G Network Management

The following describes the important innovations that SunVizion products have

  1. Intelligent Network Inventory for 5G Infrastructure

A critical component of 5G deployment is maintaining an accurate and up-to-date network inventory. SunVizion Network Inventory solution enables operators to:

  • Gain near-real-time visibility into network assets, including small cells, fibre backhaul infrastructure, passive elements and all the virtualised elements of the 5G network
  • Automate network updates and detect discrepancies between planned and actual network configurations
  • Optimise resource allocation and reduce operational costs by streamlining asset tracking
  • Facilitate less common configurations like neutral hosting, network slices and massive connectivity solutions like IoT

With a centralised inventory system, operators can accelerate 5G network designs, rollouts and ensure efficient allocation / utilisation of network resources.

2. AI-Driven Network Planning and Rollout Management

The complexity of 5G networks demands advanced planning and rollout strategies. SunVizion AI Net Planner and Network Rollout Management solutions empower operators to:

  • Leverage AI-driven insights to identify optimal locations for small cells and fibre infrastructure
  • Consider the availability of existing capacity and new infrastructure for inclusion in designs
  • Incorporate design rules unique to each carrier
  • Automate network expansion plans based on real-time demand analysis and predictive modelling
  • Streamline project management workflows, reducing time-to-market for 5G network segments and associated service delivery

By integrating SunVizion AI and automation solutions, operators have significantly enhanced efficiency and minimise deployment costs.

3. Automated Service Fulfillment and Configuration Management

Due to the many virtualised components of 5G, service provisioning requires a highly automated approach but also better supports automation. SunVizion Service Fulfillment and Network Configuration Management solutions enable:

  • Zero-touch provisioning of network slices, ensuring rapid deployment of 5G services
  • Automated configuration updates across the network, reducing the risk of errors and service disruptions as well as improving service delivery repeatability
  • Similarly, dynamic policy enforcement to optimise service quality and compliance with regulatory requirements

This automation accelerates service activation and improves overall operational efficiency.

4. Real-Time Performance Monitoring and Fault Management

To meet 5G’s stringent performance demands, operators need proactive network monitoring and fault resolution. SunVizion works closely with Service Assurance solutions partners to provide:

  • Near-real-time awareness of the network’s health posture, performance and predictive measures to increase overall network uptime
  • AI-powered anomaly detection to identify and resolve potential issues before they impact customers
  • End-to-end visibility across physical and virtual network elements.
  • AI-powered scenario mapping and capacity analysis to identify potential choke-points and capacity exhaustion
  • Monitoring SLA-impacting metrics to ensure financial penalties are prevented

Combined, these capabilities ensure network reliability and enhances customer experience.

5. AI-Enhanced Customer Experience and Billing Optimisation

5G introduces new monetisation opportunities, but managing complex service plans and billing structures requires advanced BSS solutions. SunVizion’s Billing & CRM system supports:

  • Flexible billing models, including dynamic usage-based and SLA-driven pricing
  • AI-driven customer insights to personalise services and improve customer retention
  • Seamless integration with 5G service catalogs for efficient service design and order management
  • Identification of churn indicators, as well as cross-sell and up-sell opportunities

By optimising customer interactions and billing processes, operators can maximise revenue potential in the 5G era.

Shaping the Future of 5G with SunVizion

Telcos the world over have already invested heavily into 5G implementations. As 5G adoption accelerates, telecom operators need intelligent, automated, and scalable solutions to best recoup those investments. Carriers are also increasingly becoming aware of the need for advanced tooling to navigate the complexities of these next-generation networks. SunVizion’s OSS/BSS suite empowers operators to do just that.

With advanced network inventory management, AI-driven planning, automated service fulfillment and real-time analytics is helping operators to shape their 5G futures. In doing so, they’re also enabling telecom operators to unlock the full potential of this transformative technology and the investment they’ve already made in it.

Are you ready to optimise your investment in 5G and future-proof your most recent network builds? Explore SunVizion’s solutions and take your 5G strategy to the next level.