Automations of all shapes and sizes have long been seen as the panacea for all telco network operations problems. They are intended to deliver swift and precise network planning, deployment, and management, reducing the potential for human error and optimising workflows. Network Lifecycle Automation (NLA) is a relatively new term being used in the telecommunication industry to incorporate the many different forms of telco ops automations. NLA aims to categorise the automations that change the way that networks are designed, deployed and managed. Many of these forms leverage the power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help network operators to be more efficient and effective.

Network lifecycle automation with NLA

The NLA provides a framework across 10 categories for automating tasks across different phases in the network lifecycle, creating end-to-end use cases to achieve specific business outcomes.

Automated Network Planning

When considering an end-to-end network lifecycle, one of the initial phases involves planning the network's structure. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), this process of network rollout planning has become more efficient and precise. These tools use state-of-the-art machine learning frameworks to optimise the planning and roll-out of networks, at the start, in-flight and/or in near-real-time as delivery timelines change (e.g. repeat truck rolls, customers not in attendance at their premises, etc). Importantly, these automated planning / design tools also allow for changing states in the data, from planned, to commissioned, to in production to planned obsolescence.

Network Build, including Flow-Through Provisioning or Orchestration

The next phase involves building the network. Here, automation plays a crucial role in streamlining and accelerating the process, ensuring that the network is set up promptly and correctly across all layers of a network. This ranges from outside plant works (e.g. directional boring of new cable routes and cable placement / splicing) to the build of network overlays (often in software, using network orchestration tools)

Automated Network Configuration

Once the network is built, it can then be configured, turned on, commissioned and handed over to operations. Automation has transformed this process, reducing operator swivel-chairing, the risk of human error and the time it takes to operationalise the network in readiness for customer services.

AI Operations (AIOps)

AIOps tools are becoming increasingly important in managing the network's performance. AIOps solutions provide multiple layers of functionality to improve the effectiveness of network operations. A key feature is noise reduction to highlight only the most important information being presented by the networks and suppressing secondary or low priority events. Predictive operations foresee potential issues and address them proactively, while preventive operations maintain the network's health, preventing problems before they cause outages or customer-impact events. Perhaps most importantly, AIOps can also recommend next best action (NBA) responses for operators to perform.

AI-Based, Topology Stitching and Cross-Domain Correlation of Events

AI is instrumental in two elements of managing cross-domain events. 

  • Firstly by helping to stitch together a variety of network data sources into a common network topology map. 
  • Then by correlating data across those various network domains, often using the topology model to identify event proximities. 

This pair of solutions provide insights and visibility into the overall network health, identifying trends and patterns that could impact network performance.

Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

Zero-touch provisioning allows new network devices to be installed and configured automatically, minimising manual intervention. This feature significantly simplifies network operations and reduces the potential for human error. In many cases, the network equipment supplier provides the telco with templated, pre-provisioned equipment that auto-configures when correctly powered-up and connected.

Self-Healing, Self-Optimising Networks (SON)

With advanced SON automations, networks can "heal" themselves by detecting and resolving faults or performance degradations automatically. Moreover, they can optimise their performance by continuously analysing network data and adjusting parameters for optimum performance. These have come into particular relevance through radio networks like 5G, but other domains and even cross-domain networks are now beginning to support SON initiatives.

Cognitive Smart Field Operations

Cognitive smart field operations utilise AI to provide field engineers with real-time information and insights, enabling them to make informed decisions and perform their tasks more efficiently. This includes automated route-finding (to the next job in their job list), milk-runs (optimal sequences of jobs), skills-based routing (finding the right person for the right job at the right time) and others all in real-time as the in-field situation changes.

Unified Network and IT Operations

NLA also allows for unified network and IT operations, integrating the management of the network infrastructure with IT operations and even security operations. This coherent approach to operations promotes cross-functional collaboration, streamlining processes and improving overall efficiency.

Continuous Monitoring and Improvement

Lastly, automation enables continuous monitoring of the network, identifying issues and areas for improvement. As networks become increasingly software-centric, Agile delivery processes and tools further enhance this by enabling iterative development and rapid deployment of solutions, ensuring that the network remains up-to-date and capable of meeting evolving business needs.

Revolutionary “umbrella” concept

Network Lifecycle Automation is a revolutionary “umbrella” concept that combines the many different next-generation tools that are reshaping the landscape of network management. By automating tasks across the entire network lifecycle, it is creating more resilient, efficient, and agile. As technology continues to advance, the underlying technologies seem to be proliferating and becoming more complex to manage, so the importance of automation in network management is only expected to grow.