Huawei recently announced its groundbreaking advancement in network technology at the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024, unveiling IntelligentRAN 2.0. This innovation marks a significant step towards fully autonomous wireless networks by minimizing human intervention in network management. IntelligentRAN 2.0 aims to address the escalating labor and energy costs that have long posed challenges to the telecom sector. This development builds upon Huawei’s 2022 launch of IntelligentRAN 1.0, which introduced the Mobile Intelligent Engine (MIE), laying the foundation for further advancements.
The glaring feature of this update is the Highly Autonomous Network Architecture (HANA) designed to achieve “Level 4 network autonomy,” translating to networks that operate with minimal human involvement. Calvin Zhao, who serves as president of Huawei Wireless MAE Product Line, made a compelling analogy comparing the latest development with the evolution of self-driving cars. Similar to how self-driving vehicles have progressed, transforming from early models that required significant human intervention to highly autonomous versions, IntelligentRAN 2.0 aims to empower networks to function largely without the need for constant human oversight.
Highly Autonomous Network Architecture (HANA)
Service Layer: The Network’s Brain
HANA stands as the centerpiece of IntelligentRAN 2.0, utilizing a three-layer architecture to achieve its high levels of autonomy. The first layer, known as the Service Layer, serves as the network’s “brain.” This layer incorporates Huawei’s Telecom Foundation Model, an advanced AI trained on over 30 years of service support data. The utilization of such an extensive database allows engineers to harness the power of natural language commands. With this capability, the management of network functions is significantly simplified, reducing complexities previously associated with traditional network management.
Additionally, the Service Layer’s strategic use of AI provides intelligent automation that can anticipate and rectify potential issues before they escalate into significant problems. This predictive capability not only enhances network reliability but also optimizes operational efficiencies, leading to cost savings. Importantly, the Service Layer doesn’t merely react to issues; it actively monitors network performance, continually updating its predictive models to ensure optimal operation. This aims to build a more resilient and adaptable telecom infrastructure in a landscape that constantly evolves with tech advancements and market demands.
Network Layer: The Nervous System
The second layer, named the Network Layer, functions as the network’s “nervous system.” This layer is underpinned by Huawei’s RAN Digital Twin System, which creates a real-time, three-dimensional model of the physical network. The RAN Digital Twin System provides a highly accurate and dynamic representation of the network, enabling the identification of potential issues before they affect performance. Furthermore, it optimizes network changes and analyzes multiple scenarios simultaneously, allowing for refined and proactive network management.
The Network Layer’s ability to simulate different scenarios provides significant advantages, such as reducing the likelihood of network downtime and ensuring seamless service continuity. By predicting how various changes will impact network performance, operators can make informed decisions that enhance user experiences. As a result, the Network Layer not only bolsters network robustness but also opens avenues for continuous optimization, aligning with the rapid pace of technological advancements and consumer expectations in the telecom sector.
Device Layer: The Sensory System
The third layer, the Device Layer, acts as the network’s “sensory system.” It functions by continuously monitoring the status of the network hardware, including antennas and towers. This monitoring capability ensures that the network hardware operates efficiently and reliably, thereby reducing the need for physical site visits. Additionally, the Device Layer enables automatic adjustments to network components, which significantly cuts down on maintenance costs. Through this sensory system, networks can promptly adapt to environmental changes without necessitating human involvement.
This automation provided by the Device Layer is particularly crucial in managing large-scale networks, where manual monitoring and maintenance would be impractical and costly. The ability to remotely monitor and adjust hardware in real-time ensures continued network performance and uptime. Also, by minimizing the need for physical interventions, the Device Layer helps telecom companies mitigate the risks and challenges associated with maintaining a vast expanse of network infrastructure.
The Impact and Vision of IntelligentRAN 2.0
Scenario-Tailored Digital Engineers
Collectively, the Service Layer, Network Layer, and Device Layer create a trifecta that supports what Huawei calls “scenario-tailored digital engineers.” These digital agents harness the extensive data from the three-layer architecture, autonomously managing complex network tasks, continually monitoring and optimizing network performance, and energy usage. By leveraging this data-driven approach, Huawei’s IntelligentRAN 2.0 zeros in on creating a seamless and adaptive network environment, aiming for near-perfect efficiency and reliability.
These scenario-tailored digital engineers are designed to handle an array of network management challenges, ranging from routine maintenance and performance tuning to complex troubleshooting. By automating these tasks, IntelligentRAN 2.0 removes the bottlenecks associated with human intervention, facilitates quicker resolution times for network issues, and enhances overall service quality. This high degree of automation represents a paradigm shift in how telecom networks are managed, underscoring the potential of AI-driven solutions to transform industry practices.
Commitment to Innovation and Ecosystem Growth
Huawei has asserted that Level 4 autonomous networks powered by IntelligentRAN 2.0 mark a significant leap in network automation. Despite the ongoing integration of AI within networks, comprehensive cost savings have traditionally been elusive. Currently, a staggering 84% of networks achieve only Level 1 or Level 2 autonomy. This statistic underscores the substantial room for improvement and the potential benefits of advancing to higher autonomy levels. Huawei remains committed to pushing these boundaries and is actively using industry partnerships to foster innovation.
To drive this forward, Huawei has launched the “Intelligent RAN, Ubiquitous AI Project.” This initiative aims to accelerate innovation and growth within the larger telecom ecosystem. By fostering collaboration with industry partners, Huawei intends to develop new solutions that can further enhance network automation and efficiency. This project symbolizes Huawei’s long-term vision of creating an interconnected and intelligent network landscape that leverages ubiquitous AI.
Conclusion: The Future of Autonomous Networks
At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024, Huawei introduced IntelligentRAN 2.0, a major breakthrough in network technology. This innovation focuses on achieving nearly autonomous wireless networks by significantly reducing human intervention in network management. IntelligentRAN 2.0 aims to mitigate the rising labor and energy costs that have long plagued the telecom industry. This new development builds on Huawei’s 2022 debut of IntelligentRAN 1.0, which introduced the Mobile Intelligent Engine (MIE), laying the groundwork for future advancements.
One of the standout aspects of this update is the Highly Autonomous Network Architecture (HANA), designed to reach “Level 4 network autonomy,” implying networks will need minimal human interference. Calvin Zhao, president of Huawei Wireless MAE Product Line, made a compelling analogy comparing the evolution of IntelligentRAN 2.0 to the progression of self-driving cars. Just as self-driving cars have advanced from early models requiring significant human control to highly autonomous vehicles, IntelligentRAN 2.0 aspires to enable networks to function with little to no human supervision.
