RAN Intelligence: Powering Next-Generation Open RAN
Reducing TCO and optimizing energy use in next generation RAN demands a superior level of network intelligence.
Operators are increasingly concerned about rising energy costs. Additionally, they need to lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and ensure a positive return on investment (ROI) for their network upgrades amid growing competition and stagnant subscriber growth.
5G networks handle massive data traffic and connect billions of devices but consume more power due to new technologies such as 4×4 MIMO and small cell densification. Improving energy efficiency helps save on electricity bills and overall network operation. It also addresses sustainability concerns, aligns with regulations, and improves CSR profiles.
Tackling the Energy Challenge
RAN intelligence is composed of the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), third-party r/xApps with built-in data analytics. Together, these elements form an interactive brain that enables self-learning, self-optimizing, and efficient AI/ML-driven wireless network.
The RIC and associated Energy Saving Apps can reduce the energy consumed by the RAN by making intelligent decisions to optimize resources, balance loads and steer traffic without compromising user experience.
An example of such a decision is automatically switching off cells for the period of time when they are not needed. This can significantly reduce the energy consumption of wireless networks by up to 20% or more, as demonstrated by VIAVI at MWC 2023 in Barcelona. Taking an average of 5,000 cells per operator in the United States, for example, equates to approximately $25m cost savings per operator per annum at February 2023 energy prices. This reduction in energy consumption not only results in cost-savings, but also directly translates to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting the environment over time.
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Test and optimize to enhance the RAN intelligence
Before integrating the RIC and Energy Saving Apps into a live network, operators, network equipment manufacturers, and App developers must fully understand and validate the complex relationship between the network and the r/xApps.
r/xApps should be trained in the lab to best optimize 5G energy savings for a particular network architecture and topology. To do that, one needs to emulate RAN hardware, software, cells, power consumption and traffic conditions to test RIC performance under real-world conditions.
Discover more on how to boost the RAN intelligence at www.viavisolutions.com/ran-intelligence
This is the first blog post from the new series “RAN Intelligence solutions: from standard, to highly intelligent open networks”. Stay tuned for more!
