2024.15.01 – Broadband Forum: “AI to boost network services”

Two new industry standards championed by the Broadband Forum aim to help service providers further improve the quality of network services delivered to customers thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as solve or anticipate network faults.

The Automated Intelligence Management (AIM) framework relies on AI, Machine Learning (ML), and automation to improve operational efficiency and reduce OpEx. It can reduce on-site maintenance and/or human intervention and anticipate faults before the user perceives or experiences any service problem.

“AIM promises to unlock new revenue streams and save costs for service providers, that have had to increase CapEx to scale their networks,” said Bruno Cornaglia of Vodafone who also serves as a Broadband Forum SDN/NFV Work Area Director. “For improved network monitoring and maintenance, these innovative technologies and solutions are available to be adopted to provide increased flexibility and seamless integration within deployed networks via their cloud‑native nature.”

TR-436 (Access & Home Network O&M Automation/Intelligence) defines the AIM framework and TR-486 (Interfaces for AIM) defines its associated interfaces to allow seamless vendor interoperability. Both specifications complement the cloudified network automation, low-maintenance operations, and streamlined deployments provided by the CloudCO suite of standards.