Service Assurance in Telecommunications: Necessity, Implementation and Future Prospects

In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, cellular networks are tasked with meeting the growing demands of emerging applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication. To ensure the success and ubiquity of these networks, service assurance plays a critical role in delivering exceptional performance, reliability, and availability. This article explores the significance of service assurance, particularly in private LTE/5G networks with stringent requirements, and highlights the importance of complete visibility, automated recovery, and integration with end-to-end service orchestration frameworks.

Service Assurance Requirements for Private LTE/5G Networks

Private LTE/5G networks, widely adopted by enterprises and industries, impose more stringent service assurance requirements. As these networks become crucial for mission-critical tasks, it is imperative to ensure seamless operations, rapid fault detection, and minimal service disruptions.

The Significance of Complete Visibility and Automated Recovery

Complete visibility within the network infrastructure is vital for service providers delivering private LTE/5G networks. Proactive monitoring and real-time analysis of network elements enable swift detection of potential customer-impacting issues. Automated recovery mechanisms, triggered as soon as service degradation is detected, minimize downtime and deliver an uninterrupted user experience that meets customers’ demanding expectations.

Defining SLA Parameters in Measurable Metrics/KPIs

Service Level Agreement (SLA) parameters play a crucial role in ensuring that service providers meet the agreed-upon performance benchmarks. These parameters must be defined in terms of measurable metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that accurately reflect the quality of service being delivered. Properly defined SLAs facilitate effective monitoring, analysis, and troubleshooting, enabling service providers to proactively address any deviations in performance.

The Scope of Service Assurance in 5G Network Management

Service assurance in a 5G network involves managing and monitoring all domains, including radio, transport, core, and application layers. This comprehensive approach enables service providers to detect, analyze, and resolve potential issues across the entire network infrastructure. By effectively managing each network slice tailored to specific applications or industry requirements, service providers can optimize performance and deliver customized experiences.

Providing Complete Visibility to Customers

Beyond meeting internal service assurance requirements, service providers offering private networks must provide complete visibility to their enterprise customers. Transparent and real-time reporting of network performance allows customers to assess service quality, make informed decisions, and optimize their own operations accordingly. This transparency fosters trust and strengthens the partnership between service providers and their enterprise clientele.

Leveraging an Integrated NWDAF and Service Assurance Solution

The integration of the Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) and Service Assurance solution enables network operators to efficiently identify network slice instances and create slice utilization KPIs. This integration helps monitor and manage the resources allocated to each network slice, ensuring optimal service delivery and efficient resource allocation.

Integration with End-to-End Service Orchestration Frameworks

To achieve the desired performance, reliability, and availability in private networks, service assurance information must be seamlessly integrated with end-to-end service orchestration frameworks. By doing so, service providers can ensure that the orchestration of services and network elements aligns with the defined SLAs, enabling agile and responsive operations that adapt to changing demands.

Automation as a Core Requirement for Corrective and Predictive Actions

To effectively implement corrective and predictive actions in a closed-loop manner, a high degree of automation is essential. The automation of service instantiation and network element provisioning streamlines the processes for ensuring desired performance levels, reducing manual interventions, and minimizing potential errors. Advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques facilitate closed-loop automation frameworks that significantly contribute to achieving a zero-touch network.

As cellular networks evolve to cater to the needs of emerging applications, service assurance becomes a critical factor for success. Private LTE/5G networks, in particular, require enhanced service assurance measures to meet demanding customer expectations. By prioritizing complete visibility, automated recovery, integration with service orchestration frameworks, and closed-loop automation, service providers can deliver exceptional network performance, reliability, and availability. Embracing service assurance technologies and strategies, including AI/ML-driven automation, paves the way for a zero-touch network, ensuring seamless connectivity and unlocking the full potential of emerging applications.

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