Service Assurance for Physical, Hybrid, & Cloud Networks

Everything about 5G networks is bigger. For 4G, a large national provider might have a network topology with ten physical data centers. Mobile core functions deployed at these locations represent the edge of the mobile network – the point at which core networks interface with radio networks via IP aggregation and backhaul networks. While expensive, for 4G, a service provider could deploy service assurance probes at each of these locations to effectively monitor all user traffic and signaling.

In this video we address the significant challenges and innovative solutions in the evolving 5G landscape. As the industry shifts towards highly software-centric networks, the skills required to manage these networks have also transformed. Test and measurement providers are stepping up to bridge this gap by developing advanced tools and methodologies. Latency issues and the demand for seamless connectivity are critical areas being addressed. Network densification, beamforming, massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and network slicing are essential components in managing and optimizing 5G networks. Network densification involves increasing the number of small cells in a given area to boost capacity and coverage. Beamforming and massive MIMO enhance signal quality and efficiency, while network slicing allows for the creation of virtual networks tailored to specific applications or services.

As 5G emerges from initial coverage deployments into adolescence, the urgency to identify new revenue opportunities has intensified. Gaming, AR/VR, video content and security surveillance headline an array of hot prospects under consideration. Delivering the performance and latency to power these next-gen services will require 5G to fully embrace its cloud architecture and will also place unprecedented demands on an array of telco, public/private and edge clouds.

Containing issues in today’s networks is a never-ending effort—and getting more intense as networks evolve to 5G, SD-WAN, and NFV. As networks are virtualized to support these next-gen services, manual troubleshooting simply can’t keep up. Service providers need new methods for assuring the network. This white paper explores two paths available for assuring the network: traditional passive assurance, relying on metrics collected passively as subscribers use the network. And active assurance, which utilizes highly realistic synthetic user traffic injected into the network at various points to assess performance and quality.

Spirent's Mobile Test Platform (MTP) an over-the-air (OTA) test solution is a key enabler of our service assurance solutions at the edge. Easy for anyone to install anywhere, it puts a real commercial device and up to 4 SIMs in a small form factor for placement wherever you need to monitor network performance, not just inside a closet or server room. Centralized control can manage thousands of devices and includes the ability to reboot remotely - sparing the need to dispatch field techs and potentially saving thousands of dollars.

__Introduction__ This report presents the results of the Heavy Reading 5G Network Analytics and Automation Operator Survey conducted in May 2023. Heavy Reading’s first survey focused on this topic provides insight into network operator views on 5G network automation and analytics.