- Verizon is working with Ericsson to integrate AI into RAN automation
- The latest stage in their collaboration will see the nationwide rollout of the Ericsson Intelligent Controller (EIC)
- The goal is Level 4 network autonomy, where the network carries out operational tasks with minimal human intervention
Verizon’s journey to Level 4 (L4) autonomy is getting a little help from Ericsson and rApps.
The latest development in their long-running collaboration: the nationwide rollout of the Ericsson Intelligent Controller (EIC) to support the deployment of AI-native rApps.
Ericsson says rApps, which are essentially cloud-native software applications, are central to autonomous RAN. In fact, they’re the building blocks of autonomous RAN domain – a direct step on the path from today's manual operations toward the intent-driven, self-managing networks that define the next decade of telecommunications.
That sounds like a tall order, but Ericsson and Verizon have been working on this for quite a while – long enough to commit to the national EIC rollout this year.
They’re already seeing results. Field deployment of fully autonomous, 24/7 closed-loop optimization rApps, such as the Advanced Antenna System (AAS) Cell shaper, provided gains of up to 8.9% on downlink data radio bearer throughput and up to 8% on uplink user equipment throughput.
Verizon presses toward L4 autonomy
Plans also call for Verizon to test and deploy new rApps, both self-designed and from Ericsson – including the Cell Anomaly Detector rApp, Root Cause Explainer rApp and Anomaly General Optimizer rApp – to improve network performance and enhance operational efficiencies. Accordingly, these rApps are expected to accelerate Verizon’s network autonomy journey toward L4.
The TM Forum defines autonomy on a scale from Level 0 to Level 5, with 0 representing “fully manual” and 5 being “fully autonomous.” Most networks today operate between Level 2 and Level 3.
Reaching Level 4, which is where the network can interpret business intents and execute operational tasks with minimal human intervention, requires intelligent automation applied systematically across the RAN lifecycle, according to Ericsson.
Earlier this year, Verizon CTO Yago Tenorio said the carrier was pushing hard toward Level 4 autonomy in critical segments of its core network and doubling down on GenAI to reach its target.
Ericsson said its open standards-based EIC provides a key foundation for the future of programmable networks.
The Ericsson Intelligent Controller is part of the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform, which the vendor describes as an open network management and automation platform for open, multi-vendor and multi-technology networks supporting 4G/5G RAN and Ericsson core networks.
Read more stories about Verizon and Ericsson on Fierce Network:
Verizon: 'We are pushing hard toward Level 4 autonomy in critical segments'
Ericsson CEO Per Narvinger wants a network without borders
Ericsson: Telcos don’t need perfect data to pursue network autonomy