Overcoming 5G Network Configuration Complexities

Automated network configuration tools help deliver a 5G success by speeding up deployment of numerous 5G cell sites.

The 5G buzz has reached a crescendo and 5G melody will soon flow into the country. There is, however, a lot that goes behind the scenes into creating a harmonious melody. For instance, managing mobile network services entails management of thousands of neighboring cell-site parameters to ensure radio network configuration flows smoothly. When it comes to the roll-out of 5G networks, even more challenges come into play with complexities to be managed among 5G cells parameters, business rules and cell interdependencies. Top it with the fact that 5G has to coexist with existing network layers, supporting handovers between technologies to ensure a seamless user experience.

So how can operators tackle this level of complexity? Definitely not through manual processes as that can be prone to errors and negatively impact customer experience.

To find a viable solution, let’s dig deeper into network configuration challenges.

Constant upgrade rollouts:

Over different technology generations, operators tend to deploy radio access kit from multiple vendors. This places the operator in a constant state of upgrade rollout as each radio access kit comes with its own release cycle and upgrade drops per year. This brings new features, and henceforth, changes to parameter settings.

Support for multiple network technologies:

Operators require clearly defined hand-over strategies to support multiple network technologies. It may sound straightforward but is far from that—for every change that needs to be made to the network, data transcripts with new configuration settings need to be generated. These must manage multiple interdependencies between vendors, technologies and software versions to ensure service quality. Therefore, it goes without saying, this requires a tremendous amount of work and planning to guarantee the network remains fully operational and that subscriber expectations are met.

Management of multiple cell sites in 5G:

5G networks will require the deployment of numerous new cell sites; coincidentally, each cell site will require thousands of different parameter settings. To make it more complex, imagine cell sites that also include GSM, UMTS, and LTE. In this scenario, the network will be required to manage interdependencies between those technologies and handovers will need to work. In other words, this means neighbor settings, power settings and cell parameters will have to comply with hundreds of customized rules and policies as cell site transcripts will be built out.

Configuration management can’t remain manual

Historically, network configuration has been a long-drawn, manual process that impedes progress. In a 5G environment which will require numerous new cell sites to be deployed, network operators will require an efficient and automated configuration management tool.

Configuring a complex new site can take many hours and the likelihood of a miscalculation, typo, or mistake is unavoidable. A new configuration, therefore, may lead to a set of errors with invalid ranges, invalid values and so on. While some of these issues can be identified and corrected during the deployment stage, this inevitably translates into more service hours and lengthy delays.

It will also be easy to overlook mistakes, only to discover them later when the site is switched on and is found to work sub-optimally. This will place extra pressure on engineering teams as they will have to put in more effort to fix these configuration errors.

Speed of execution will be critical for 5G success

Configuration management tools can avoid convoluted, manual processes, and can significantly improve site integration time-frames. These tools help maintain network integrity by automating the monitoring, auditing, updating, validating, and reporting of cell site configurations. It is critical to ensure that configuration changes made to the Radio Access Network (RAN) are accurate. This in turn will imply excellent quality of experience is maintained.

Every business requires faster ways to find new service monetization opportunities and 5G will be no different. Ambitious roll-out timelines will increase the need for automatically and rapidly generating error-free transcripts, which in turn will lead to faster 5G deployments.

In today’s highly competitive environments, every business also requires aggressive GTM strategies. In telecom, time to market is a highly criticalbusiness parameter. Automation therefore becomes the key to saving both time and money. It also allows operators to deliver a significantly improved service to its customers.

Focus on 5G site integration

When it comes to mass 5G site integrations, the right configuration management tool can enable network engineers to launch new 5G cell sites efficiently and securely.It can also become part of the ecosystem that helps to maintain network integrity and quality of service. For successful 5G network deployments, speed and quality will matter more than ever before.With 1.14 billion wireless subscribers, India Inc. will require aggressive speeds to deploy 5G cell sites to increase its base of 5G customers as a business imperative.

The way ahead, therefore, will be to bid goodbye to manual processes and adopt automated network configuration tools to accelerate this time consuming and resource intensive 5G journey.

Authored by: Jugad Bawa, Director, Sales, South Asia and Middle East, TEOCO,India