Current Challenges of Automated Networks
Currently, the growth of new technologies and the need to be connected, has caused companies, especially those in the technology sector, to need to optimize their internal networks, including the automation of processes such as server configuration, web application integration, scheduled maintenance and management of new services.
Telecommunications operators are automating network management and operations as a vital step in the modernization of their networks, the rapid scalability and digital transformation of their businesses.
One of the first objectives of automation is the reduction of OpEx (Operational expenditures), by eliminating the manual configuration of processes and reducing the time needed to correct errors. Better capital efficiency is another short-term objective, while some operators see the greatest benefit early in improving the resilience of the network.
There is no single automation path for everyone. Some operators begin their automation journey with the data center modernization efforts. Others focus on automating operating support systems (OSS). Wherever they start, operators logically point to virtualized functions before deciding how to handle legacy systems.
The benefits of 5G could be made clearer. Not all operators highlight 5G in the construction of the business case for automation. However, the efficiency of the network-enabled by automation is integral to its ability to manage 5G complexity and provide end-to-end 5G services to customers.
Some terms of interest
Orchestration
It refers to automated workflow management throughout the network. The Orchestration tries to align the business application with the applications, the data, and the infrastructure. Policies and service levels are defined through automated workflows, provisioning and change management. This creates an aligned application infrastructure that can be scaled up or down depending on the needs of each application. The orchestration provides a centralized resource pool management, including billing, metering, and chargeback for consumption.
SDN and NFV technologies
Software-defined networks (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) are the key pillars of future networks, including 5G and beyond. Together, these technologies facilitate the provisioning of network resources, reducing CapEx and OpEx and allowing greater network flexibility.
Service providers can take advantage of SDN / NFV to provide a flexible and cost-effective service without compromising the quality of service (QoS) of the end-user. While NFV and SDN open the door to flexible networks and the rapid creation of services, they offer security opportunities and, at the same time, present additional challenges and complexities, in some cases.
Software-defined networks (SDNs) adopt a virtualization approach to network management, treating the management of network devices separately from the data plane that controls network traffic. By adopting a software-defined approach to network administration, companies gain greater flexibility and control in the configuration of network resources, policy setting, and performance optimization.
Replacing the physical with the digital brings significant benefits, including:
• Elimination of prolonged cycles of acquisition, installation, and implementation of hardware.
• Fast configuration and modification of network resources through centralized and programmatic controls.
• Greater automation of network activities in response to processing demands. These include provisioning / de-provisioning, security policy modifications, and performance monitoring.
• Easier implementation and administration of security features, such as encryption key management, firewalls and VPN terminators to protect data and applications.
• Dynamically prioritize traffic based on processing demands, taking priority over-processing that can tolerate greater latency.
SDN and NFV technologies are complementary. SDN focuses on the control plane, while NFV focuses on optimizing the real network services that manage data flows.
With the NFV physical network, devices such as routers, firewalls, and VPN terminators are replaced by virtual devices that run on basic hardware. In many ways, this reflects the focus as a service characteristic of cloud services. These virtual devices may be available at the request of communications providers, networks or data centers.
The bad news
Network operators who follow the SDN / NFV route must be prepared to have their system and integration test equipment and perhaps even find a pair of encoders to solve the problems that prevent the solution from working in their environment.
The evolution to SDN / NFV requires an agile service compliance solution that supports the service provider’s journey from its current architecture to a hybrid of traditional domains and SDN / NFV, and finally to a completely virtualized environment. Companies need guidance on OSS / BSS architectural considerations to simplify and accelerate the provision of services.
Replacing all hardware requires considerable expenses, implementation challenges, and architecture that, until resolved, could affect the operations of any company. Also, there would be many non-technical problems, such as staff training to learn new technologies and processes.
Eventually, SDN and NFV technology will reach FTTH networks, but for most networks built today and in the coming years, SDN and NFV are not mature enough and are too far from deployment, ready to be a good solution for A network city with a handful of engineers doing everything.
