Ericsson Introduces Agent-based AI to NetCloud for Personalized 5G Network Management
In the ever-evolving world of technology, wireless networks are becoming increasingly important, particularly as they keep pace with the growing demands of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Major players like Ericsson and Verizon Business are leading the charge in this area.
Ericsson, a pioneer in the field, is integrating its private network portfolio into NetCloud Manager, unifying what had been managed separately. This move is part of a bigger bet on 5G expertise, as the company pushes towards AI integration.
One of the key developments is the introduction of the NetCloud Assistant (ANA) and its AI-driven 'agents'. The first AI agent is a troubleshooting agent designed for day-two operations. This agent will be based on issues flagged by Ericsson's support teams, partners, and customers, aiming to assist administrators who have built networks using Ericsson-Cradlepoint devices.
The troubleshooting agent could potentially reduce downtime and customer support cases by more than 20%. It is described as AIOps for 5G-based networks, with the expansion of AI agents including configuration, deployment, and policy across NetCloud's secure access service edge (SASE) and Ericsson's Private 5G platform.
Meanwhile, Verizon Business has rolled out its Verizon AI Connect suite, teaming with Vultr, Google Cloud, and Meta to help businesses scale AI workloads. This move underscores the growing importance of AI in networking solutions.
The Dell'Oro Group, an analyst firm, has noted that enterprises are doubling down on AI-ready networking strategies. Besides Ericsson, other major players investing in corporate AI strategies include AstraZeneca, Saab, and the Swedish Wallenberg family, who together formed the joint venture 'Sferical AI' to develop advanced AI infrastructures for Swedish companies using Nvidia's latest data center chips.
Ericsson Enterprise Wireless is also integrating agentic AI into its NetCloud platform. The AI agents aim to predict network performance and apply quality of service to smooth out variability, a significant advantage in the inherently variable nature of wireless networks, which unlike wired networks, are a shared medium.
As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, it's clear that networking solutions are no exception. With major players like Ericsson and Verizon Business leading the charge, we can expect to see continued advancements in AI-integrated networking solutions in the near future.
