TM Forum Launches High Reliability AN Solution for Autonomous Networks in a New Paradigm

Introduction

TM Forum has recently unveiled its latest Core Network High Reliability Autonomous Networks (AN) Solution Package during the Innovate Asia Autonomous Networks Masterclass. This event featured Michael Wang, a core network solution expert from Huawei, highlighting the significant advancements in ensuring core network reliability.

Solution Package Overview

This new AN Solution Package emphasizes high stability and integrates TM Forum’s IG1500 standards to offer reusable autonomous network templates. It marks a major milestone for commercial deployments, providing operators with essential tools for maintaining a robust network infrastructure.

Seven Dimensions of Core Network Stability

The solution tackles seven key dimensions to assure core network stability, including:
1. High Stability Deployment Architecture
2. Control Plane Disaster Recovery (DR)
3. User Plane DR
4. Infrastructure DR
5. Anti-Signal Fluctuation Capability
6. Risk Prediction
7. Service Disruption Recovery

By leveraging the Management Data Analytics Function (MDAF) defined in 3GPP TS 28.104, the solution provides a systematic, end-to-end framework for network flexibility. Utilizing digital twin technology enhances closed-loop management capabilities, from risk prediction to automatic optimization, significantly improving the network’s resilience against extreme scenarios like signaling storms.

Innovative Features

A notable innovation presented in the solution is its ability to assess storm risks within signaling environments. The package creates a virtual network environment through digital twin modeling to predict risks and implement proactive defenses. Before a signaling storm occurs, it gathers crucial data such as traffic statistics, node connectivity information, and device timing configurations, using a simulation engine to form impact models. This process allows for precise evaluations of network capacity and offers optimization recommendations. Such capabilities empower operators to preemptively address potential failures, enhancing overall service reliability.

Accelerated Adoption Through Standardization

The compliance of this AN Solution Package with TM Forum’s IG1500 standards facilitates seamless integration with existing systems through standardized APIs. Michael Wang emphasized this during his address, stating that the solution provides a standardized technical application template, further underscoring its practical applicability in core network stability assurance scenarios through the Catalyst project. He highlighted specific optimization applications regarding operators’ infrastructure disaster recovery processes, which include determining VIP users, swiftly identifying recoverable paths, and rapidly devising recovery solutions.

Conclusion

With the publication of the AN Solution Package, core network stability assurance has officially been included in TM Forum's standardized scenarios. Huawei’s paradigm for building high-reliability networks not only equips operators with potent tools to boost flexibility but also provides critical support for monetizing network evaluations. As the telecommunications industry progresses towards more autonomous solutions, such innovations set a benchmark for reliability and efficiency in network management.