Service Enablement Platform

Nokia SEP integrates RIC and MEC into a single solution

Nokia SEP extends standard RIC and MEC capabilities with new use cases for service optimization, all within a unified application framework. This integration of the RIC and MEC into a single, cloud-native and fully containerized solution offers significant benefits for Communications Service Providers (CSPs):

• Highly valuable use cases are made possible by integrating MEC service interaction with RAN optimization logic in the RIC
• A single application model and framework allows both RIC and MEC functionality to be deployed from multiple sources (vendors, CSPs, third parties)
• CSPs can build mutually beneficial relationships with webscale companies and third party ecosystem providers
• CSPs gain an effective process to securely onboard, integrate, manage and support applications from third parties.

The SEP can run on edge or far edge data centers and share infrastructure with Cloud RAN and other virtualized network functions. Nokia’s edge-optimized AirFrame open edge server solution provides secure, high performance ultra-small footprint edge cloud infrastructure for indoor and outdoor environments.

O-RAN compliant RAN programmability with near-real-time RIC

The near-real time RIC allows external control applications, xApps,  to control aspects of the 5G radio network through installed control applications. xApps can come from multiple sources and provide many benefits. There are several use case scenarios for the xApps, such as:

1. Automated AI/ML based network optimization xApps
2. Use-case specific RAN customization e.g. Enterprise specific RAN adaptation
3. Innovation in the RAN e.g. introduction of Service Awareness

Nokia RAN Intelligent Controller xApps

We are developing several xApps to implement near-real-time RIC use cases and we are actively engaging with customers and research groups on application development.

• Nokia Advanced Traffic Steering xApp is an AI/ML-based optimization algorithm to dynamically improve the efficiency of traffic distribution in the RAN. It brings benefits such as higher cell resource utilization, better spectrum usage, higher device throughput and improved user experience.

• Nokia Anomaly Detection xApp uses machine learning to quickly detect and classify irregular behavior patterns in the RAN, identifying cell and, in the future, device problems. It reduces the need for human intervention, enables faster issue identification and can trigger automated network healing to increase RAN availability.

Nokia is committed to lead the open mobile future  

An open and programmable Radio Access Network (RAN) enables many new capabilities to be introduced for 5G networks. Furthermore, it fosters innovation by supporting the introduction of advanced capabilities such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms that can automatically optimize the network. Nokia is investing in Open RAN (O-RAN) and Cloud RAN capabilities to enable a robust telecom ecosystem with strong network performance and security.