Cloud-Native Ecosystems Improve 5G Network Efficiency

Cloud-Native Ecosystems Improve 5G Network Efficiency

Performance and innovation matter as 5G networks expand from a non-standalone (NSA) to a standalone (SA) environment. This transition compels communications service providers (CSPs) to evolve their hybrid networks to a cloud-native ecosystem. Evolving to 5G SA means service providers must expand their strategies from network function virtualization (NFV) to cloud-native networks. Because 5G SA is entirely based on cloud-native architecture and related technologies, CSPs will gain the competitive edge from network performance demands for agility, reliability, and latency-especially at the network edge-for critical use cases and optimum customer experience.

5G SA New Radio

Compared with 4G LTE, 5G SA uses a simplified radio access network (RAN) and device environment to provide an agile and nascent ecosystem fertile for connectivity and innovation while supporting open processes such as application programming interfaces (APIs), artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced network slicing functions.

The Challenge for Service Providers

Looking at the technology landscape, IT enterprises and hyperscalers are ahead in their knowledge and skills of cloud-native infrastructures. Hence, CSPs are seeking insights and partnerships to accelerate cloud-native deployment initiatives.
According to Ericsson, a successful 5G SA deployment requires a wholistic approach to the following four elements to meet requirements for speed and efficiency:

• Application design and development. Understand how cloud-native applications are built with a collection of microservices and adopt innovation efficiently to optimize microservices.
• Technology and Infrastructure. Provide an ecosystem for efficiently building and managing cloud-native applications to accelerate transformation with Kubernetes and extend support for APIs.
• Processes and ways of working. Service providers need to leverage innovation and counteract security threats to apply automation wherever possible for continuous software flow, using continuous integration/continuous development (CI/CD) to manage network capacity and security needs.
• Management and orchestration. The tools and management in the orchestration space help to complete the cloud-native transformation, resulting in the net gain of speed, efficiency, and performance.

Another challenging aspect that is widely acknowledged within CSP organizations is the need to improve skill sets and shift mindsets to embrace the new processes required to normalize organizational objectives for efficiency and productivity in this cloud-native era.

Forging Ahead

5G SA and its cloud-native ecosystem introduce new processes that will require monitoring, resulting in different key performance indicators (KPIs) for driving innovation. 5G networks demand dynamic capacity to support the speed, efficiency, and openness to allow for complex processing of data and workloads.

CSPs leveraging cloud-native technologies will benefit from on-demand network flexibility, scalability, and opportunities to ensure continuous processing for a successful introduction of new network applications and services while managing and delivering their workloads at the edge. A cloud-native infrastructure enables service providers to reduce capital expenses and increase operational efficiencies as they work toward increasing revenue.

NETSCOUT

As CSPs move to cloudify networks to deliver on the promise of true 5G SA, they will need to overcome a host of challenges, particularly in terms of end-through-end visibility. Mobile operators will need tools that provide holistic visibility to these cloud and container environments for real-time monitoring and to inform the orchestration layer so it can manage these extremely complex networks. These tools will help to automate manual routines, including determining the root cause of service issues for more detailed investigation, and improving triage response time.

Gain cloud visibility and performance with NETSCOUT's cloud-optimized software solution for hybrid networks, public clouds, private clouds, and the edge.

Cloud-native is the way CSPs will deliver more capabilities faster with efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership (TCO).

Get visibility and optimize cloud performance with NETSCOUT's cloud solutions.