Shamik Mishra

Mesh connectivity among mobile base stations could offer the ultra-low latency required by diverse mission-critical use cases in 6G networks. We explore enabling such mesh connectivity through Integrated Access and Back-haul (IAB), which allows direct data communication whilst signalling and control could still go through the core network. In this paper, we assess the feasibility and evaluate the performance of mesh connectivity in RAN, through IAB and benchmark it with the current mobile… Show more

Mesh connectivity among mobile base stations could offer the ultra-low latency required by diverse mission-critical use cases in 6G networks. We explore enabling such mesh connectivity through Integrated Access and Back-haul (IAB), which allows direct data communication whilst signalling and control could still go through the core network. In this paper, we assess the feasibility and evaluate the performance of mesh connectivity in RAN, through IAB and benchmark it with the current mobile network architecture in diverse scenarios. The results showcase an average of 46% reduction in the end-to-end latency, an average gain of 22% in end-to-end throughput and improved scalability due to its decentralised nature. The RAN mesh architecture, evaluated here, is presented in this paper as a step towards a core-less mobile network. Show less

The telecom sector is embarking on a journey towards autonomous networks.
While most telcos (84%) currently reside at Level 1 or Level 2 autonomy for their overall networks, aspirations for higher levels of automation remain optimistic. Over 60% of operators aim to reach Level 3 autonomy or higher by 2028. However, the path to full autonomy is fraught with challenges, both technological and organizational.

In this Capgemini Research Institute report, Networks with intelligence: Why… Show more

The telecom sector is embarking on a journey towards autonomous networks.
While most telcos (84%) currently reside at Level 1 or Level 2 autonomy for their overall networks, aspirations for higher levels of automation remain optimistic. Over 60% of operators aim to reach Level 3 autonomy or higher by 2028. However, the path to full autonomy is fraught with challenges, both technological and organizational.

In this Capgemini Research Institute report, Networks with intelligence: Why and how the telecom sector should accelerate its autonomous networks journeys, we provide comprehensive insights into the importance of autonomous networks for telcos and how these autonomous networks are best implemented.

The report found that some of the biggest obstacles hindering progress toward autonomy are the mindset of employees, integration issues, and regulatory concerns around data sovereignty.

Despite these – and other – challenges, there is no denying that autonomous networks offer significant benefits to telcos. Over the past two years, operators have already realized a 20% improvement in operational efficiency and an 18% reduction in network operation expenditure (OpEx) through autonomous networks initiatives. Additionally, 71% of operators have reduced energy consumption during this period, while they expect to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over the next five years.

Networks with intelligence: Why and how the telecom sector should accelerate its autonomous networks journeys also found that telcos anticipate investing an average of $87 million in autonomous networks over the next five years, with estimated OpEx savings of $150 million-$300 million per organization during this period. Furthermore, the return on investment (ROI) of autonomous networks initiatives ranges from 1.7x to 3.4x, with a payback period of between 2.9 to 1.5 years in conservative and optimistic scenarios, respectively. Show less

5G growth is a persistent trend across industries, and reports have forecasted that 5G subscriptions will reach 4.4 billion globally by the end of 2027, accounting for approximately 48% of total global mobile subscriptions.

5G network technologies are evolving faster than any previous generation, with cloudification and disaggregation among the trends that are fundamentally changing how mobile networks are built and operated. What’s more, 5G exists in a telecom marketplace that is… Show more

5G growth is a persistent trend across industries, and reports have forecasted that 5G subscriptions will reach 4.4 billion globally by the end of 2027, accounting for approximately 48% of total global mobile subscriptions.

5G network technologies are evolving faster than any previous generation, with cloudification and disaggregation among the trends that are fundamentally changing how mobile networks are built and operated. What’s more, 5G exists in a telecom marketplace that is rapidly evolving in terms of competition and business models. So, what does this 5G revolution mean for operators? Show less

Network slicing could be the answer to 5G rollout – but it's not easy to implement. Automation provides a way forward.

The connected aerospace and defense industries have undergone significant transformations since the 2000s, when the primary target was to achieve interoperability and radio communication means for network-centric operations. Nowadays, the focus is more data-centric- providing the right information at the right time to the right people.

As connectivity becomes increasingly important across business processes, there is a growing need for collaboration and synergy. We look forward to… Show more

The connected aerospace and defense industries have undergone significant transformations since the 2000s, when the primary target was to achieve interoperability and radio communication means for network-centric operations. Nowadays, the focus is more data-centric- providing the right information at the right time to the right people.

As connectivity becomes increasingly important across business processes, there is a growing need for collaboration and synergy. We look forward to exploring this need more in our chalet at the 54th annual Paris Air Show. Ahead of that, we’d like to explore the current perspectives in aerospace and defense, the benefits of connected operations, and the opportunities presented by new business and operating models with connected ecosystems. Show less

Telecommunications, specifically 5G, is widely recognized as a cornerstone of the Intelligent Industry and a driver of digital innovation. And as we continue to push towards a smarter, more advanced society, sustainability efforts are at the top of the telco priority list.

In our newest Capgemini Research Institute report, Networks on cloud: A clear advantage, we take an in-depth look at the telco cloud transformation process. While the “virtualization” of network functions, which serves as a starting point for telco cloud transformation, has been ongoing for several years, we see cloud-native deployment of network functions – which can take virtualization’s benefits to the next level and offers additional ones as well – rapidly taking off among telco… Show more

In our newest Capgemini Research Institute report, Networks on cloud: A clear advantage, we take an in-depth look at the telco cloud transformation process. While the “virtualization” of network functions, which serves as a starting point for telco cloud transformation, has been ongoing for several years, we see cloud-native deployment of network functions – which can take virtualization’s benefits to the next level and offers additional ones as well – rapidly taking off among telco organizations. Our analysis shows that by transforming to cloud, a typical telco from our survey can improve its network total cost of ownership by $260 to $380 million and can gain an early-mover advantage to the tune of $110 to $210 million in additional revenue.

However, we also found there to be significant challenges that organizations embarking on transformations must overcome. These include issues related to cultural challenges, controlling cloud costs, and regulatory hurdles, among others. To navigate these obstacles successfully, telcos will need to be prepared to skillfully implement both technical and cultural changes within their organizations.

Still, the decision to transform looks to be a given based on the numerous and significant benefits that it can provide. With this in mind, we aim to answer four of the most significant questions for organizations surrounding the move toward telco cloud – including why the move is taking place, its cost-benefit analysis, examples of successful transformations, and how organizations can harness the full potential that telco cloud offers. Show less

How to create a disaggregated 5G network to deliver network-as-a-service

For mobile operators, there’s a lot to like about network slicing. For starters, it enables their 5G networks to support a much more comprehensive range of use cases and customer types, which opens the door for more revenue opportunities.

These opportunities couldn’t come at a better time. Between spectrum and infrastructure, mobile operators have each spent billions to launch 5G, and they’ll spend billions… Show more

How to create a disaggregated 5G network to deliver network-as-a-service

For mobile operators, there’s a lot to like about network slicing. For starters, it enables their 5G networks to support a much more comprehensive range of use cases and customer types, which opens the door for more revenue opportunities.

These opportunities couldn’t come at a better time. Between spectrum and infrastructure, mobile operators have each spent billions to launch 5G, and they’ll spend billions more over the next decade expanding and upgrading those networks. To recoup that investment, operators will have to get creative, which means more than simply trying to convince consumers to pay more for 5G than 4G.

Considering all the business benefits, why isn’t every operator making slicing part of their 5G strategy from day one? The short answer is that it takes a daunting amount of expertise to implement slicing correctly. The technical challenges under the hood require bringing together several technologies including networks, automation, data, and device management.

As a result, some operators are partnering with systems integrators on proof-of-concept (PoC) trials to determine whether all of the necessary technologies are mature enough to support enterprise-grade slicing. As slicing evolves, the end game will be a fully automated system that enables a variety of scenarios.

PoC for Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) using single-vendor technology exist. But until now, no successful PoC has used a multi-vendor disaggregated network, which is the likely setup for most future networks. We worked with a major telco, a cloud company, and multiple network technology and software providers, from radio to core, to build a PoC for a disaggregated 5G network.

This paper discusses the project and its lessons for other operators setting up disaggregated 5G private networks to offer NaaS. Show less

While network slicing may be a daunting prospect for some operators, it makes commercial sense and opens the door to a number of opportunities. Thanks to 5G’s open architecture, operators have an opportunity to integrate a range of hardware, software and work with an ecosystem to map the journey ahead to secure new revenue streams.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. The same can be said of cloud-native, AI-optimized 5G open RANs (O-RANs), which are so fundamentally different from any previous mobile generation that they’re not just evolutionary. They’re a step change on how radio networks are designed and built.

How are telcos leveraging technology to reach their net-zero targets.

The automotive domain is a critical area for the introduction of MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) infrastructure in 5G systems, since it can benefit from moving cloud computing capabilities and IT service environments to the edge of the network. However, it brings several challenges, especially the need for easy data exchange in multi-operator environments. This paper describes the first known development of edge federation/roaming for a vehicular use case. This has been carried out through a… Show more

The automotive domain is a critical area for the introduction of MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) infrastructure in 5G systems, since it can benefit from moving cloud computing capabilities and IT service environments to the edge of the network. However, it brings several challenges, especially the need for easy data exchange in multi-operator environments. This paper describes the first known development of edge federation/roaming for a vehicular use case. This has been carried out through a MEC live trial by several international players, including network operators, neutral hosts, car manufacturers, infrastructure vendors and technology providers. It also describes the role of standards, in particular 3GPP, ETSI MEC and GSMA's OPG (Operator Platform Group) for enabling inter-working between operators and car makers to provide global MEC support for automotive services. Trials and standards can energize the deployment of 5G and so advance the benefits of MEC for end users. Show less

Capgemini Engineering’s 5G Smart Road Side Unit (RSU) uses the ENSCONCE Edge Computing Platform and cloud-native architecture to transform intelligent transportation infrastructure

Op-ed on 5G challenges and solutions in the Indian Telecom Market

Back in 2019, most industrial organizations already saw the vast potential of 5G. With the intervening rollout of commercial 5G and the launch of the Release 16 specifications, what have the early adopters learned and how can this help accelerate adoption? We wanted to find out.

For the latest Capgemini Research Institute report, Accelerating the 5G Industrial Revolution: State of 5G and edge in industrial operations, we surveyed senior executives from 1,000 industrial organizations that… Show more

Back in 2019, most industrial organizations already saw the vast potential of 5G. With the intervening rollout of commercial 5G and the launch of the Release 16 specifications, what have the early adopters learned and how can this help accelerate adoption? We wanted to find out.

For the latest Capgemini Research Institute report, Accelerating the 5G Industrial Revolution: State of 5G and edge in industrial operations, we surveyed senior executives from 1,000 industrial organizations that plan to adopt 5G as part of their operations, and 150 senior executives from 75 telecom organizations that either have or are planning to roll out 5G networks.

Most organizations, we found, are just embarking on their 5G journeys. In fact, only 30% have reached the trial and real-world implementation stages. Despite this, these early adopters are already seeing tangible business benefits, and as many as 60% of them have increased their operational efficiency. But maximizing 5G potential is not without its challenges, which range from a lack of 5G devices, integration with existing networks, identifying the right use cases, to accessing vertical-specific solutions, managing cybersecurity, orchestrating a multi-vendor environment, and containing the environmental impact of 5G implementation.

To counter these challenges, telcos, cloud providers, OEMs, and other partners must together build a resilient ecosystem of devices, solutions, and service offerings. In these early days of 5G implementation, it is especially important that telcos quickly build essential capabilities to become providers of vertical-specific solutions rather than just being connectivity providers.

5G, combined with edge computing, can help organizations unlock value through new, previously impossible industrial use cases. Show less

In today’s mobile network, the RAN represents about 70% of the total infrastructure investment — a considerable amount. Virtualization of the network and its functions were considered to be a key strategy to reduce total cost of ownership for operators. However, this strategy did not target RAN that much. To maximize return on 5G investments, it’s imperative that operators optimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the RAN. Virtualized, open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture presents… Show more

In today’s mobile network, the RAN represents about 70% of the total infrastructure investment — a considerable amount. Virtualization of the network and its functions were considered to be a key strategy to reduce total cost of ownership for operators. However, this strategy did not target RAN that much. To maximize return on 5G investments, it’s imperative that operators optimize the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the RAN. Virtualized, open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture presents a promising solution to this dilemma, but evolution to O-RAN represents a significant transformation that poses its own challenges as well.

O-RAN introduced a disaggregated and virtualized cloud-native system. It promotes a multi-vendor ecosystem by disaggregating radio with baseband and software from the underlying specialized hardware. It attempts to leverage cloud technologies thanks to economies of scale.

This requires virtualizing the radio network software (or baseband) and opening up and standardizing various interfaces. This architecture promises to improve the overall TCO over time, yet it poses complications for interface validation and system integration. Automation is a top priority for O-RAN network design, but passive automation will not be enough to fully optimize the management of this complex, multi-vendor infrastructure. The future lies in autonomous networks. Show less

5G and Edge will be a major lever for business transformation in many, if not all, industries. It opens up seamless connectivity that will drastically change the way products and services are designed and developed, and the way technology is consumed, across various industry sectors.

Leveraging ARM technologies for 5G RAN Private Networks

The COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown have disrupted every industry sector. Companies will need to accelerate the differentiation of their offerings and transform their innovation models. Investment in new technologies will continuously enhance innovation and drive sustainability. Technologies like 5G/IoT, Edge Computing, RPA or AI are already disrupting the market and will act as a catalyst to navigate through the pandemic and accelerate the introduction of new business models as a… Show more

The COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown have disrupted every industry sector. Companies will need to accelerate the differentiation of their offerings and transform their innovation models. Investment in new technologies will continuously enhance innovation and drive sustainability. Technologies like 5G/IoT, Edge Computing, RPA or AI are already disrupting the market and will act as a catalyst to navigate through the pandemic and accelerate the introduction of new business models as a differentiator.

In this keynote, the speaker will focus on four areas of business activity that will help companies recover quickly: Customer, Supply Chain & Operations, Product Development & Innovation, Sustainability & Planet-Centricity. Show less

Introducing Project Adrenaline. The world is rapidly moving toward a realization that an unlimited number of devices will generate massive amounts of data that needs to be processed at near realtime. Edge computing allows applications to be hosted closer to devices or consumers and can deliver low-latency, real-time services to end users.

Use cases have been debated and discussed over the past few years, and I have written about edge compute use cases, both for industrial context and… Show more

Introducing Project Adrenaline. The world is rapidly moving toward a realization that an unlimited number of devices will generate massive amounts of data that needs to be processed at near realtime. Edge computing allows applications to be hosted closer to devices or consumers and can deliver low-latency, real-time services to end users.

Use cases have been debated and discussed over the past few years, and I have written about edge compute use cases, both for industrial context and consumers. Last year, we discussed the need for open source in infrastructure and runtime platforms for edge compute with respect to mobile and network operators and debated on how their strategy should be as they move toward monetizing 5G and edge computing.

For this blog, I will focus on accelerating compute on the network edge. Show less

The possibilities are endless. That is what some vendors say about 5G, as they urge operators to partner with manufacturers to transform the technology into a lucrative revenue stream. Their intentions are good. The reality, though, is more complicated. In fact, there’s a widening disconnect between those who understand 5G – primarily network operators – and those who understand industries and manufacturing.

How can this gap be bridged?

The need of automation and how operators can leverage AI for 5G network deployment.

For mobile operators to reap the rewards of moving to the IoT edge, a number of factors should be considered:

Understanding what edge computing is – an importantly, what it isn’t
Determining the best use cases for IoT edge computing
Planning for the impact of the IoT edge on data centers
Preparing for the security implications of IoT edge

Edge compute can deliver hosted services that regional clouds will never be able to deliver. General purpose compute resources are now available in customer premises, head-ends and central offices. These edge platforms are initially being deployed to improve the efficiency of DOCSIS and other access network technologies and can be used to deliver application with very low latency requirements and high bandwidth. Augmented and virtual reality video can be rendered on edge platforms without… Show more

Edge compute can deliver hosted services that regional clouds will never be able to deliver. General purpose compute resources are now available in customer premises, head-ends and central offices. These edge platforms are initially being deployed to improve the efficiency of DOCSIS and other access network technologies and can be used to deliver application with very low latency requirements and high bandwidth. Augmented and virtual reality video can be rendered on edge platforms without the lag that can make us ill. Industrial plants can now collect, stream and process data to make real time adjustments. Most of these workloads will be run deployed using a combination of OpenStack and Kubernetes.

CableLabs and Aricent are accelerating this transition with the suite of SNAPS open source projects. A wrapper around the Kolla Ansible installer eases the deployment on bare metal servers and now we can deploy and configure OpenStack and Kubernetes at the edge. Show less

Application developers are key to the success of an edge compute strategy. They are the backbone for any digital ecosystem and their requirements drive the platform architecture. Edge computing is no different. In this talk, we will focus on some key requirements, challenges and possible solutions for a developer centric architecture for multi-access edge computing including abstraction of the service provider’s network complexity, low footprint cloud native builder models, micro-services… Show more

Application developers are key to the success of an edge compute strategy. They are the backbone for any digital ecosystem and their requirements drive the platform architecture. Edge computing is no different. In this talk, we will focus on some key requirements, challenges and possible solutions for a developer centric architecture for multi-access edge computing including abstraction of the service provider’s network complexity, low footprint cloud native builder models, micro-services, hardware abstractions, intelligence layers and massive monitoring of application instances. Show less