Ericsson launches AI assistant to simplify 5G for firms

Ericsson has introduced a generative AI-based virtual expert, NetCloud Assistant (ANA), to simplify 5G network operations for enterprises.

ANA is positioned within Ericsson's NetCloud management and orchestration solution and is available to approximately 37,000 enterprises that manage around 2.9 million devices. This technology distinguishes itself from traditional chatbots by having the capability to read, understand, and generate new textual and graphical content as opposed to merely providing links to resources.

The assistant provides personalised responses by combining AI insights from an enterprise's network with a library of technical documentation, thus optimizing the time taken to resolve network queries. The generative AI expert uses large language models that are securely hosted within Ericsson's own environment, ensuring user and data privacy and avoiding third-party consumer generative AI applications.

Key functionalities of ANA:

· Knowledge Summarisation: Correlates information from Ericsson's library of technical documentation into concise, summaries personalised to the customer's network.

· Configuration Assistance: Accelerates Day 1 deployments with step-by-step guidance for WAN edge device configuration based on best practices.

· Enhanced Troubleshooting: Automates common diagnostic tasks and provides step-by-step instructions to troubleshoot and resolve connectivity issues, speeding up mean time to repair.

· Policy Recommendation: Future releases will translate business requirements into recommended SD-WAN and WAN bonding policies to enhance WAN performance and application availability.

· Custom Graph Generation: Future releases will allow administrators to ask ANA to create detailed graphs that visualise more complex information not typically available in standard NetCloud dashboards or pre-canned reports.

Pankaj Malhotra, Head of Enterprise Networking and Security, Enterprise Wireless Solutions at Ericsson, stated: "Ericsson's NetCloud is differentiated in its ability to simplify the deployment, management, and troubleshooting of enterprise cellular networking. By investing heavily in cutting-edge AI technology, we are empowering even the most streamlined IT teams to tackle 5G administration challenges, enhancing network reliability, security, and user experience with unparalleled efficiency."

Future updates to ANA promise further features, such as policy recommendations and custom graph generation. These additions will enable administrators to request ANA to design detailed graphs and recommend SD-WAN and WAN bonding policies based on business requirements, which will augment WAN performance and application availability.

ANA complements the NetCloud AIOps dashboard, enhancing it with a sophisticated fault management system that identifies performance anomalies unique to each customer's network. By delivering real-time insights, the AIOps dashboard, in conjunction with ANA, supports IT teams in proactively resolving issues and ensuring optimal network operations.