In the first part of our blog series, we introduced service management and orchestration (SMO), discussed how it has evolved over time, and covered some of the key benefits it brings to communication service providers (CSPs). In this blog, we’ll delve further into the expansion beyond O-RAN, look at SMO architecture, and outline Nokia’s unique approach as a critical enabler for efficient and effective end-to-end network management.

O-RAN is just the beginning

As we mentioned in our first blog, SMO was originally seen as a solution to manage RAN and O-RAN solutions. This is a driver, as CSPs need an integrated, standardized management layer that enables control of varied network elements, especially when it comes to O-RAN.

However, SMO’s capabilities and benefits extend beyond this to cover traditional and next-generation radio and are not tied exclusively to O-RAN deployments. Many CSPs are looking at a broader SMO definition as an encompassing platform based on a simplified architecture model that will be responsible for managing a wide variety of network types and provide a framework to manage and facilitate the delivery of complex services and advanced use cases.  This multi-domain SMO is aimed at reducing the complexity in the network management layer, by eliminating the need for a plethora of isolated management platforms through providing a holistic network automation solution. These solutions need to provide dynamic data management, enabling federated data access for end-to-end analytics use cases as well as software-driven solutions that are cloud-native, based on simplified service-based management architecture (SBMA) and support CI/CD and API-based integrations.

This multi-domain SMO extends beyond the conventional RAN-focused approach, supporting CSP network automation needs today and providing a solution to support their future requirements as well.

The winning formula

To achieve this end-to-end network management paradigm, CSPs need an SMO platform built using modular components, which are key enablers for autonomous operations. SMO will follow a cloud-based, vendor-agnostic, and API-based approach based on a microservices architecture. By decoupling software components, it will enable extensibility, scalability, and resiliency. Some of these capabilities can be seen in the diagram below.

These capabilities are anchored around two core principles: intelligence and openness. Intelligence to streamline complex operations, deliver customer experience with guaranteed SLAs, reduce costs, increase the agility and simplify the maintenance of large-scale networks with secure operations. And openness to support innovation with an extensible set of use cases and a marketplace with a catalog of apps that help with monetizing and enabling collaboration with a wide developer ecosystem.

Nokia’s approach to SMO

Nokia’s SMO offers a cutting-edge interoperable solution based on a cloud-native architecture aligned with the 3GPP framework. Our platform has autonomy in its DNA to enable the delivery of innovative use cases leveraging a rich dataset for multi-vendor, multi-domain networks with a clear focus on autonomous operations.

Nokia’s SMO is built with open interfaces to support multi-vendor networks, to seamlessly integrate to the customer tool landscape and is extensible to support newer technologies as networks evolve. This means it will serve as a unified platform to address both current and future network management needs, providing a reliable solution for years to come.

Our approach uniquely leverages our extensive network expertise to deliver pre-validated rApps and use cases powered by advanced proven algorithms. These cover a diverse set of use cases including:

• Conventional SON use cases, for example network optimization, energy management, traffic steering, PCI optimization, handover management
• Network slicing use cases, including slice lifecycle management, slice observability, closed-loop automation for throughput assurance
• NFMF and cloud management use cases
• Service orchestration use cases
• Service assurance use cases
• Inventory use cases

We also include a marketplace that allows onboarding apps from third parties and provides a platform to enable a wider application ecosystem. This fuels differentiation and innovation by enabling co-creation with app developers to build tailored solutions.

These expanded SMO capabilities go beyond O-RAN and offer comprehensive automation with analytics, security, service orchestration and AIOps-driven assurance. Everything is underpinned by a real-time inventory that is essential to delivering end-to-end services with a holistic approach to management.

Although the move may take time, operators can get started on the path of a next-generation approach for autonomous management of networks today by embracing automation.  While it will take time for the diverse networks to become autonomous, including radio, core, transport, and edge/cloud, having a common autonomous operations layer will help to accelerate the path for CSPs to simplify their network operations, achieve monetization, provide service differentiation, and above all an unparalleled customer experience.

SMO is the next evolution in network automation and the move towards autonomous networks, and Nokia is ready to support you on that journey.

For more information on our SMO solution check out our webpage here.