he new Heavy Reading Platforms for Future RAN Systems Operator Survey highlights the benefits operators expect from applying AI to the RAN.
5G networks are widely deployed, and many operators have already enhanced their 5G services by implementing 5G standalone (SA) and decoupling the 5G service from older 4G infrastructure. The next steps for these leading operators are the deployment of 5G Advanced and then, from 2030 onward, the deployment of the first 6G networks. 5G Advanced is expected to bring support for new applications with greater mobility, higher reliability and further improvements in spectral efficiency and energy savings.
Artificial intelligence (AI) will play an important role in the delivery of 5G Advanced services and is a critical element in the delivery of 6G as the intelligent wireless communications service the industry is promising. The use of AI is growing rapidly and is expected to have a significant impact on the way operators manage and operate networks. By deploying AI processing capabilities in the RAN and at the edge of the network, service providers can both deliver AI-enhanced 5G and 6G services and offer differentiated AI services to customers.