Karsten Gaenger discusses how AI and automation are transforming RAN operations. With NetScout's AI products now ready for deployment, mobile network operators can enhance efficiency in three key areas: capacity, mobility, and subscriber services. By pinpointing critical issues such as PCI conflicts, ping-pong handovers, and multi-band performance problems, NetScout’s AI solutions enable RAN teams to optimize operations with precision.
As Gaenger explains, while full automation in the RAN space is still evolving, the AI digital assistants currently available help operators tackle complex issues that would be difficult to identify manually. With the ability to analyze millions of calls and network conditions, AI accelerates issue detection, helping teams address problems like carrier aggregation inefficiencies or sector swaps.
Looking ahead, Gaenger emphasizes NetScout’s commitment to advancing RAN automation, including the development of large language models to further enhance AI capabilities. While the focus remains on monetizing 5G investments in today’s flat market, the groundwork is being laid for the future of 6G. As the RAN landscape continues to evolve, NetScout is prepared to lead the charge with solutions that improve network efficiency and drive the next wave of telecom innovation.
Monica Paolini:
Hey, Karsten. It's great to see you in Barcelona and great to catch up with you. So much has happened since the last time I saw you.
Karsten Gaenger:
Absolutely.
Monica Paolini:
The RAN is changing at really fast pace, but what do you think are the concerns that operators face at this point?
Karsten Gaenger:
Yes, so what we are currently facing, or our customers are facing, is that we have to operate in a flat market environment, and we need to become more efficient to still grow the bottom line of our businesses. And here, AI and automation comes into play in operating a mobile network.
Monica Paolini:
And this is very interesting because you guys have been talking about AI for a long time. But now, it seems like it's actually getting ready to go.
Karsten Gaenger:
Absolutely.
Monica Paolini:
Ready. We're not just talking about theory. So, what's happening here?
Karsten Gaenger:
Yeah, absolutely.
Monica Paolini:
In the RAN, AI RAN.
Karsten Gaenger:
Yes, absolutely. NetScout AI products are ready for shipment. So, we are totally ready in getting the products out to help our customers. We are not yet fully automated in the RAN space, but we can provide them help in operating their RAN operations.
Monica Paolini:
That's very good. But I would really like to hear from you what is it you can completely do today to help operators? Because there's always like it's easy to say you can do something. What is that you can help them do?
Karsten Gaenger:
Absolutely. We basically have focused on the three main silos in operating a RAN network. This is capacity. This is mobility and subscriber and services. And for those three silos, we have developed AI digital assistance to help them be more efficient in this operation environment.
Monica Paolini:
Absolutely. So, this is really getting to the point where it's something which is not generic AI. It's AI that is very specific. And this is to improve efficiency, right?
Karsten Gaenger:
Absolutely.
Monica Paolini:
So, how do you improve it? Where are the areas, specific areas, where you can improve efficiency more efficiently?
Karsten Gaenger:
Yes, yes. Absolutely. So, in those three areas, we are helping the existing RAN teams to be more efficient as we are pinpointing two direct concrete issues in their environment. So, the AI engine basically is finding the needle in the haystack for them. For example, where a ping-pong handover is happening, where is the PCI conflict, where are swap sectors? How are my carriers working together, the multi-carriers? The band combinations, what devices are suffering from multi-band operations? What sales are having issues with certain types of carrier aggregation? And this is very hard to detect in a manual way on millions of sales or millions of calls a day. So, this is where AI comes into play and helping the existing RAN operations teams to be more efficient to directly pinpoint on look at this as an issue with a ping-pong handover or it's a band combination, it's not performing well.
Monica Paolini:
Absolutely. So, you're going deeper and deeper and more concrete and to deliver new tools. If we look at the future, what is coming up?
Karsten Gaenger:
Yeah, that's a very good question. What we are doing is we are continuously investing into more AI in the RAN space. So, we are training large language modules in the upcoming future. This is basically our vision where we are seeing the RAN space and AI.
Monica Paolini:
Absolutely. So, do we need 5G, 6G? Or are we ready to go already?
Karsten Gaenger:
Well, that's a really good question. We need to monetize 5G first, and this is coming back to our first question here. So, we are still operating in a rather flat market environment in which we need to monetize our 5G investments first and be more efficient in investing in RAN automations before we can think about business models in 6G, although 3GPP is working hard to deliver 6G standards. So, let's see what's the future holds for us?
Monica Paolini:
Absolutely. Karsten, thank you so much and we'll come back next year to see what actually we have achieved. That'll be a great thing.
Karsten Gaenger:
Absolutely. Have a great show. Thank you very much.
Monica Paolini:
You too. Bye-bye.