What role will 5G and AI have in the mobile networks of the future?

• AI is already being incorporated into networks, with a primary focus on reducing capital expenditure, optimizing network performance and building new revenue streams.
• AI will be vital for improving customer service and enhancing customer experience.
• AI will help recoup the investments communications service providers (CSPs) are making in their networks to switch to 5G.
• Adopting AI is creating new data challenges, even as it solves network complexities.

AI is being adopted into mobile networks by Communication service provider now

Service providers from all over the world are already reaping the benefits of integrating AI into their networks. More than half of service providers (53 percent) expect to have fully integrated some aspect of AI into their networks by the end of 2020. Some are even hoping to have adopted AI by the end of this year, with a further 19 percent estimating a timescale of 3 to 5 years.

AI and customer experience

68 percent of service providers highlighted enhancing customer service as an overall business objective over the next 3 years, while 55 percent agreed that AI is already having a positive impact in this area. AI is expected to help providers further improve customer experience in many ways, including improving network quality and providing personalized services.

Recouping the network investments that 5G demands

Lowering operational costs and ensuring returns on network investments are key priorities that service providers are looking to achieve using Artificial Intelligence. 70 percent believe the highest potential return from AI adoption will be in their network planning, whilst 64 percent intend to focus their AI efforts on network performance management.

Data challenges presented by Artificial Intelligence adoption

Network providers agree that they need to develop effective mechanisms for collecting, structuring and analyzing the huge volumes of data that AI RAN is capable of amassing. A key takeaway from the report is that the early adopters of AI who find solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow will have a clear first-mover advantage.

It is our belief that AI 5G will open up exciting opportunities for the mobile communications sector, as it can be utilized to create a more personal approach for customers, while helping to manage the costs of deploying and maintaining 5G RAN.