Sweden's Ericsson Launches Automated Management Technology for 5G Core Networks

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 3, Swedish communications equipment company Ericsson launched GitOps-based automated management technology for 5G core networks, providing GitOps-compliant software packages and configuration management capabilities for all network functions of its cloud-native dual-mode 5G core network. The new technology is incorporated into Ericsson's Intelligent Core product portfolio and supports software lifecycle automation, network configuration management, and intent-based closed-loop operations. Swisscom has already deployed the related capabilities in its live network, reducing software upgrade time by 60% and network service configuration time by 97%.

The new solution shifts core network software deployment and maintenance processes from traditional procedure-driven approaches to declarative automation workflows. Operators can predefine target network states, manage software and configuration changes through Git version control, and use automated reconciliation mechanisms to keep actual operating states consistent with target configurations. The solution supports setting target states for individual network resources and executing automated adjustments during software updates and configuration changes.

Ericsson is providing GitOps-compliant software delivery packages for all network functions of its cloud-native dual-mode 5G core network, and plans to gradually extend the same deployment model to other applications and products in its core network portfolio. Post-update configuration and actual deployment operations can be executed by existing systems such as Ericsson Orchestrator, and the solution supports integration with continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines as well as in-service software upgrade technologies.

Swisscom has integrated the solution with its existing automated management processes, changing the previous practice of scheduling monthly maintenance windows and relying on nighttime manual operations for software upgrades. Its core network software delivery and configuration changes can now be executed automatically during normal working hours, reducing dependence on fixed maintenance windows.

Swisscom is further exploring the use of AI-driven automation capabilities to handle services such as roaming partner configuration. The related applications are still in the exploratory stage, and the upgrade time and service configuration time improvement figures announced this time come from the automated management processes already implemented by Swisscom.

The new technology also supports integration with Ericsson's Intelligent Automation Platform architecture, connecting other systems through existing lifecycle management and configuration management products, and supports multi-vendor network environments. Ericsson plans to combine AI analytics results with declarative configuration management mechanisms for subsequent automatic adjustments and closed-loop operations based on network operating states.