Category: 2024

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NGMN Radio Performance Assessment Framework

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NGMN releases “Radio Performance Assessment Framework” to guide next-generation RAN development 

The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) has released its latest publication, the “Radio Performance Assessment Framework,” providing the mobile communications industry with a comprehensive methodology to evaluate the value of new Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions. 

Building on the 2023 MNO Position Statement, which emphasised that any new RAN must deliver tangible additional benefits—such as enabling new user-driven use cases or improving operational efficiencies like energy consumption—this framework offers clear and actionable guidance for assessing RAN innovations. 

“This NGMN publication provides strong guidance towards ensuring that future RAN developments are in line with the expectations of operators on performance and efficiency,” said Luke Ibbetson, Member of the NGMN Alliance Board and Head of Group R&D, Vodafone. “Our Radio Performance Assessment Framework establishes a robust foundation for fair benchmarking and sets a new standard for delivering measurable value in the era beyond 5G Advanced.” 

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Automation and Autonomous system Architecture Framework – Phase 2

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The mobile communications industry has been provided with new guidance on the building blocks needed for autonomous networks that encompass Artificial Intelligence (AI) thanks to the publication of NGMN’s ‘Automation and Autonomous system Architecture Framework – Phase 2’, released today. 

The latest updates provide guidance and direction on the use cases, requirements, and architectural principles to embrace interoperable, multi-vendor and standards-based autonomous networks that will help to manage the increasing complexity of the evolving 5G Advanced ecosystem. 

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Green future networks: A Roadmap to Energy Efficient Mobile Networks

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This latest NGMN publication outlines 16 different energy saving techniques and intelligent solutions that are currently used or under development in the industry. Supported by real-world data, the publication highlights the energy saving potential of each solution and classifies each by type and by the time needed to develop and deploy them.

According to the publication, energy consumption can be reduced through process optimisations, engineering and operational improvements, and the deployment of recent technologies. This is the latest phase of NGMN’s Green Future Networks programme, building on the previous publications that addressed the short-term solutions that mobile network operators (MNOs) could deploy.

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Green Future Networks: Metering in Virtualised RAN Infrastructure

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Being “green”, which entails energy efficiency and sustainability without compromising performance, is increasingly recognised as a hot topic and a prerequisite for enduring success today and in the future.

Through this publication, the NGMN Alliance delivers vital recommendations for industry standards, facilitating more precise and real-time estimations of energy consumed by virtualised or cloud-native network functions. It highlights the necessity of enhancing current 3GPP Virtual Network Function (VNF) / Cloud Network Function (CNF) energy consumption estimation frameworks for more precise measurement of energy consumption by VNF/CNF on shared IT/Cloud infrastructure.

Furthermore, the publication emphasises the implementation and the consideration by standardisation bodies of the Redfish® model published by DMTF as a starting point, and addresses the questions which data/parameters are measured, how, and which standards to align to.

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ITU-R Framework for IMT-2030

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In this publication “ITU-R Framework for IMT-2030: Review and Future Direction” a close alignment is observed between the IMT-2030 framework from ITU-R and NGMN’s vision for 6G. This close alignment covers vision, usage scenarios and essential capabilities, particularly related to practical and sustainable deployment and emphasising harmonised global standards for mobile networks.

NGMN goes on to provide recommendations and guidance on ITU-R aspects as it moves forward in the next stage of the IMT-2030 process. This latest publication marks the next step towards guidance for E2E requirements and sets an important framework for future technology discussions towards 6G.

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Reducing Environmental Impact

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This NGMN publication highlights how operators can assess the lifecycle environmental impact of their network infrastructure  in terms of emissions, energy, and water footprint.

The report identifies the use of Lifecycle Assessment in relation to energy and emissions and demonstrates how to calculate Water Footprint. Based on these tools, strategies are outlined for how to manage and reduce the environmental impact by, for example, selecting and using materials in the design of network infrastructure that have lower emissions and energy requirements and by for example switching to data centre cooling methods that use less water.

The publication was developed with input from across the industry – with NGMN Partners representing operators, vendors, and research institutes.

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