In the dynamic landscape of mobile networks, Zen Networks, has successfully implemented a groundbreaking project for Sierra Wireless. This initiative seamlessly integrates AWS’s cutting-edge cloud-based 5G NWDAF (Network Data Analytics Function), specifically utilizing Amazon Elasticsearch (Amazon ES) within the AWS ecosystem.

The Role of Amazon Elasticsearch (Amazon ES)

Amazon ES, an entirely managed service, has played a pivotal role in Zen Networks’ extensive platform for large-scale mobile network data analysis. This service simplifies the deployment, security, and operation of Elasticsearch within AWS, catering to diverse applications such as log analytics, application monitoring, and interactive searches.

Zen Networks has harnessed the power of Amazon ES to create a robust foundation for its 5G network analytics platform. The service’s real-time capabilities, seamless integration with other AWS services, and features like Amazon Kinesis, AWS Lambda, and Amazon CloudWatch have enabled Zen Networks to transition from raw data to actionable insights swiftly.

The advantages of Amazon ES, including its fully managed nature, accessibility to all data, scalability, security features, and high availability, have been instrumental in enhancing Zen Networks’ capabilities in delivering innovative solutions to communication service providers (CSPs).

Amazon Managed Streaming for Kafka (Amazon MSK)

Complementing the role of Amazon ES, Amazon MSK has served as another key player in Zen Networks’ architecture. Amazon MSK is a fully managed service facilitating the creation and operation of applications utilizing Apache Kafka for real-time data streaming. Zen Networks leverages Apache Kafka’s native APIs to fill data lakes, propagate changes to and from databases, and fuel machine learning and analytics applications.

Overview of Zen Networks

Zen Networks is at the forefront of providing innovative solutions for communication service providers, combining cloud and big data technologies with expertise in mobile networks. The company’s mission revolves around offering a comprehensive 360-degree visibility into mobile networks through open technologies, creating observability solutions, and delivering value-added services.

The integration of technologies such as SIM Over-The-Air servers enhances Zen Networks’ capabilities, creating new functionalities and optimizing operational expenditures (OPEX).

How Zen Networks Innovates in the Telecommunications Industry Using AWS

5G NWDAF Solution

Zen Networks, guided by the 5G standards, has developed a Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) platform rooted in 5G versions 15 and 16. NWDAF plays a central role in network automation by providing data-driven optimizations. With the increasing prevalence of network automation, NWDAF becomes indispensable in delivering data-driven optimizations in mobile networks.

Zen Networks’ innovative approach involves leveraging managed AWS services to create an NWDAF that adds significant value to CSPs. The simplified architecture captures and analyzes network events, contributing to various use cases, including personalized mobility management, enhanced 5G quality of service, and dynamic traffic steering.

Telecommunications Data Analysis

The processed network events and EDRs (Event Data Records) pass through enrichment services for additional context from Business Support Systems (BSS) and other sizing data before being centralized in AWS Elasticsearch Service. This method enables the construction of a highly reliable and fast data platform for real-time analysis.

Key use cases include troubleshooting and support, network operations center (NOC) monitoring, market analysis, and optimization of security and signaling. AWS Elasticsearch Service facilitates anomaly detection and optimization using statistical algorithms.

Real-time Data-sensitive Services

AWS MSK emerges as an essential component for creating real-time services. By combining it with serverless AWS technologies like Lambda or Fargate, network automation becomes a rapidly achievable reality. Real-time network steering and automated provisioning decisions can be made by ingesting real-time network events and creating rules based on AI or explicitly defined criteria.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

Utilizing AWS serverless technologies, Zen Networks creates highly reliable telecommunications workloads that scale on demand using AWS’s automatic scaling mechanisms. AWS’s cloud offering aligns seamlessly with current trends in 5G service-based architectures.

Evolutions and Future Steps

While the platform has addressed key use cases, Zen Networks is already gearing up for future enhancements. This includes leveraging AI/ML capabilities for better anomaly detection, exploring new integrations with NFV for enhanced automation, and continuous improvement and optimization of the platform.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article has elucidated how AWS Elasticsearch Service has been instrumental in empowering Zen Networks to bring advanced data analysis capabilities to mobile networks effortlessly. Managing an Elasticsearch cluster can be daunting when done on-site, but AWS MSK has revolutionized the landscape. AWS services have allowed Zen Networks to focus on business and development aspects rather than the underlying infrastructure, resulting in a remarkably short time to market for services provided to CSPs.

The successful collaboration with Sierra Wireless stands as a testament to Zen Networks’ commitment to innovation in the telecommunications industry. For more information on our Sierra Wireless project or how we utilize AWS to drive innovation in telecommunications, feel free to reach out. Karim Chadil, Chief Sales and Marketing Manager at Zen Networks, is here to assist.