Nokia enhances WaveSuite for superior optical network automation

Nokia has announced significant enhancements to its WaveSuite optical network automation platform, emphasizing the urgent need for increased bandwidth, reliability, and imperceptible latency in customer networks. These improvements aim to provide unparalleled insight and control over networks, introducing applications that target specific use cases. This initiative allows for optimized network and operations, scalable network capacity, and monetization of network assets.

In the current landscape of escalating network complexity and limited resources, the reliance on automation has become paramount for network operators. The goal is to utilize networking expertise more efficiently, minimize human error, enhance service turn-up times, reduce operational costs, and foster revenue growth. Nokia’s WaveSuite enhancements directly address these challenges by streamlining network operations, accelerating new capacity introduction, and mitigating risks associated with network failures that could affect service level agreements (SLAs).

A notable enhancement within the WaveSuite’s Service Enablement application allows for improved integration of BSS billing with optical network functions. This integration facilitates the fulfillment of optical service requests, offering individualized, real-time KPI assurance metrics. It enables network operators to provide differentiated services, such as latency-aware layer one services and spectrum-as-a-service, thus tapping into new revenue streams in previously unexplored markets.

The inclusion of machine learning within the WaveSuite’s Health and Analytics application leverages network intelligence for optical fiber sensing. This feature aids in detecting disturbances within the fiber optic network, potentially leading to outages. Utilizing polarization data from Nokia Photonic Service Engines, like the PSE-6s, the WaveSuite solution allows for proactive network performance management, enhancing downtime reduction and adherence to customer SLAs.

Furthermore, WaveSuite’s advancements significantly lessen the effort required for network capacity scaling by 33%. This is achieved through automated provisioning that synchronizes between current and planned network designs, reducing transition errors and the need for extensive human resources.

A recent collaboration with Analysys Mason highlighted that operators could realize up to 81% cost savings by deploying optical network automation, as stated by Justin van der Lande, Research Director at Analysys Mason. Ravi Parmasad, Optical Network Automation Leader at Nokia, reinforces this sentiment, emphasizing the platform’s role in transforming optical networks through automation, thereby optimizing performance, lowering operational costs, and expediting service delivery.

The enhancements introduced by Nokia to its WaveSuite platform signify a pivotal advancement in optical network automation. By integrating machine learning for predictive maintenance and streamlining the provisioning process, Nokia not only addresses the immediate challenges faced by network operators but also opens new avenues for revenue generation. These developments underscore the importance of innovation in maintaining network reliability and efficiency, positioning Nokia as a frontrunner in the future of network technology and management.