TM Forum unveiled what it claims to be the industry’s first portfolio blueprints detailing how operators can implement level-four (L4) autonomy in their networks.
L4 autonomy – sometimes colloquially referred to as self-driving or self-healing networks – encompasses systems capable of a higher degree of autonomy through AI and machine learning technologies.
TM Forum developed a portfolio encompassing some 20 L4 technical solution packages, each of which links a specific potential use case to the underlying architectural and automation means to make it happen. The blueprints span service- and network-oriented used cases and are designed to be reusable and vendor-agnostic.
The initial tranche covers deployments like broadband complaint handling, transport fault management, IP change management, wireless energy efficiency, and network quality optimization.
Core to the industry association’s efforts is the idea of making L4 deployments repeatable for operators. Its technical packages encompasses relevant data and interface components to ensure alignment with product and solutions strategies, alongside supplier roadmaps.
The organization eyes launching some 40 packages by its DTW Ignite event in Denmark next summer.
"The industry challenge has shifted from proving autonomy is possible to scaling it systematically across production environments," TM Forum CTO George Glass explained. "To do this, carriers do not need more one-off proofs of concept; they need repeatable patterns that work across real networks, suppliers and operating environments. Technical solution packages make proven implementations reusable, reducing design time and integration risk while giving the industry a practical route to scale [L4] autonomy.”
Autonomous networking is steadily proliferating, with vendors like Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Ericsson, and Nokia all making strides to bring the idea to scale. Equinix even came up with the idea of letting engineers manage their networks through prompt inputs via Slack or Teams, while agentic AI has led to a multitude of offerings from Huawei, NetBrain, AT&T, and Google Cloud.