Please find an interesting article about Dish Network’s cloud-powered 5G network. It discusses the challenges and benefits of using an open RAN (radio access network) especially around Day 2 Operations. Dish was facing challenges because they are the lead integrator and architect, and some of their partners are not familiar with the operational needs of 5G technology. They’ve also had to invest heavily in new network tools. However, Dish has also been able to rapidly upgrade their network by using AWS. For instance, they were able to upgrade their core network in one night. Dish believes that the benefits of the cloud-powered 5G network far outweigh the challenges.
The benefits of Dish’s open RAN, cloud-powered 5G network are ‘tremendous,’ providing the company with a path to rapid upgrades, says Dish CTO Eben Albertyn. ‘But it’s not for everybody.’
Dish Network’s decision to go with open RAN and the cloud – via partner AWS – has been met with challenges as the company continues to push ahead with its national 5G network. But the benefits Dish is getting from that approach far outweigh those challenges, according to CTO Eben Albertyn.
“Challenges – there are many,” Albertyn said Wednesday at the Informa/Light Reading Network X event during a keynote chat. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”
Dish, he said, was surprised by some of the challenges it faced in the role of lead integrator and architect. For example, Dish found early on that it took some additional time to get its vendors and other partners up to speed.
“We were expecting partners to walk with us,” he said. “What we figured out was they are learning slower than what we are doing. So we had to learn on their behalf and get them to move at our speed in terms of how we were doing it … Changing the mindset continues to be somewhat of a challenge.”
Another challenge/surprise: Dish has had to “invest quite heavily” on network tools that were beyond capabilities of some of the legacy tools available.
Rapid upgrades
Though the challenges are daunting, the benefits of Dish’s open RAN, cloud-based approach are likewise “significant,” Albertyn said. “We don’t occupy ourselves with all the infrastructure, lifecycle management [and] security design,” he explained.
A prime example is how rapidly Dish was able to take advantage of a recent AWS upgrade – from generation 5 of its EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) to generation 6 – virtually overnight. AWS’ upgraded instance was powered by new hardware, switching fabrics, security and firewalling, along with a platform that was about twice as fast as its predecessor.
“I moved my entire core network in one night – from gen 5 to gen 6 … at the push of the button. It doesn’t take weeks, it doesn’t take months,” he said.
Under that rapid, cloud-enabled upgrade model, Dish suddenly had access to more speed, higher security, more features and greater capacity, Albertyn explained in a follow-up video interview with Light Reading that will be posted soon.
By way of example, he said a typical upgrade of that magnitude for a “classical carrier” could run as much as a year.
“The benefits are tremendous to be able to do that. But it’s not for everybody,” he said.
RIC raves
Albertyn also discussed the advantages Dish hopes to gain from its interest in the RAN Intelligent Controller, or RIC, enabling the company to connect to any amount of compute that is needed.
Related:EchoStar’s Dish to try again in postpaid 5G later this year
That “powerful device,” he said, also gives Dish, at least in principle, room to decouple the hardware from the software, innovate on what it’s doing on the RAN, and take advantage of other benefits such as power management and opening up opportunities to third parties.
“It allows us to make many infinite changes on the system at the speed of software innovation,” he explained.
Dish hasn’t announced its RIC supplier partners, but Albertyn confirmed the company will start off with a non-real-time approach as standards for real-time technologies are ironed out.
“The standard for [non-real-time] is more fixed, more established,” Albertyn said. “I’m loath to do something on real-time RIC when it’s not well-standardized.
The Importance of Day 2 Operations in 5G Networks
As we have covered in multiple posts, the smooth operation of a public 5G network requires a phased and multipronged approach. As the example of Dish network illustrates, while Day 0 focuses on planning and Day 1 tackles deployment and configuration, it’s Day 2 that ensures everything keeps running like clockwork.
That is why Day 2 Operations are crucial for modern 5G networks:
Firstly, 5G adds significant network complexity. With features like network slicing and virtualized infrastructure, managing these networks requires constant optimization and adjustments. Day 2 operations focus on this ongoing maintenance, ensuring efficient resource allocation, addressing performance bottlenecks, and keeping the network adaptable to ever-changing demands.
Secondly, automation is key in 5G’s cloud native network. Manual processes become cumbersome and error-prone when dealing with a network that dynamically scales to support diverse applications. Day 2 operations leverage automation tools and AI to streamline tasks like fault detection, troubleshooting, and software updates. This not only reduces human error but also frees up network engineers to focus on strategic initiatives.
Finally, Day 2 operations are essential for ensuring a superior customer experience. By proactively identifying and resolving network issues, operators can minimize downtime and maintain consistent performance. This translates to uninterrupted service for users, whether they’re streaming high-definition content, participating in immersive AR experiences, or relying on mission-critical applications.
Conclusion
Maintaining a well-functioning 5G network goes beyond initial setup. Unlike previous generations, 5G requires ongoing management – known as Day 2 Operations – to handle its inherent complexity. 5G features like network slicing create a dynamic environment with constantly changing demands. Day 2 operations ensure this complexity is addressed. This includes tasks like optimizing resource allocation, identifying performance bottlenecks, and adapting the network to new requirements. Efficient Day 2 operations are crucial for user experience. By proactively dealing with network issues, operators minimize downtime and maintain consistent performance. This translates to uninterrupted service for users, whether they’re using bandwidth-intensive applications or relying on 5G for mission-critical tasks.