Today at MWC Barcelona 2023, Google Cloud announced a new product aimed at helping communication service providers (CSPs) automate and optimize their network operations. Telecom Network Automation is a cloud-based solution that leverages Google’s expertise in Kubernetes, artificial intelligence (AI), and open source software.

Telecom Network Automation is based on Nephio, an open source project created by Google and managed by the Linux Foundation. Nephio enables CSPs to use common automation models to manage network infrastructure and functions across clouds and providers. Nephio also uses artificial intelligence-based control loops to monitor and tune network performance based on user-defined intent.

According to Google Cloud, telecom network automation can help CSPs reduce operating costs, improve service quality, and accelerate time-to-market for new services. The product can also support different use cases such as 5G radio access networks (RAN), edge computing, network slicing, and private networks.

One of the first adopters of telecom network automation is Bell Canada, which used it to automate the Google Distributed Cloud Edge application, a platform that provides cloud services at the edge of the network. Bell Canada says telecom network automation has helped it simplify network management and improve customer service.

Google Cloud said telecom network automation is part of its cloud network modernization offering for CSPs, which includes Anthos for Telecom, a platform that enables CSPs to run applications anywhere using containers and microservices. Google Cloud added that it is committed to working with the telecommunications industry and supporting open standards and interoperability.