Huawei has introduced a new TCP/IP Like Network model that will drive fast 5G Network acceleration across Africa and the World. The Reveal was made at the recently concluded AfricaCom event that was held from November 9th – 12th in South Africa.
Similar to the TCP/IP Transport layer, and the 4th layer of the industry OSI (open systems interconnection) model, Huawei’s Key Architecture index (KAI) supports IP standards with key focus on Voice over IP interoperation.
During the conference which run under the theme “leading intelligent IP networks, accelerating intelligent connectivity”, speakers inked challenges with current IP networks key architecture index (KAI) powered applications in use.
In a carrier environment, an IP network enables fixed-mobile convergence, network evolution, and the shift towards multi-service offerings. And with the reduced pool of IPV4 addresses, the key challenge facing IP networks is unnecessary complexity due to the lack of IP standardization.
Even with IPV6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) as the currently recommended protocol, existing networks were already built without adequate foresight on the future of new generation networks.
2G,3G,4G were all built on already existing networks and simply modifying their base configurations to best suit the revamped network bands. This created network complexities around low visibility, management, and control.
“We have to forever simplify our networks while moving to intelligent self-driving autonomous networks,” said Samuel Chen, Director of Huawei Southern Africa Marketing & Solution Sales Department at the conference.
Well, the Huawei KAI architecture model is designed to specifically address complexity challenges, and enable future-ready networks with easy integration, visibility, management and control, by measuring five dimensions of the transport network layer.
KAI model indexes are Congestion Free, Scalable, Simplified, Always-on and Intelligent. Each dimension on the model is evaluated across the optical IP and manager/controller/analyzer layer as the IDC of IOT & Telecoms noted.
“The KAI model helps measure the results at an acceptable level across all of our offering portfolio so that we can realise a cloud-native based approach to monitoring the architecture,”
SAID HUGH UJHAZY, VICE PRESIDENT, IOT & TELECOM AT IDC.
In a presentation by the General Manager of Network Planning at MTN South Africa, Zoltan Miklos, he outlined the best experience of a Congestion-Free IP Transmission Network, which would be the direct result of following an architectural model. Furthermore, he emphasized that its critical to build networks with customer experience in mind.
“User experience is not only related to the wireless network, but to all aspects that form as part of the service chain – from the customer to the core of the network,”
SAID ZOLTAN MIKLOS
Additionally, Miklos noted that MTN Is working hard to improve its network architecture and it’s currently achieving low packet loss rates of less than 10-4 across its entire network. The continuous P3 best-in-test achievements MTN has obtained have all been in testimony to this achievement––he concluded.
A white paper titled Transport Network Architecture Index in 5G and Cloud Era was published by industrial intelligence company IDC earlier this year, and has encouraged many operators across the world to move their network towards the KAI index model inorder to future-proof their network architecture.
In support for the new model, the Huawei vice president of the data communication product line, Ujhazy Hu, said that a step by step approach is the right way for customers to embrace the evolution onto the KAI architectural model.
“We need to think not just as box layers. We need to think about the system layers, the architecture layers, We need to rethink how services will be running on future IP networks and how to evolve our current networks for the future.”
SAID HU
In moments of network upgrades, Hu noted that IP networks can evolve by evaluating current network standards and configurations against the 5 KAI dimensions. An obtained KAI Score can then help a carrier defined their target network along with the necessary corrective steps required to get there.
The 5 dimensions of the KAI Network Model
Similar to the TCP/IP industry network model which has four layers namely, Application, Transport, Internet, and Link. The KAI model borrows a similar setup with full transport layer implementation embedded in congestion-free, simplified, scalable, always-on, and Intelligent dimensions.
| Congestion Free | Fiberization Ratio, 10G/25G to Site, Convergence Ratio, Network Slicing |
| Simplified | SRv6/EVPN, Precise Clock Sync (G.8275.1). |
| Scalable | IP Capacity, Fixed + Mobile + Enterprise Network Convergence, Control & User Plane Separation (BNG) |
| Always On | Topology – Ring & Mesh, Network & Service Decoupling, Protection – IP FRR/TI-LFA, IP + Optical Synergy |
| Intelligent | Auto Provisioning, Visualization on GIS & Logical Topology, Trouble Recovery(mins level), Predictive & Proactive Maintenance , Full Stack AI |
Hence, the KAI model is majorly designed to support swift network operation center upgrades and swift telecommunication provider configurations to create new generation ready network standards.
According to Huawei’s Ujhazy, inadequate levels of coverage or performances have always forced customers to change service providers. By contrast, network excellence leads to improved customer experience, which then enhances the provider’s success in the market.
“In recent years, the transport network has become the deciding factor in the quality of customer experience,” Ujhazy concluded
Hence, the OSI model is a good benchmark for network architects and providers to implement new technologies, but with the increasing rate of new network bands, fresh OSI based models like the KAI architecture model can facilitate continued development and availability of networks across the world.