The challenge and potential for AI on broadband networks: Broadband Forum report

The Broadband Forum has released a technical report that looks at what is necessary to effectively bring AI into broadband networks. It also looks at what new capabilities and services AI can bring. The Broadband Forum’s “AI in Broadband Networks” report sets out a vision of how broadband networks should evolve with AI, outlining the AI development trends and network characteristics for services-led broadband networks and their service requirements,” according to the press release. The overview of the key applications for AI in broadband points to agentic AI-as-a-service, quality on demand, and self-optimizing networks. There are two types of self-optimizing networks, the Broadband Forum AI report said. Green networks include things necessary for sustainability, “including smart downlink/uplink traffic scheduling, integrated end-to-end power saving modes, and energy-saving system design, [through which] the network moves towards higher energy efficiency.” The other is network Level 4: These networks leverage AI for network management, fault diagnosis, recovery, and operation for some level of autonomous operation.