By Oystein Bergmann, Bureau Chief, Scandinavia

Ericsson is introducing the rApp Directory for commercially available rApps created by Ericsson and third parties for use on the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP), Ericsson’s Service Management and Orchestration offering. It is the first dedicated directory for rApps available in the telecom industry, and joins a number of other supporting structures created by Ericsson for the ecosystem and community of CSPs and vendors working with rApps globally.

The rApp Directory allows potential customers or other EIAP ecosystem members to discover and explore the functionalities of rApps, applications to introduce automation to Radio Access Network (RAN) management and optimization use cases, developed by Ericsson and third parties, such as independent software vendors (ISV) and Communication Service Providers (CSPs). Users can also connect with the creators and owners of the rApps, to understand more about how their application can help transform the automation performance of networks.

The rApp Directory has been available since the summer to early members of the EIAP ecosystem, and currently provides information on over 20 rApps which can be used commercially on the EIAP. From now, it will be periodically updated to reflect the growing number of rApps and community members coming to the ecosystem.

Today, the EIAP ecosystem has 28 registered members. This rapidly growing community includes 18 ISVs and 10 CSPs (who can both use and contribute their own rApps), and over 1100 individual developers. The EIAP ecosystem includes innovative and leading 3rd party software providers such as Aira Technologies, Airhop, Aspire, Booz Allen, Domos, Future Connections, Fyra, Groundhog, HCL Software, Icebreaker, Infovista, Intel, Ookla, Snowflake, Tectwin, Viavi, Wipro and Zinkworks. And leading CSPs such as AT&T, Swisscom, Telstra and Vodafone and a number of other undisclosed CSP members.

Head of Solution Area Network Management, Ericsson Anders Vestergren says: “The introduction of the rApp Directory comes as we celebrate the gathering momentum of the Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform, as well as rApps in the wider telecoms industry. Ericsson was recently recognized by independent analyst Omdia as having the fastest growing rApp ecosystem, and we’re confident the rApp directory will be a valuable asset to that community of independent developers, software developers, and CSPs as they seek to drive innovation and growth through RAN automation.”

The rApp Directory categorizes the rApps into five RAN automation solutions areas:

Network Evolution – Enhances network planning, improves network and service performance and enables new revenues by data driven and intent-based insights and recommendations

Network Deployment – Handles provisioning and life cycle management of complex networks with optimal costs and speed to market

Network Optimization – Offers intelligent autonomous functions to optimize customer experience and return on investments

Network Healing – Ensures service continuity and resolution of both basic and complex incidents, delivering high availability while keeping the operation costs at a minimum

Automation and AI Foundation – Enables faster TTM for – and trust in – high performance AI and automation use cases

To support the thriving ecosystem, and ensure developers (whether from Ericsson or third parties) have the tools and resources to innovate on RAN automation, Ericsson has a number of resources available already. This includes the Developer Portal which enables access to all the developer resources in an intuitive, easy to navigate and continuously updated environment with the latest EIAP capabilities; the Developers Community which stimulates the developer interactions and collaborative work by means of a Community of Practice and support forums both of which are available once a developer or company become an ecosystem member; and rApp Developers Training with introductions and deep dives about EIAP and rApps development as well as the newly introduced rApp Directory.

The Intelligent Automation Platform rApp Directory operates in a common, open way for all ecosystem members offering them the potential to showcase their rApp innovation and offerings. rApp descriptions and content as presented in the Directory, commercial proposition and operational performance and other information and resources are the sole responsibility of the providing entity.