Towards natively intelligent networks

Over the past few years, network automation has become an increasingly important topic in both research and industry. With the growing complexity of modern networks and the need for efficient network management, artificial intelligence-based algorithms have gained attention as a promising solution. Standardization efforts have also been underway to support analytics derived from network data. As we look towards the future of mobile networks, it is expected that the integration of network intelligence (NI) will be a crucial component of the next-generation 6th Generation (6G) mobile network. While the foundational pillars of 6G have been defined by recent research and standardization works (e.g., 3GPP Release 18), it will be necessary for the upcoming waves of mobile network architecture to natively integrate NI solutions, making lifecycle management of NI an integral part of network services. This will require a novel architectural framework that supports the integration of NI into the network services, as well as the development of novel algorithms that can leverage NI to optimize network performance and enable new services and applications. In this context, this chapter proposes a comprehensive framework for the integration of NI in the 6G mobile network, which includes the key components of NI functions, management and orchestration (MANO), and infrastructure. We also introduce novel algorithms that can leverage NI to optimize network performance and enable new services and applications. Overall, the goal is to provide a roadmap for the integration of NI into the 6G mobile network, with the aim of creating a more efficient, intelligent, and flexible network architecture that can meet the demands of the next generation of mobile services.