Mastering the Route
to Disaggregation
Leading in the development of open, disaggregated, virtualised and cloud native solutions, moving towards agentic Al-based operating models
“NGMN’s Route to Disaggregation defines how the mobile industry can move toward open, modular and interoperable network architectures in a controlled and commercially viable way. By aligning operators and the wider ecosystem, the programme provides a clear roadmap for introducing disaggregated networks while preserving performance, security and operational stability.”
Johann Reindl
Senior Programme Manager (external), NGMN
johann.reindl@external.ngmn.org
Operators must start preparing now for
future-proof models: open, flexible, and ready
for new partners and technologies.
Cloud Native Solutions
Project Lead
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Sana Tariq
TELUS
Project Co-Lead
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Fabrizio Moggio
Telecom Italia
Objectives
- To evaluate the alignment of NGMN’s Cloud Native Manifesto with CNCF cloud-native frameworks, focusing on telecom-specific adaptations in technology, processes, and skills; to define a phased roadmap for integrating GenAI into telecom operating models; and to provide actionable guidance on AI-driven DevOps, predictive AIOps, customer-centric observability, and ethical AI practices, while ensuring vendor accountability and regulatory compliance.
- To examine GenAI-driven use cases such as automated documentation, AI-optimised architecture and service design, and autonomous operational management; to explore how telecom operations evolve with GenAI adoption, enabling self-healing networks, dynamic resource allocation, and predictive maintenance; and to emphasise cross-industry collaboration to establish best practices for scalable, self-optimising networks powered by GenAI.
Network Automation
Project Leads
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Lingli Deng
China Mobile
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Guenter Klas
Vodafone
Objectives
- Develop guidance for Agentic AI for Autonomous Mobile Networks by defining a mobile operator-centric reference framework.
- Define a scenario-agnostic reference framework, which will specify common components essential for Agentic AI collaboration, such as agent interaction patterns, lifecycle management, security models, and interoperability interfaces.
Route to Disaggregation Videos
Publications
Cloud-Native Next Chapter –
Agentic AI-Based Operating Models
Building on NGMN’s Cloud Native Manifesto and established cloud-native frameworks such as the Cloud Native Computing Foundation’s (CNCF’s) Cloud Native Maturity Model (CNMM), the publication introduces a structured approach to integrate Agentic AI-based capabilities into telecom operations. It defines five progressive AI adoption levels and maps them to the CNCF Cloud Native Maturity Model (CNMM) stages, enabling operators to assess their readiness and required next steps to gradually evolve towards more intelligent and autonomous network operations. For each AI adoption level, the document also provides guidance on what is required across technology, people, skills and organisational culture.
Operating Disaggregated Networks Operating Models – An Introduction
A harmonised global 6G standard is essential to ensure a smooth industry evolution, address societal needs, and support a healthy ecosystem. The rollout of 6G should avoid mandatory hardware replacement, instead focusing on software upgrades within existing frequency bands. New hardware should only be introduced where new frequencies make it necessary. Any new technologies must demonstrate clear benefits within a techno-economic framework, with a strong emphasis on spectrum and energy efficiency.
CLOUD NATIVE MANIFESTO
An Operator View
On our journey to highly flexible, sustainable, and resilient networks for the future, we believe in applying the following cloud native principles to all layers of network infrastructure, applications, and services*:
1. Decoupled infrastructure and application lifecycles over vertical monoliths;
2. ‘API first’ over manual provisioning of network resources;
3. Declarative and intent-based automation over imperative workflows;
4. GitOps** principles over traditional network operations practices;
5. Unified Kubernetes (or the like) resource consumption patterns over domain-specific resource controllers;
6. Unified Kubernetes (or the like) closed-loop reconciliation patterns over vendorspecific element management practices; and
7. Interoperability by well-defined certification processes over vendor-specific optimisation.
ODiN – Operating Disaggregated Networks
“ODiN – Operating Disaggregated Networks v2.0”, provides a detailed breakdown on how disaggregation impacts an operator’s organisation and processes. The publication covers RAN, core and transport disaggregation and outlines how planning, deployment, service provision, optimisation and maintenance processes will be impacted. In addition, the publication highlights the impact on processes of cloudification and the need to move towards the use of greater network automation whilst embracing DevSecOps. The opportunities, challenges and the impact on network testing are also explained. Developed by the NGMN Alliance’s Partners – operators, vendors, system integrators, and research institutes –, the new publication builds on “ODiN – Operating Disaggregated Networks v1.0” from October 2021, which outlined the opportunities and challenges of network disaggregation.
Events
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