Aira Driving AI Into ‘RAN of the Future’ Mission

Saratoga, Calif.-based Aira Technologies earlier this month launched its new Naavik wireless network engineering platform that aims to dramatically cut development time by using generative AI (GenAI) technologies to speed modernization of telecom operator radio access networks (RANs).

“Aira is laser focused on enabling the RAN of the future – a fully autonomous, self-learning RAN,” the company said, emphasizing its approach to “use a data-driven, ML powered approach to radically re-imagine wireless design, deployment, and control to improve efficiency, and performance.”

The Naavik platform, the company said, is geared to help engineers more quickly solve “the most pernicious challenges” that typically make RAN modernization more difficult.

To tackle those challenges, the platform can connect to a telco operator’s key performance indicators (KPI) database and answer “intent-based questions, analyze network data, and perform projections by using a GenAI large language model that is fine-tuned to the operator’s database,” Aira said.

It can also build models that predict KPI evolution, detect anomalies and root causes of them, and design, test, and deploy applications by using GenAI to “convert flowcharts-based routines described in natural language into SMO-deployable apps,” the company said.

On the use-case front for military communications applications, Aira said the Naavik platform provides “zero-touch provisioning” that can reduce network set-up time – that can now take up to 48 hours – to as little as 15 minutes  “using AI-driven algorithms to intelligently reallocate bandwidth for mission critical communications even in constrained environments.”

RaviKiran Gopalan, Aira’s co-founder and chief technology officer, said the Naavik platform is the first to “seamlessly combine GenAI with traditional AI to solve impactful use cases for network operators.”

“We’re pleased to see the tangible benefits across so many use cases that our customers have tolerated for too long until now,” he said.

“Our partners applaud Naavik’s impact on clearing roadblocks to network efficiency,” commented Anand Chandrasekher, Aira’s co-founder and chief executive officer.  “We’re proud that Naavik is addressing issues that have persisted for too long. This AI-powered platform is showing tangible improvements to network speed, reliability, and manageability,” he said.

Separately, Aira said it is organizing – along with McKinsey & Company – an invitation-only event with operators, vendors, and consultants “to showcase AI momentum in streamlining network operations.”

“Experts are sharing practical insights on AI’s potential for innovation, performance, and productivity in the Telco Radio Access Network (RAN) and beyond,” the company said. Aira expects to host speakers from AT&T, Boost Mobile, Qualcomm, Capita, Nokia, Ericsson, Dell, Intel, VMware, BluePlanet, and Mavenir.