Ericsson Extends Automation Platform to Core Networks

Ericsson pushes unified automation across RAN and core

Ericsson has expanded its Intelligent Automation Platform to support core network automation, making it the first vendor to offer a single platform for running AI-driven automation applications across both radio access networks and core infrastructure.

The company announced the expansion ahead of DTW Ignite in Copenhagen, introducing a new category of applications called cApps—core-specific equivalents of the rApps already available for RAN automation. The Ericsson Intelligent Automation Platform, previously limited to the radio access network domain, can now run automation applications across both network layers from one open platform.

According to details first reported by Automation Watch, the platform expansion includes Ericsson Stream Processing and Enrichment, a new data streaming capability built into Ericsson Network Manager. ESPE collects real-time streaming data from Ericsson RAN, core, and Open RAN nodes, creating a network-wide single source of truth for low-latency event data to power closed-loop automation.

Operators back unified approach

AT&T and Swisscom have publicly endorsed the platform expansion. Rob Soni, VP of RAN technology at AT&T, said a single platform running both cApps and rApps gives operators "a critical tool for delivering on the vision of a truly autonomous network, harnessing the power of agentic AI, that can sense, decide, and act in real time."

Philipp Bichsel, executive vice president of mobile network and services at Swisscom, described the expansion as "a powerful tool for building on early success with RAN automation, extending those abilities to help deliver an autonomous and programmable network end-to-end."

Ericsson currently has more than 150 contracts with global communication service providers for 5G Core or cloud-native core. The Intelligent Automation Platform is already deployed at AT&T, Swisscom, Telstra, and Vodafone. The rApp ecosystem includes more than 100 available applications from over 100 members, a model Ericsson plans to replicate for cApps.

Pre-designed pathways target scale problem

Alongside the platform expansion, Ericsson introduced OSS/BSS Business Value Pathways—pre-designed solution combinations built on its OSS/BSS portfolio and AI capabilities. The pathways give communication service providers defined routes to specific autonomous network outcomes rather than open-ended transformation programs.

Four pathways launched initially: foundational data modernization, zero-touch product launch, agentic AI service experience, and agentic AI intelligent IT operations. Additional pathways will follow.

Why it matters

Ericsson's own data shows 68% of communication service providers had commercially deployed network or service automation by the end of last year, but only 8% had done so at scale. The gap between pilot deployments and production-scale automation represents a significant barrier to realizing return on investment in autonomous network capabilities. Both the unified platform and pre-designed pathways directly address this scaling challenge by reducing integration complexity and providing proven implementation patterns.

The details were first reported by Automation Watch.