5G Operational Readiness: The Network Data Analytics Function, Network Slicing, and Network Data Monetization

This IDC Market Perspective explains why the NWDAF is so essential to the nascent network API data strategy that many communications SPs are planning to implement as part of their 5G SA network rollout. The purpose of the NWDAF is to present requesting 5G SA network functions with insight on current or predicted status of these functions. How then each function uses or interprets this information is driven largely by use cases and a communications SP's internal business policies. In addition, NWDAF insight can be exported through the NEF to internal operations systems and requesting external organizations willing to subscribe to a communications SP's network API data offerings. Delivering NWDAF insight to external app developers is a prize that has eluded developers and trusted partners for years. Finally, the NWDAF will play a decisive role in how network slicing can deliver personalized network-based services to business and enterprise customers. "The 5G architecture opens up service options that developers and trusted partners have only dreamed about while at the same time insight from the NWDAF will add to the increased flexibility that is a defining attribute of 5G and network API service offerings. Through network APIs, bringing insight to the customer service layer provides a new world of advanced business opportunity," says Karl Whitelock, research vice president, Communications Service Provider Operations and Monetization Solutions at IDC.