As many users switch to broadband connections every day, broadband network management solutions have emerged as a keen interest to service providers. The consumer now depend on stable and fast connection for streaming, working from home and many other activities and the management of this growing demand has become a little more challenging. Broadband network traffic management solutions have been changing dynamically with the aim of meeting and delivering future network needs.
In this blog post, we shall discuss how these advances are likely to affect consumer broadband traffic usage in the future and the providers.
1. Applications of the AI and Machine Learning in Network Traffic Management
The utilisation of AI and ML in traffic management of broadband networks can be regarded as one of the most innovative improvements of recent years. Being able to process large descriptive volumes of data in a real-time manner, AI and ML algorithms can forecast traffic behaviour and also manage network resources. This results into enhanced decision making enabling the network administrators to allocate bandwidth where it is most required.
For example, AI will detect traffic congestion and re-direct info to avoid congestion thus enabling the user to have a smooth experience. Machine learning, in contrast, can assist with regard to identification of future usage trends regarding service capacity to meet future demand requirements.
2. Edge computing for better traffic flow
Another relatively newly developing field in **broadband network management solutions** is edge computing, which entails decentralizing the processing responsibilities of networks nearer to the users. This not only causes smaller latency but it also plays a part in balancing the better distribution of the traffic across the networks.
The second model, edge computing means that service providers perform computations locally without transmitting data to a center. This greatly enhances the bandwidth rate and efficiency of the network to way-load operations such as gaming, streaming, and AR applications.
3. Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV)
Two emerging technologies, which are radically reshaping broadband networks’ management, are software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV). SDN provide users and service providers the ability to manage network traffic flow with software defining the infrastructure, thereby introducing flexibility in influencing how networks function. On the other hand, NFV enables network functions to be implemented in software which will be executed on commercial off the shelf hardware thereby avoiding the costs of having to procure specialised hardware infrastructure.
Altogether these technologies make it easier to control and monitor the flow of traffic or data through a network hence enabling the right access to resources that are required. Therefore, such service providers are able to easily identify emerging traffic patterns, thus being able to provide optimal performance maps.
4.5 Integration and Its Influence on Traffic Administration
It is regarding 5G integration that broadband network traffic management is expected to undergo a drastic change. As 5G guaranteed higher speed, lower latency, and higher capacity, it will also put new burden to the network infrastructure. And this is alarming that service provider will have the requirement to improve the traffic handling and it can only be done with the help of better traffic management technologies.
The key issue of the 5G paradigm focuses on its ability to support a potentially enormous number of connected devices, which will need efficient traffic control. This means covering loads of customers, from self-driving cars to the smart cities to the regular consumer who doesn’t want their internet interrupted.
5. Cloud-Based Solutions of Network Management
Cloud technology is also very significant concerning broadband network management solutions of the future. Compared to centralized and distributed systems, cloud-based solutions provide more opportunities of network resources’ supply, meaning that the service providers will be able to quickly respond to the increased amounts of traffic with the respective rapid server provision.
Moreover, the increased availability of web-based management tools in association to the cloud makes it possible for the providers to store and analyze available data to keep track of the network status, to identify problems, and to design traffic routing strategies without needing huge own infrastructure.
Conclusion
The trend that broadband will continue to grow in the future is consistent with the dramatic improvements in the broadband network traffic management control systems. New offerings like AI, machine learning, edge computing and SDN NFV and 5G integration are all helping to ensure that the increased traffic demand is being dealt with adequately. These technologies enhance the efficiency of the broadband services, as well as the structure of adaptable and scalable network, prepared for the subsequent generations of Internet connection consumers.
The above-discussed advanced broadband network management solutions will help service providers to be at par with the customers’ requirements to enable faster and reliable internet networks in the future.
