Network automation is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a necessity. Yet, despite its advantages, many network operators still struggle to move beyond early automation stages. The latest insights from Nokia’s Ivana Duvnjak, Senior Director of Product Management for IP and Optical Network Automation, highlight a critical factor in overcoming these hurdles: collaboration.
The Roadblocks to Full Network Automation
Network automation holds immense potential—reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving network reliability. However, most operators remain at Level 2 or 3 in the TM Forum’s autonomous network maturity model, far from full autonomy.
So, what’s slowing progress?
- Skills Gap – Lack of in-house expertise to deploy advanced automation
- Budget Constraints – High initial investment costs
- Legacy Systems – Aging infrastructure that doesn’t integrate easily
- Organizational Silos – Lack of coordination across teams
Collaboration: The Key to Unlocking Automation
Duvnjak emphasizes that collaboration is crucial in advancing network automation. Rather than working in isolation, network engineers, operators, vendors, and partners must come together to tackle these challenges.
One of the leading initiatives in this space is the Network Automation Forum (NAF). This community-driven organization fosters open discussions, knowledge sharing, and real-world success stories, helping operators accelerate their automation journey.
Nokia’s Commitment to Network Automation
Nokia isn’t just talking about collaboration—it’s actively contributing. The company has launched open-source projects like:
- ContainerLab – A tool that simplifies network lab automation
- Kubenet – A Kubernetes-based solution for managing network environments
These projects provide operators with practical solutions to experiment, test, and deploy network automation at scale.
What’s Next?
The future of network automation is promising, with industry events like AutoCon 3 in Prague continuing to push the conversation forward. Expect to see new innovations, industry partnerships, and scalable solutions that make full network automation a reality.
Final Thoughts
Network automation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people working together to solve complex challenges. By fostering collaboration and open-source innovation, we can bridge the gap between where we are today and the fully automated networks of tomorrow.
Article derived from: Duvnjak, I. (2025, January 24). Advancing network automation with the power of collaboration. Nokia.com. https://www.nokia.com/blog/advancing-network-automation-with-the-power-of-collaboration/
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