As I speak to customers across this region, they face several converging opportunities for meeting user connectivity demands. Consider these findings from a recent IDC InfoBrief, Network Adaptation for Digital Transformation, sponsored by Ciena:

• One-third of cumulative CAPEX spending will be focused on 5G, among service providers in Asia Pacific excluding Japan.
• Massive IoT was ranked as the top 5G use case that service providers (at 59 percent) are exploring in this region – meaning preparing a network to support a massive number of devices, focusing more on IoT scale than connection speed.`
• Roughly 62 percent of service providers in Asia-Pacific listed analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a top priority for network transformation.
• More than 77 percent of survey respondents highlighted the significant importance of automation and orchestration in improving the user experience.

(Source: IDC, 2020)

Clearly this region’s service providers are facing aggressive new challenges as demands for connectivity reach new levels, with emerging use cases ranging from telemedicine to advanced security. The research reveals that AI and software-defined networks are crucial to delivering on the most pressing network applications in this region, including the promise of 5G.

To support vigorous customer demands in a fast-paced region that is mobile-centric, service providers no longer just need fast, high capacity networks – they need networks that are intelligent and adaptive. The network itself is rapidly evolving into an intelligent platform, with service providers increasingly able to efficiently deliver next-generation of services such as cloud, mobility (5G) and the Internet of Things (IoT).  

This research reveals AI as the industry-recognized technology key to such network evolution in this region. However, at Ciena we see AI and autonomous networking as partial concepts for addressing the pressure and opportunities that service providers face. We’ve expanded upon autonomous networking concepts with The Adaptive Network™ vision, meaning service providers must also ensure networks are programmable, automated and open to cost-effectively adapt to rapidly emerging new technologies. For several examples of this in action, check out our Adaptive Network use cases. 

To learn more about how service providers in this region are transforming to meet emerging needs, and corresponding adapting their networks, read the full IDC InfoBrief, Network Adaptation for Digital Transformation.