Luca Rubaga, Managing Director of Sirti Digital Solutions, describes the characteristics​ ​networks must have in order to provide​ ​intelligent support to this digital evolution.​ ​In this era of growing digitalisation, data and information are fundamental assets for​ ​business competitivity in every sector and in every dimension. Cloud computing has​ ​been one of the main enablers of this new​ ​scenario, taking on the role of a platform for the​ ​orchestration of all those elements that characterise the digital transformation,​ ​such as​ ​artificial intelligence, IoT, virtualisation or analytics. Data management – the acquisition, processing and use of data – is bringing out the​ ​edge as the new focal hub of digital infrastructures, and making it the focus of attention in​ ​a number of productive sectors, including Telco. Bringing technological innovation to the​ ​edge is an essential prerequisite for the development and enablement of new services​ ​with high added value, to​ ​improve competitive positioning. It is in this context that edge​ ​computing comes into play: an architectural approach that extends​ ​the cloud computing​ ​model, offering the possibility to process data as close as possible to where they are​ ​generated or used, with​ ​significant advantages for the user experience.​ ​This architectural approach, in a 5G network infrastructure environment, enables the​ ​development of business cases relating to new high-added-value services, thanks to the​ ​availability of low-latency access and​ ​transport, together with computational capacities​ ​close to data generation or use. The development of new services offers huge​ ​potential to​ ​create new business opportunities, while at the same time expanding the range of​ ​stakeholders involved. Intelligent networks based on automation​ ​In such a decentralised technological environment, with a constantly growing volume of data, the so-called “intelligent networks” are becoming essential to the effective​ ​orchestration of data, with a positive impact on​ ​business operations. This is where​ ​Intelligent Networking comes in: a model that moves beyond the traditional FCAPS (fault,​ ​configuration, accounting, performance, security) concept, orchestrating communication​ ​and services “intelligently”, in a​ ​virtualised context.Because this is an architectural solution with a strong element of automation, geared​ ​towards the development and/or evolution ​+​of services, it is among the key objectives of the​ ​main service providers. Thanks to the growing complexity of telecommunication​ ​services,​ ​the Intelligent Networking concept has evolved further, starting out from software-defined​ ​network architectures and​ ​using a series of efficient osmosis processes to bring on​ ​​board elements from other “universes”, such as software development,​ ​machine learning​ ​​and artificial intelligence.​ ​This evolution has aided the development of new network management solutions that​ ​combine a high degree of flexibility with an impressive capacity to adapt to business needs​ ​that is less prone to human error. In​ ​short, an increasingly “intelligent”, properly​ ​orchestrated network ensures greater control, greater flexibility, a greater ability to​ adapt to​ ​new requirements, and a shorter time to market for the new services, without impacting​ ​information security levels.Among the main benefits of this evolution are undoubtedly a significant reduction in​ ​operating costs, and thus the optimisation of investments in hardware, also thanks to the​ ​virtualisation process, which enables the consolidation of network functions.In conclusion, this type of model offers a large number of opportunities from the point of​ ​view of both sustainability, by reducing​ ​energy and environmental impact, and social​ ​development, by offering and enabling employment opportunities. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.