A spin-out company from the University of Edinburgh is using artificial intelligence to help 5G network providers to reduce the need for expensive hardware and computing tech.

Real-time insights into network demand can be given to 5G providers through AI and cloud computing techniques provided by Net AI, including network demand, informing mobile network operators of services used at a location at any time, and in what amount.

Net AI said its Microscope software will provide “more accurate and timely information than what is currently available” from expensive hardware installed at different points in a network.

This will effectively eliminate the need for expensive computing resources that are currently required to process raw data offline.

Dr Paul Patras, co-founder and CEO of Net AI, commented: “Entering into an exclusive licence agreement with the University of Edinburgh is a major steppingstone for Net AI and we are grateful for the support we received from numerous people and organisations, who helped us take the research out of the lab.

“Having a unique AI technology such as Microscope puts us on the world 5G map and will enable us to engage with confidence with leading players in this space. We now seek to attract top talent to join our team and accelerate market introduction.

“Ultimately, we aim to develop a market-leading platform for mobile traffic decomposition and deep analysis.”

Supported by Edinburgh Innovations, Net AI said it aims to “capture a significant share of the global network automation market,” which is forecast to be worth more than £20 billion by 2024.

The company has been launched with significant seed investment from a group of venture funds.

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Customers are beginning to demand diversity in the data services provided by network operators, as well as the need for them to support new applications, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial automation.

Resource management systems currently rely on ‘deep packet inspection’ (DPI) equipment installed at different points in the network. This DPI technology is expensive, difficult to upgrade, may slow down the network and does not work with encrypted data, which accounts for a growing share of today’s traffic.

Net AI said its software uses new AI techniques to provide “accurate breakdowns of data demand” on an application-by-application basis, allows data to be collected in the cloud, works with encrypted traffic, is non-intrusive and scales with network expansion independently of infrastructure.

Edinburgh Innovations CEO Dr George Baxter added: “Talented researchers at the University of Edinburgh are well placed to find solutions to tomorrow’s problems, and the growing demand for data is just such a challenge.

“This technology has great promise. We’re proud to support Dr Patras to take his discoveries from the lab into the marketplace, which will ultimately bring far-reaching benefits.”

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