Full Speed, Full Control: Governing Automation in the Modern RAN

The promise of automation in telecom is well-understood: faster operations, reduced errors, and lower OPEX. But as operators increasingly rely on automated systems to manage live networks, a new concern is emerging: who’s governing automation?

Automation without oversight is just as dangerous as no automation at all.

Aircom’s SmartCM brings a much-needed layer of governance to RAN automation—ensuring that every automated action is accountable, auditable, and aligned with organizational policy.

The Risk of Ungoverned Automation

Uncontrolled automation can create drift, apply incorrect parameters at scale, or override critical configurations. These aren’t theoretical risks—they’ve already played out in real-world outages and SLA breaches.

What operators need is a framework that enables automation but keeps it in check.

SmartCM’s Automation Control Framework

SmartCM allows operators to define:

• What can be automated (e.g., audit fixes, PM-based changes)
• Who can approve actions (based on roles and permissions)
• When and how automation can execute (scheduling, escalation paths)

Automated actions—like parameter corrections, site integrations, or optimization routines—are validated through a central policy engine. They’re tracked with time stamps, triggers, and outcomes.

Visibility Builds Trust

SmartCM includes dashboards and reports that provide full visibility into the automation lifecycle. From planning inputs to final implementation, every action is visible to the teams that need it—whether they’re in operations, compliance, or executive roles.

This visibility reduces the fear of “black box” automation and encourages broader adoption across the organization.

Aligning Automation with Business Goals

Automation isn’t just about speed. It’s about achieving consistent, business-aligned outcomes. SmartCM ensures that automated changes:

• Improve network performance
• Adhere to service-level targets
• Comply with national and internal regulations

Future-Ready, Policy-Driven

As AI and machine learning become more embedded in telecom workflows, the need for governance will only grow. SmartCM’s modular, policy-based architecture is ready for that future. It can incorporate AI-generated recommendations and enforce guardrails to ensure responsible execution.

In the modern RAN, automation must be both powerful and principled. SmartCM delivers both—letting operators move at full speed, with full control.