Nile boosts NaaS offering with AI, customizable services

“Our cloud-native networking stack – we configure it and install it, we handle the lifecycle management, network optimization, the patching, and we guarantee performance, availability, capacity, and coverage. But then we essentially hand the keys to the customer,” Hawthorne said.

With its latest upgrade, Nile added Service Blocks to its NaaS architecture. Nile Service Blocks make up the foundation of the Nile Access Service, and each block represents a collection of physical Wi-Fi sensors, Wi-Fi access points, access switches, or distribution switches. The blocks are customizable and can be delivered in different-size packages for customers, depending on their needs.

The idea is that instead of requiring manual configuration and separate software release management for different network elements, service blocks are supported with cloud-native delivery and a microservices-based architecture, Hawthorn said.

Also part of the Service Blocks architecture is a digital twin feature that lets customers set up a virtual replica of their environment to simulate and troubleshoot network operations and help manage proposed changes and additions.

On the AI side, Nile has added Copilot applications that simplify equipment installation and intent-based provisioning of Nile Service Blocks. In addition, new Nile Autopilot applications can offload what are today manual network functions, such as software maintenance, and automate manual workflows for infrastructure performance monitoring and troubleshooting, Hawthorne said.  

Core to Nile’s AI software is its ability to constantly evaluate network conditions and traffic patterns and align them with available resources to keep traffic flowing as well as identify and fix trouble spots in real time. This closed-loop automation ensures that the network maintains itself and is in the “best practice state” at all times, Hawthorne said.