European Gaming News

Ericsson, the telecommunication giant experimenting on developing the next-gen automated network infrastructure

Published

7 years ago

March 9, 2018

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Ericsson, the multinational networking and telecommunications company which has been shaping the future of mobile broadband internet communications through its continuous technology leadership, is now in the act of experimenting with a host of machine learning and predictive intelligence algorithms to develop the next-gen automated network infrastructure.

The age of 5G is very much at hand. For service providers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and the networking hardware and software vendors supplying them, it means preparing next-gen networks with the tools required to adapt to a new set of data, device, and connectivity challenges.

Cisco and Nokia, the Software-defined networking companies are building more autonomous networks infused with machine learning and predictive analytics. But it is likely that any telecommunications giant is exploring network-based artificial intelligence (AI) in as many fascinating ways as Ericsson.

Across autonomous infrastructure, managed services, and even virtual assistants deployed in customer and field scenarios, Ericsson is embedding machine learning algorithms and data-driven AI in its entire end-to-end telecommunications pipeline. PCMag spoke to Ulrika Jagare, Ericsson’s Director of Analytics and Machine Intelligence, about the company’s years of R&D efforts and how she envisions Ericsson’s intelligent networks analysing and evolving to scale along with 5G.

“We’re looking at and exploring a lot of different potentials AI scenarios, mainly using network data,” said Jagare. “In managed networks, this means combining machine intelligence at the edge, from the base station to the Internet of Things. We’ve come up with a lot of different cases we want to try out in 2018.”

Feeding Data to Autonomous Networks

Much like Google and other Silicon Valley tech giants, Ericsson has spent the last several years rewriting how its software works with AI. Jagare said Ericsson’s network infrastructure has been overhauled to help combine its vast network data with machine intelligence. This is not only to feed the machine learning algorithms more data but to prepare the infrastructure for high-performance edge computing.

“We’re investing a lot in infrastructure. We’re building up a globally distributed pipeline to make sure we can get hold of data in a smarter way, but also with the option to compute the data locally if needed,” said Jagare. “We need to make sure we can deliver services with high speed and quality without having to drag everything to a central point. So that’s where the edge comes into play.”

Creating this kind of end-to-end data pipeline isn’t easy. Through initiatives like the 5G Transformer Project, Ericsson is working with local operators applying machine learning to create smarter networks. Jagare said the company has done one successful trial with a European operator over the last 10 months, applying what she described as “the first advanced machine learning algorithm for load balancing in the network.”

Companies like Cisco have launched similar pilots, like working with Vodafone in Ireland using ML algorithms to process network data and identify predictive traffic patterns. Jagare said the idea is to start with these small-scale pilots with local operators to show the value of AI-enhanced telco infrastructure.

“It’s a big challenge, but we have a lot of experience working with and correlating network data in localized sectors,” said Jagare. “Most research is happening in the lab because of the complexity of self-learning networks. I was talking to one of our major customers in the U.S. recently and they were impressed with how far we’ve been able to go with getting algorithms running on live networks.”

Voice Assistants and Digital Twins

Ultimately the goal is to create self-learning, self-healing networks. In the meantime, Ericsson is also experimenting with voice assistants and natural language processing (NLP) to help technicians who are in the field fixing physical infrastructure.

Jagare said Ericsson is equipping technicians with a mobile app a la Google Assistant or Cortana to decrease time spent on site visits. One of the first use cases is focused on troubleshooting. Using open-source machine learning and NLP frameworks, Ericsson lets the voice assistant soak up an entire product knowledge base of vast document libraries and technical manuals, then speak back to the technician in natural language to answer queries. The app can also perform image recognition and computer vision through the smartphone camera.

“We’re reducing the number of site visits [through automation] but we want to make sure that when we do visit a site, it’s done as efficiently as possible. So if a virtual assistant is assisting the technician on a field operation, it can act as a service layer; an application on the phone using natural language processing and image recognition to aid the worker. If it detects from an image that there’s a problem, it can tell the technician to ‘fix it in this place’ and so on,” said Jagare.”

The AI can also create digital twins, be it of a particular base station or a virtualized view of the entire network. At the moment these assistive capabilities are only available to site technicians via smartphone, but Ericsson is testing out other applications in its lab. Jagare said a “natural step” would be to make virtual assistants and digital twin schematics available through hands-free augmented reality glasses. Manufacturers like Boeing and GE are already doing this.

Using all the network data combined with machine intelligence, Jagare said Ericsson aims to predict and prevent network problems before they happen, ultimately turning predominately to remote fixes in place of human technicians.

“The other service perspective we’re working on is a managed services solution called Intelligent Site. We’re trying to combine user data and algorithms to detect deviations and patterns,” said Jagare. “Not only with network data, but incorporating things like weather and other data types to help profile each site.”

The 5G Evolution

5G will usher in a new era of telecommunications where everything from AR/VR headsets to self-driving cars will be connecting and interacting with network infrastructure. Ericsson’s focus on machine intelligence, Jagare explained, is meant to tackle the complexity wrought by a new generation of IoT devices while allowing for the flexibility to evolve naturally, as devices and experiences do.

“From a technology and 5G perspective, automation and machine intelligence can help us take the functionality to the next level, but also helps us realize a selective push toward different technology choices,” said Jagare. “It’s not about data scientists driving this. In the future, we will probably have more self-learning software in our networks than not.”

Ericsson is putting intelligence algorithms to work in base stations and broadband networks, both on the edge and as-a-service. As a result, Jagare said the company has seen 25 percent performance improvements in core system optimization to help lower overall system management costs.

She said the idea is to continue expanding these self-optimizing network features and then feed that learning back into development. Ultimately, however, Ericsson knows that machine learning algorithms will then start to learn on their own. As 5G networks create new challenges and opportunities that telcos haven’t even fathomed yet, AI conceivably offers a way for networks to keep pace.

“It’s up to the algorithm to learn and optimise itself from base station to base station. Depending on the traffic patterns and user behaviour with people using different apps in different ways, we can adjust the cells connected to that site throughout the network,” said Jagare. “It’s a holistic, data-enabled approach. We can’t be too specific. We have to think about these needs and solutions to prepare for what’s coming, but we’ve only started scratching the surface. That’s how we try to embrace AI.”

Source: pcmag.com

Source: European Gaming News

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European Gaming News

Could the Gambling Commission ban wagering requirements?

Published

2 years ago

September 13, 2022

George Miller

Wagering requirements; whether you love them or hate them, with the Gambling Review well underway, there’s never been a better time to debate if they still have a place in modern gambling and whether the upcoming review will ban them once and for all. But first, let’s look at their development and why they are a contentious issue in the industry.

What are wagering requirements?

Wagering requirements are a common term and condition attached to a bonus that prevents players from taking a promotion and withdrawing it immediately. They are applied differently by each gambling brand. Some, like PlayOJO, Paddy Power, MrQ and Betfair, have revolutionised the casino scene by offering no wagering bonuses. In contrast, others take the predatory route and list bonuses with up to 100x requirements (the average is around 30x).

The requirement is the amount a player must wager at the casino before any winnings made with a bonus are valid for withdrawal. In the case of a £100 bonus, a 30x requirement would mean a player must wager a total of 100×30=£3,000 before they could withdraw any winnings. Most players would easily decimate their winnings before fulfilling the condition and, as most bonuses expire within 7-14 days, may well be forced to play for periods, or at times, they otherwise might not.

Why do wagering requirements exist?

In the early days of online casinos, bonus hunting among players became widely popular. It led to forums where players shared information on where and how to profit from the best welcome bonuses, earning money from the available offers available and never playing at a site again.

As casinos began to notice players taking bonuses and withdrawing without using them fairly, they combatted the practice with wagering requirements and other terms, such as the ability to withdraw a bonus and any winnings made if an account was suspect of this activity.

However, with no limits or official licensing rules to regulate wagering requirements at that time, things soon got out of hand as operators set high limits that were and still are unattainable to most players. Additionally, in many cases, the terms and conditions were not clearly displayed or explained, leading to the confiscation of bonuses and winnings without players understanding how or why they’d fallen foul of the casino’s rules.

Wagering requirements under fire with UKGC

By 2014, and following a flood of player complaints, the Gambling Commission weighed in, creating the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act which prescribed operators were to advertise their bonus terms and conditions clearly and explain them to players. This led to some reducing their requirements to more feasible levels. However, not all operators followed suit, hence why we’re still discussing wagering requirements today.

More recently, in February 2022, the UKGC set its sights on reforming wagering requirements again, issuing new guidance regarding fair and transparent terms and practices, which acknowledged that wagering requirements could lead to excessive play, not in line with social responsibility rules for operators.

The new guidance rules cited that licensees used potentially unfair terms, with examples including:

“terms that allow licensees to confiscate customers’ un-staked deposits
terms regarding treatment of customers’ funds where a licensee believes there has been illegal, irregular or fraudulent play
promotions for online games that have terms entitling a licensee to void real money winnings if a customer inadvertently breaks staking rules
terms that unfairly permit licensees to reduce potential winnings on open bets.”

It also stated that the Commission was aware of:

“terms and conditions that are difficult to understand
welcome bonus offers and wagering requirements which may encourage excessive play.”

While the guidance did not contain rules for abolishing or limiting wagering requirements, they instructed licensees to review their terms and conditions to ensure they fit consumer protection laws and that; “The LCCP requires rewards and bonuses to be constructed in a way that is socially responsible. Although it is common practice to attach terms and conditions to bonus offers, the Commission does not expect conditions, such as wagering requirements, to encourage excessive play.”

Will wagering requirements be banned?

With the Gambling Review white paper currently overdue and keenly expected by all industry stakeholders, many wonder if it will cover wagering requirements or, more specifically, exclude them from casino practice. The Gambling Review aims to update the 2005 Gambling Act, fit for the modern age, and wagering requirements would undoubtedly slot into the remit of what’s being discussed, which includes greater player protections and affordability checks.

While it’s clear that some big-name operators and affiliates like No Wagering are pioneering the way in bringing zero wagering bonuses to players, many sites have not followed suit. This is despite clear evidence that players favour fairer bonuses (PlayOJO is one of 39 brands operated by the same parent company, it is the only one with zero requirements, and it’s the most successful of all, according to the company).

Realistically, we’re not sure that the new gambling regulations will ban wagering requirements completely (as we covered earlier, they do exist for a reason), but it certainly wouldn’t be beyond the imagination for there to be a maximum cap applied in the view that excessive requirements equate to excessive play.

What’s next for operators and bonuses if wagering requirements are banned?

Bonuses are one of the most important factors for players in picking between casino sites, and they make players feel lucky to score something for free straight off the bat (even if the wagering requirements mean this is not really the case).

If wagering requirements are banned, operators unwilling to offer bonuses without wagering requirements will have to return to the drawing board and reimagine rewards, especially welcome offers. Alternatively, they could begin competing based on other USPs, such as focusing more on the casino product to pull in the punters by offering unique games, making space for indie developers, having instant withdrawals, or gamified loyalty benefits and better loyalty clubs.

Moreover, it would present a fantastic opportunity for remote operators to move away from the tired system of matched deposit bonuses towards more exciting and fresher ideas like promo wheel spins, mystery gifts on first deposits, prize draws and so on. With brands including PlayOJO, Paddy Power, MrQ and Betfair already doing this, operators do not lack a blueprint to success, just the gumption to embrace a new model.

Bulgaria

Betway Bulgaria officially launches, offers live and bet-builder options

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2022

George Miller

Another company has officially launched its activities in the growing niche of online betting in Bulgaria. But here we are not just talking about another operator licensed by national institutions, but about a leading brand worldwide. Betway is one of the largest bookmakers in Europe and globally, and the fact that it already offers its services in Bulgaria speaks positively about the development of the gambling business in the country.

Indications of an increase in the size of the industry appeared last year, when several operators received a permit to operate under Bulgarian jurisdiction. It is unlikely that this process will end with the official launch of betway bulgaria, rather the brand entering the country can be perceived by international operators as a positive assessment of the market in Bulgaria. What can we find at Betway besides the obvious – increased competition and of course more choice for consumers?

What do we find in the sports section?

Sports betting – this is the leading sector of the company, which started operations in 2006. The brand is associated with a number of teams in Europe such as Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leicester, Alaves, Belenenses, Werder, etc. Of course, the top championships in Europe are present in the latest betting platform, but that’s not all. Betway offers the opportunity to make predictions at less popular UEFA championships. The fans of the Bulgarian championship have options too. All matches of the First League are present in the bookmaker’s menu, and are offered with dozens of choices for each of them.

Real-time bets and long-term combinations

Live bets are a big thrill for many players. This option is present at Betway, and this also applies to the mobile version, of course. It is not difficult to detect current events – they come first when loading the platform. And with them the bookmaker really comes up with interesting offers, some of which are rare on the Bulgarian market. The outcome of the bets become clear in literally seconds if the next goal market or one of the performance options is selected.

In addition, the company accepts predictions with a much longer horizon. It is now standard to bet on who will be the champion in England, Spain, Italy or Germany. However, there are also specific markets and selections for certain teams – will Barcelona take the trophy this season, will Liverpool reach the final in at least one of the tournaments in which it participates, etc. And if users don’t find what they’re looking for in these offers, they can always turn to the betting menu. The bet-builder is still limited to one match, from which we can choose two or more selections until the desired odds are formed. This is the most appropriate way to optimize the bet according to personal preferences and therefore it is increasingly preferred by the players.

Betway’s first steps on the Bulgarian market are impressive. And this is just the beginning, we can expect even more in the near future.

European Gaming News

EveryMatrix inks RGS Matrix agreement with Wild Boars

Published

4 years ago

August 25, 2020

Zoltan "Hawkie" Tundik

EveryMatrix announces the second RGS Matrix partnership with Wild Boars, newly launched gaming studio that aims to bring creative storytelling and a fresh feel to the gaming industry.

Launched in 2019 as EveryMatrix sixth standalone solution, RGS Matrix enables gaming development teams to distribute, manage, and report upon a proprietary game product portfolio.

This ‘out of the box’ remote gaming server was built on an open architecture and caters for outstanding player experience, consistent deployment, and quicker content integration.

Mathias Larsson, Managing Director of RGS Matrix, says: “This is our second RGS Matrix agreement and it brings me a lot of joy to know that our solution starts gaining momentum in the market. Our remote gaming server aims to help the new generation of game builders by providing all the means to create, design, distribute and manage games.

“The team of Wild Boars is experienced, skilled and highly creative. I am looking forward to seeing their games live and appreciated by players in many countries.”

Oleksandr Yermolaiev, Managing Director of Wild Boars, comments: “We truly believe that choosing a right partner is crucial for success. For us, RGS Matrix and its remarkable team is just that partner. We are excited to use EveryMatrix solution, focus on what we do best and bring our innovative games to a wide range of operators, territories and players. RGS Matrix is dashing ahead and we are happy to join the ride.”

RGS Matrix powers slots and table games, and is currently certified for Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Romania, and Colombia, with many jurisdictions to come in the upcoming years.