Networks follow OSS/BSS into the public cloud

AT&T is moving its 5G core network operations into Microsoft's public cloud in a deal that involves the software company acquiring AT&T’s Network Cloud platform technology. Ericsson meanwhile has signed a partnership with Google Cloud to develop and deliver 5G and edge solutions for telcos and enterprises. Both announcements point to growing acceptance by the telecoms industry's biggest players that core network elements will run in the public cloud. Microsoft revealed its ambitions in telecom network services last year when it acquired Metaswitch Networks and Affirmed Networks. This latest deal will give Microsoft access to AT&T’s intellectual property and technical expertise in network virtualization and the creation of a telco-grade cloud stack, which it will use to strengthen its Azure for Operators platform. The acquisition covers AT&T's engineering and lifecycle management software, used for its carrier-grade cloud that runs containerized or virtualized network services. Microsoft will make this available to other CSPs through Azure 'to enable simpler and faster transition of network workloads to cloud," according to Microsoft. AT&T is turning to the public cloud to make cost savings and increase its speed and flexibility when it comes to launching new services. It is not alone.

Momentum grows

"Until fairly recently, telecoms operators were adamant that they would run their networks from their own private clouds because it was seen as strategically important to do so," says Mark Newman, Chief Analyst, TM Forum. "Attitudes have softened, however, because of their slow progress at going beyond the virtualization of specific applications and adopting cloud native principles. And in the meantime, Microsoft and AWS in particular, have stepped up their focus on the telecoms vertical and now have the people and capabilities in place to persuade operators that they are best positioned to accelerate the migration of their networks into the cloud".

Google Cloud and Ericsson latest announcement focuses on jointly developing 5G and edge cloud solutions to help communications service providers. But they have also been working with TIM in Italy on a pilot to automate functions of TIM’s core 5G network and cloud-based applications using TIM’s Telco Cloud infrastructure, Google Cloud solutions and Ericsson’s 5G core network and orchestration. DISH said in June it will partner with Nokia to deploy a cloud native, open RAN, 5G standalone (SA) core network in the public cloud with Amazon Web Services (AWS). DISH says in a press release that “running the Nokia 5G SA core on AWS will optimize our network operations to launch new software and services rapidly and efficiently.” At the same time, Nokia is working with Google Cloud to develop cloud native 5G core solutions for communications service providers (CSPs) and enterprise customers. AWS meanwhile says Swisscom has named AWS its preferred public cloud partner as it moves towards a cloud native network. Initially Swisscom will migrate enterprise resource planning applications, operational and business support systems (OSS/BSS), analytics, contact center and communications provisioning workloads to AWS. But Swisscom will also look at how it can migrate its standalone 5G network to a cloud native 5G core. Swisscom’s 5G core will run on hybrid cloud infrastructure that includes its own private cloud. Google Cloud and Ericsson gave a flavor of what a cloud-native platform for network functions and edge apps could look like in a blog co-authored by Bikash Koley, VP of Global Networking at Google Cloud and Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden.

Flexibility & APIs

5G is the force pushing network elements to the public cloud according to Ericsson and Google.

“One key difference with 5G as compared to prior generations is that it’s the most open and flexible network architecture the CSP industry has seen,” Koley and Ekudden write. “This is thanks to its service-based approach and the decoupling of hardware and software components. CSPs are now running core network elements in the public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, and even multi-cloud, which was unthinkable even five years ago.”

They also see a growing opportunity to draw on APIs to make more automated use of network resources: “The network is on a path to become more accessible via APIs so that applications can call on and consume what they need from the networks in a more programmable way.”