APPLICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
IBM | September 28, 2021
IBM announced today a strategic multi-year agreement with Telefonica to use IBM intelligent automation software and services to implement UNICA Next – Telefonica's first-ever, cloud-native, 5G core network platform. With UNICA Next, Telefonica aims to acquire the agility, reliability, and efficiency to continuously optimize its services, now and in the future. As Telefonica and other Communications Service Providers (CSPs) around the world prepare for the benefits 5G and edge will bring to core network functions, Telefonica plans to have an open, secured, intelligent, and highly automated network that can power transformation for consumer and enterprise customers across all industries.
Telefonica has engaged IBM Global Business Services, a leading systems integrator and the digital transformation services and consultancy arm of IBM, Red Hat and Juniper networking to deploy the cloud-native platform. The platform is planned to be a new open-standard open-networking technology compliant platform that will be deployed across multiple central, regional, and distributed data centers offering low latency and high bandwidth, while able to deliver services in an agile manner. UNICA Next data centers are planned to be deployed starting in October 2021 and its scalable architecture is designed to address ETSI and other relevant industry standards.
The new network is built on IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation, Red Hat OpenShift, and Juniper Networks Apstra and QFX technology aligned to deliver streamlined end-to-end orchestration and operations. The platform will enable continuous improvements in deployment and management, including enabling new services that deliver enhanced customer value. The integration of IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation software with UNICA Next allows for intent-driven orchestration supporting the end-to-end lifecycle management of different network cloud elements and network functions, including 5G core. Pairing it with the power of Red Hat Open Shift and Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes, the combination will present Telefonica with an environment designed for increased observability and control for managing the UNICA Next Kubernetes environment and drive 5G and edge innovation more quickly and with less complexity.
IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation is AI-powered automation software designed to provide extreme automation, zero-touch provisioning, and closed loop operation capabilities.
These new capabilities will be engineered to allow Telefonica to more quickly deploy network services and new network functions, leveraging the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications partner ecosystem. Telefonica, as a pioneer in the adoption of open networks, has already deployed a live implementation using the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications in Europe and is continuing to innovate for their customers with speed and improved value.
"Building out the UNICA Next platform with its next-generation network architecture shows how important it is to build the infrastructure now to support the deployment of 5G. 5G has the potential to support thousands of use cases and applications for consumers and enterprises in all industries. Our collaboration will not only help us to harness the potential of 5G, but also prepare for the future through a hybrid-cloud led technology and business transformation. With IBM, Telefonica is combining the latency and bandwidth advancements of 5G with the customization and intelligence of the cloud: we anticipate the results will be transformative in Europe and beyond," said Javier Gutierrez, director of strategy, network, and IT development for Telefonica.
We are proud to partner with Telefonica to reach this historic moment for the telecommunications industry in Europe,This implementation of Telefonica's cloud-native, 5G core network platform reflects IBM's significant investments in AI-powered automation software and the telco prime systems integration expertise required to deploy modern telecommunication networks – core, access, and edge. We are energized by the opportunity to enable Telefonica and all our clients to modernize their networks and enable new revenue-generating services that deliver tremendous value to consumer and enterprise customers.
Steve Canepa, managing director, IBM Global Communications Sector.
IBM Global Telco Solutions Lab in Coppell, Texas, connected along with Telefonica's Network Cloud Lab in Madrid, will help accelerate UNICA Next's evolution by building new fully integrated releases using CI/CD methodology for ongoing life-cycle upgrades to the existing UNICA Next platform. By working with IBM in this way, Telefonica will be able to increase agility and data security and continue to innovate and transform, drawing on IBM's large network function ecosystem, Red Hat's vast ecosystem of certified partners, and Juniper's relationships with network function and hardware vendors.
Juniper is committed to bringing the power of open hybrid cloud architecture to clients around the world. As a member of the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications ecosystem, Juniper is proud to support IBM and Red Hat as they work with Telefonica to build and deploy a modern 5G network.
Statements regarding IBM's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.
About Telefonica
Telefonica is a leading telecommunications service provider globally. The company offers fixed and mobile connectivity, as well as a wide range of digital services for individual consumers and enterprises. Telefonica has 367 million clients spanning Europe and Latin America. Telefonica is a private company whose shares are listed as TEF on the Bolsa de Madrid, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Bolsa de Valores de Lima.
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prnewswire | October 21, 2020
Telia and Ericsson today revealed plans that will see next-generation 5G networks deployed across Sweden and Estonia by 2025.Telia and Ericsson have been delivering secure, fast and reliable wireless network coverage to the Nordics - and beyond - since the dawn of the mobile era. The partners are already deploying 5G across Norway, where Ericsson is also Telia's exclusive technology partner. Today's deal will modernize the existing 4G networks across Sweden and Estonia to establish fast, ultra-high capacity 5G across a network of 10,000 cellular sites in an area of more than 500,000sq km.
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APPLICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
prnewswire | December 24, 2020
Phoenix Tower International ("PTI") today reported that it has gone into a complete concurrence with EI Towers S.p.A ("EIT") to get TowerTel S.p.A. ("TowerTel"), an EIT auxiliary, which possesses or rents, works and oversees around 2,400 media communications towers, circulated reception apparatus frameworks and broadcast communications locales across Italy. Furthermore, TowerTel has selective media communications showcasing and renting rights to in excess of 1,600 transmission locales possessed by EI Towers S.p.A, carrying the complete expected portfolio to in excess of 4,000 destinations in the nation.
As a component of the understanding F2i SGR ("F2i"), one of EIT's investors, has chosen to hold a minority proprietorship stake in TowerTel. Monetary terms of the exchange were not revealed.
"PTI is excited to enter into Italy's vibrant wireless market and serve its premier wireless operators. We look forward to expanding the revenue on this portfolio, developing new towers and investing in next generation solutions on behalf of our customers," stated Dagan Kasavana, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Tower International. He continued, "With small cell deployments, continued 4G and 5G buildouts, significant fixed wireless access and fiber roll-out across the country, we believe that Italy is a fantastic market for PTI. This exciting transaction further expands our growing global footprint and allows us to continue to serve the wireless infrastructure needs of our clients."
Commenting on the transaction, Renato Ravanelli, Chief Executive Officer of F2i, said; "This investment by PTI testifies to the growing interest by global players in high-quality Italian infrastructure. We are delighted to partner with a leading wireless infrastructure operator with the support of Blackstone, in a sector so important for the overall telecommunication market development."
PTI's monetary counselor was Natixis and its legitimate guide was Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. EIT's monetary consultant was Nomura and its lawful counselor was Chiomenti Studio Legale.
About Phoenix Tower International
PTI owns and operates over 12,500 towers, 986 kilometers of fibre, and other wireless infrastructure and related sites across 16 countries in the United States, Europe and Latin America. PTI was founded in 2013 with a mission to be a premier site provider to wireless operators across high-growth international markets. PTI's investors include funds managed by Blackstone, John Hancock, and various members of the management team and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.
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