5G Factor: New Cloud, Edge & API Moves

In this episode of The 5G Factor, our series that focuses on all things 5G, the IoT, and the 5G ecosystem as a whole, we look at the recent high impact telco cloud, multi-access edge computing (MEC), and APIs moves. The major cloud, edge, and API developments include the progress of Azure Private MEC in supporting manufacturer private 5G network implementations, VMware Telco Cloud Platform Release 4.0 using a horizontal infrastructure approach to ease VNF and CNF deployment and administration, VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN assisting the optimization of disaggregated RAN functions and CNF management, as well as how the Vonage Singtel partnership is uplifting network, edge, and  communications API prospects.  

Our analytical review focused on:

Azure Private MEC Proving Manufacturing Prowess. Microsoft Azure private MEC targets the streamlining and acceleration of private 5G (P5G) networks on the Azure cloud platform by providing a fully managed solution that can allow, for example, manufacturers to deploy and operate their own P5G networks with full control over their data and applications. We delve into how Azure private MEC and its ecosystem partners are helping manufacturers use 5G for improved outcomes with Pegatron, an electronics manufacturer of laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles, creating its own private 5G network to covers its entire factory and Weavix, through the company's Internet of Workers platform, is equipping front line workers with wearable technologies and solutions to improve performance and safety.

VMware Ups Telco Cloud Proposition. VMware Telco Cloud Platform Release 4.0 focuses on solidifying numerous capabilities into a unified platform that can give telcos the flexibility to modernize their network according to their business objectives particularly through the implementation of requisite automation and assurance capabilities. We discuss how the rigors of designing and managing services combined with the intricacies of coordinating virtual network functions (VNFs) and cloud-native network functions (CNFs) demands a horizontal infrastructure that can support the deployment and administration of VNFs and CNFs with consistency, efficiency, and automation. 

VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN Underlines Disaggregation Benefits. VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN delivers a horizontal platform optimized for running virtualized baseband functions or virtualized distributed units (vDUs) and virtualized central units (vCUs) from various vendors while meeting the stringent performance and latency requirements of a radio access network (RAN). The use of a horizontally consistent architecture that supports cloud-native principles can cultivate the build-out of logical end-to-end networks tailored to different 5G services. We explore why disaggregated RAN functions can be instantiated on a horizontal platform and deployed at the locations that best serve their functional purposes. Plus, how CNFs can be managed efficiently at scale and readily modified to turn business objectives into productive outcomes.

Vonage and Singtel Uplift API Prospects. Vonage, part of Ericsson, is partnering with Singtel to integrate Vonage's API platform with Singtel's orchestration platform Paragon with the goal of bolstering innovation opportunities for enterprises and telcos through access to a global ecosystem of communications, network, and edge APIs. Paragon-enabled telcos from Singapore, Thailand, Spain, Taiwan, and Indonesia will be able to integrate Vonage and Paragon APIs into a globally unified telco and edge API library as well as worldwide independent software vendors (ISVs), enterprises and developers can look to use the APIs to deliver digital services at greater speed and scale over hybrid networks, hybrid edge, and public cloud infrastructures across multiple markets. We assess why this partnership can be a harbinger to answering why this time is looking different when it comes to APIs playing an integral role in driving innovation and major benefits, such as 5G service monetization and energy efficiency gains, across telco environments.