Nokia, Microsoft Partner for 5G
March 16, 2021
Nokia
inked an agreement with Microsoft
to develop new market-ready 4G and 5G private wireless use cases
designed for enterprises. The collaboration will combine Nokia’s
Cloud RAN (vRAN) technologies with Microsoft Azure cloud-based
services and developer ecosystem to drive end-user functionality via
new business cases. The initiative supports Nokia’s strategy of
partnering with best-in-class public cloud providers to drive
end-user business outcomes essential for monetizing 4G/5G
deployments.
The project, which will run in three stages, will see Nokia combine
its mobile network solutions including Cloud RAN, Open RAN, Radio
Access Controller (RIC) and multi-access edge cloud (MEC) with the
Azure Private Edge Zone. Azure Private Edge Zone enables data
processing close to the end user, addressing ultra-low latency, high
throughout 5G-based applications such as real-time robotics, mixed
reality or immersive gaming. The initiative aims to achieve a better
performance and end user experiences for third-party app developers
via the Azure ecosystem when exposed to the network.
Nokia will also integrate its 5G RAN with Azure 4G/5G core to
demonstrate interworking to support enterprise use cases required by
Microsoft’s customers. Nokia’s LTE/5G RAN in enterprise premises
provides high-performing and reliable connectivity to 5G enterprise
use cases from the Azure 5G core and application ecosystem.
Additionally, Microsoft and Nokia will explore further opportunities
to incorporate Nokia Airframe Open Edge server as part of its telco
edge strategy. Nokia AirFrame Open Edge server distributes computing
capacity into the edge of the network and drives the implementation
of Cloud RAN, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) as well as 5G.
The project highlights Nokia’s strategy of partnering with public
cloud providers. By leveraging its Open RAN and Cloud RAN leadership
and combining it with best-in-class public cloud partners, Nokia is
expanding its ecosystem of partners and driving end user business
outcomes essential for monetizing 5G deployments. Both parties plan
to explore additional areas in the future such as network slicing.
Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, commented: “We
are enthusiastic to work closely with Microsoft on this project that
will harness Azure with our 5G radio network technology. Open
collaboration is key to the development of new and innovative
high-value 5G use cases that will equip our customers with the tools
they need for digital transformation. This is part of Nokia’s
continued commitment to leading an open mobile future, making it
simple for our customers to take advantage of the 5G world helping
to drive it forward.”
Yousef Khalidi, Corporate Vice President, Azure for Operators at
Microsoft Corp. added: “Microsoft believes in the importance of an
open and interoperable ecosystem of solutions on the Azure carrier
grade platform. Our collaboration with Nokia across multiple
potential use cases, based on specific customer demand, will provide
operators with choices on how the best adopt cloud technology in
concert with their 5G updates to drive new revenue streams, reduce
cost and future proof their network investment.” |