Google Cloud and Finland’s Nokia are teaming up to develop cloud-native 5G solutions for communications service providers and enterprise customers, the companies announced in a Thursday (Jan. 14) press release.
The companies plan to develop solutions that combine Nokia’s 5G operations and networking capabilities with Google Cloud’s AI, ML and analytics technologies. The solutions will run on Google’s Anthos platform.
“Communications service providers have a tremendous opportunity ahead of them to support businesses’ digital transformations at the network edge through both 5G connectivity and cloud-native applications and capabilities,” said George Nazi, Google Cloud’s vice president for telco, media and entertainment industry. “Doing so requires modernized infrastructure, built for a cloud-native 5G core, and we’re proud to partner with Nokia to help the telecommunications industry expand and support these customers.”
Under the development partnership, Nokia will provide its voice core, cloud packet core, network exposure function, data management, signaling and 5G core technologies. Nokia will also include its IMPACT IoT Connected Device Platform, which allows for the remote management of IoT devices, and its Converged Charging solution.
Google Cloud said applications will be deployed from its Anthos for Telecom platform, which will enable communications service providers to build an ecosystem of services that can be deployed from anywhere.
“By delivering cloud-native applications at the edge, businesses can benefit from lower latency and reduce the need for costly, on-site infrastructure, enabling them to transform their businesses in industries such as smart retail, connected manufacturing and digital consumer experiences,” the companies said in the release.
Last summer, Nokia said its industrial clients would now have access to industrial-grade 5G standalone (SA) private wireless network solutions, according to a press release.
The 5G SA is designed to help clients digitalize their industrial and manufacturing operations, the release said, “no matter their entry point or connectivity requirements,” according to Nokia Enterprise President Raghav Sahgal.
In November, Swedish telecom equipment giant Ericsson said 5G cellular technology is growing faster than expected by both service providers and device makers.
“2020 will probably also be known as the year when society as a whole took a giant leap forward in our digitalization journey,” Fredrik Jejdling, Ericsson’s executive vice president and head of business area networks, said in the report.
By the end of the year, Ericsson predicts 15 percent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, will live in areas with 5G cellular coverage.
By 2026, Ericsson expects over 3.5 billion consumers to use 5G, about 40 percent of the market share.
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