Cloud-native network functions are critical to accelerate network modernization, simplify operations, alleviate interoperability issues, and reduce costs. (Plus, Google Cloud expects more than 70% of communication service providers to adopt cloud-native network functions by late 2023.)
However, applying legacy automation practices or using enterprise cloud technologies at network scale may not deliver the desired results. It also does not help that CSPs spend most of their efforts on the deployment and maintenance of legacy infrastructure and data management, as well as seeking new avenues to drive revenue, increase customer lifetime value and reduce acquisition costs with the rising costs of network operations and subscriber acquisition.
CSPs need to take a new approach.
In comes Google (News - Alert) Cloud with three new telecom products to help CSPs digitally transform their networks with hybrid-cloud principles and unlock new revenue opportunities.
The new telecom products, Telecom Network Automation, Telecom Data Fabric and Telecom Subscriber Insights, offer CSPs a unified cloud solution that helps them build, deploy and operate their hybrid cloud-native networks, collect and manage network data, and improve customer experiences through AI and analytics.
Telecom Network Automation (News - Alert) accelerates network and edge deployments by leveraging cloud-native automation tools based on Kubernetes and industry learnings from Nephio, an open-source project Google Cloud founded in 2022 in partnership with The Linux Foundation (News - Alert). The new product is the managed cloud-version of Nephio that helps improve time-to-market, multi-vendor interoperability, reduce error-prone configurations and lower operational costs.
Telecom Data Fabric helps CSPs derive insights from their data. To achieve this, the product simplifies data collection, normalization and correlation through an adapter framework. For better reusability, the data is exposed through unified data models, leveraging BigQuery and DataPlex data mesh architecture that meets CSPs' needs for data governance and sovereignty.
Additionally, Telecom Data Fabric (when coupled with Vertex (News - Alert) AI) enables CSPs and ISV developers to create AI and machine learning analytics applications that support cross-domain network operations, energy efficiency, subscriber experiences and monetization.
Telecom Subscriber Insights, an AI-powered product, ingests and analyzes data with AI models to provide recommended actions and helps CSPs engage with their subscribers across a multitude of channels. The result is CSPs can better understand subscriber behavior, cross-sell and upsell, manage churn and acquire new customers more effectively.
"By applying cloud-native principles to network architectures, and accelerating subscriber growth through a holistic data management source, CSPs have the opportunity to bridge the gap between connectivity of today and connectivity of the future," said Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud.
In addition, Google Cloud is providing CSPs with the ability to deploy true cloud-native networks in a hybrid cloud environment. The update to Google Distributed Cloud Edge means CSPs bring Google Cloud's infrastructure to the far edge of their RANs, in addition to their 5G core networks. Companies also can run their network functions in any Google Cloud region on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) with the introduction of Network Function Optimizer for GKE.
Google continues to deliver solutions that leverage its technology with the end goal of accelerating an organization's ability to digitally transform its business.
Edited by
Alex Passett
