VMware’s new products to boost telcos

VMware has unveiled a clutch of products and partnerships at Mobile World Congress 2022 that will help service providers modernise their networks and monetise new services faster. 

A leading provider of multi-cloud services for all apps, VMware’s new offerings include innovations in apps, RAN and the Edge.

“As telcos build 5G networks around the world, they are creating services that will change the way we work and live,” said Sanjay Uppal, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. 

“VMware’s multi-cloud approach sets our customers apart during this once-in-a-generation shift. It helps them innovate—from the core and the RAN to the edge and cloud—and deliver advanced services to move their business forward,” he added.

As service providers modernise their networks to use virtual and cloud-native network functions, many are choosing VMware Telco Cloud Platform as the common foundation on which to do so. It lets them take their operations to the next level. For example:

• Millicom is working with VMware to unify siloed networks and begin the transition to virtualised and containerised network functions.
• Safaricom has selected VMware Telco Cloud Platform to build out a greenfield network in Ethiopia.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is also partnering to streamline testing and validation of third-party solutions on Telco Cloud Platform. For instance, Dell, Oracle and VMware have created a validated design that provides a blueprint for building a robust, scalable 5G core on industry standard infrastructure. The solution can shorten network deployments by reducing the time needed to design, test, and integrate components from multiple partners.

Disaggregation of the RAN

When it comes to RAN modernisation, service providers are moving beyond talk to action. Many are in the process of transitioning to vRAN or Open RAN—or have plans to do so. And they are working with several RAN vendors to meet their specific needs.

VMware works with a broad ecosystem of RAN vendors to test and validate the interoperability of their solutions with VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN. It does this so that service providers do not have to. Instead, they can simply run and manage RAN functions from a variety of vendors on a platform that is built and optimised for the RAN.

VMware and HCL, a VMware partner since 2008, have announced they are expanding their collaboration to deliver integrated solutions for service providers around the world. HCL, specifically, will expand its Cloud Smart portfolio of services powered by VMware technology to include support for VMware Telco Cloud – 5G Core and VMware Telco Cloud RAN. In addition, HCL will set up a dedicated lab to streamline the deployment of these solutions across customers’ networks.

Enterprise customers are actively moving modern app workloads to the Edge. They are betting on 5G to accelerate this journey. And on private 5G as a foundation. That’s why VMware is working with several partners to deliver private networking solutions to service providers that they can in turn deliver to enterprise customers.