IBM announced today a strategic multi-year agreement with Telefónica to use IBM intelligent automation software and services to implement UNICA Next – Telefónica’s first-ever, cloud-native, 5G core network platform. With UNICA Next, Telefónica aims to acquire the agility, reliability, and efficiency to continuously optimize its services, now and in the future. As Telefónica and other Communications Service Providers (CSPs) around the world prepare for the benefits 5G and edge will bring to core network functions, Telefónica plans to have an open, secured, intelligent, and highly automated network that can power transformation for consumer and enterprise customers across all industries. IBM To Implement Its First-Ever Cloud Native 5G Core Network Platform. Telefónica has engaged IBM Global Business Services, a leading systems integrator and the digital transformation services and consultancy arm of IBM, Red Hat and Juniper networking to deploy the cloud-native platform. The platform is planned to be a new open-standard open-networking technology compliant platform that will be deployed across multiple central, regional, and distributed data centers offering low latency and high bandwidth, while able to deliver services in an agile manner. UNICA Next data centers are planned to be deployed starting in October 2021 and its scalable architecture is designed to address ETSI and other relevant industry standards. The new network is built on IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation, Red Hat OpenShift, and Juniper Networks Apstra and QFX technology aligned to deliver streamlined end-to-end orchestration and operations. The platform will enable continuous improvements in deployment and management, including enabling new services that deliver enhanced customer value. The integration of IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation software with UNICA Next allows for intent-driven orchestration supporting the end-to-end lifecycle management of different network cloud elements and network functions, including 5G core. Pairing it with the power of Red Hat Open Shift and Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes, the combination will present Telefónica with an environment designed for increased observability and control for managing the UNICA Next Kubernetes environment and drive 5G and edge innovation more quickly and with less complexity. IBM Cloud Pak for Network Automation is AI-powered automation software designed to provide extreme automation, zero-touch provisioning, and closed loop operation capabilities. These new capabilities will be engineered to allow Telefónica to more quickly deploy network services and new network functions, leveraging the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications partner ecosystem. Telefónica, as a pioneer in the adoption of open networks, has already deployed a live implementation using the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications in Europe and is continuing to innovate for their customers with speed and improved value. Must Read: OPPO Releases its All New Reno6 Music Video Celebrating Emotions in Portrait ft. Asim Azhar “Building out the UNICA Next platform with its next-generation network architecture shows how important it is to build the infrastructure now to support the deployment of 5G. 5G has the potential to support thousands of use cases and applications for consumers and enterprises in all industries. Our collaboration will not only help us to harness the potential of 5G, but also prepare for the future through a hybrid-cloud led technology and business transformation. With IBM, Telefónica is combining the latency and bandwidth advancements of 5G with the customization and intelligence of the cloud: we anticipate the results will be transformative in Europe and beyond,” said Javier Gutierrez, director of strategy, network, and IT development for Telefónica. “We are proud to partner with Telefónica to reach this historic moment for the telecommunications industry in Europe,” said Steve Canepa, managing director, IBM Global Communications Sector. “This implementation of Telefónica’s cloud-native, 5G core network platform reflects IBM’s significant investments in AI-powered automation software and the telco prime systems integration expertise required to deploy modern telecommunication networks – core, access, and edge. We are energized by the opportunity to enable Telefónica and all our clients to modernize their networks and enable new revenue-generating services that deliver tremendous value to consumer and enterprise customers.” IBM Global Telco Solutions Lab in Coppell, Texas, connected along with Telefónica’s Network Cloud Lab in Madrid, will help accelerate UNICA Next’s evolution by building new fully integrated releases using CI/CD methodology for ongoing life-cycle upgrades to the existing UNICA Next platform. By working with IBM in this way, Telefónica will be able to increase agility and data security and continue to innovate and transform, drawing on IBM’s large network function ecosystem, Red Hat’s vast ecosystem of certified partners, and Juniper’s relationships with network function and hardware vendors. Juniper is committed to bringing the power of open hybrid cloud architecture to clients around the world. As a member of the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications ecosystem, Juniper is proud to support IBM and Red Hat as they work with Telefónica to build and deploy a modern 5G network. Statements regarding IBM’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.
Pakistan Industry Vertical Digitization Enables Vision 2025 and Transforms Daily Lives
Pakistan Industry Vertical Digitization Enables Vision 2025 and Transforms Daily Lives. Digital transformation is the top priority for Pakistan’s CIOs to transform industry verticals and daily lives, the global digital transformation enabler SAP announced today at SAP NOW Pakistan, one of the country’s largest technology events. Pakistan business leaders at SAP NOW Pakistan agreed with global research that shows 84 percent of organizations rate digital transformation as critical by 2022, according to the recent landmark SAP Digital Transformation Executive Study, conducted in partnership with Oxford Economics.“Digital Leaders” are finding 23 percent higher revenue, 85 percent market share, and 80 percent profitability. However, as the survey shows only 3 percent of organizations have undergone digital transformation, Pakistan’sCIOs are accelerating digital transformation, aligned with Pakistan Vision 2025and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor goals economic growth, smart government, and Smart Cities. “Digitization is the top priority for Pakistan’s CIOs to solve real-world challenges, from enhancing healthcare with digital patient records to mitigating climate change by predicting floods,” said Saquib Ahmad, Managing Director, SAP Pakistan. “SAP NOW emphasizes how emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, blockchain, and the Internet of Things — can make a major mark on Pakistan’s society. Must Read: Cheetay Officially Partners With McDonald’s And Pizza Hut Digital Transformation During SAP NOW Pakistan, which launched in Islamabad, and will follow in Lahore and Karachi, hundreds of C-suite executives are discussing and debating digital trends. SAP is exchanging best practices with localizing solutions for 26 industries and is co-innovating with Pakistan’s digital leaders, including the Controller General of Accounts, Fauji Fertilizer Company, and Lucky Cement. Digital and mobile solutions in Banking and Finance are enhancing customer service with predictive analytics and targeted services. Pension funds are also digitizing for efficiency and transparency. With 45 percent of Pakistan’s population working in Agriculture, according to the Ministry of Finance, mobile connectivity is enabling digital weather reports in Urdu, and soil quality measurement. As connected education campuses advance, the Education sector is seeing strong potential for digital technologies to enable project collaboration, real-time grading, and virtual reality field trips. Supporting Young Talent Development in Pakistan Across Pakistan, SAP is advancing its strategic growth plan by hiring new talent, training young talent through the SAP Academy Program, and expanding its channel partner ecosystem with major channel partners such as EY (formerly Ernst & Young), IBM, and Siemens. SAP’s Training and Development Institute is seeing strong success on its Young Professional Program, a 2-3-month-long program to support participants in SAP Associate Consultants certification and into job placement. In Karachi, 25 talents are developing their skills on SAP Hybris e-commerce, and SAP Ariba procurement and sourcing solutions. Pakistan’s entrepreneurs can also join the SAP Startup Focus Program, which brings their Big Data, predictive, or real-time data analytics innovations to market.
Lanka Bell Teams with IBM to Accelerate Cloud Adoption in Sri Lanka
Lanka Bell, Sri-Lanka’s leading telecommunications service provider today announced a collaboration with IBM (NYSE: IBM) to provide cloud services to enterprises, start-ups, developers and government bodies via the IBM Cloud. As a part of the agreement, the Accelerate two companies will jointly market and sell new offerings for public, private and hybrid cloud deployments, including workload migrations, disaster recovery and capacity expansion solutions via the IBM Cloud. Lanka Bell is a world-class telecommunications operator that provides a full range of telecommunication services, including Internet, data and voice, to businesses and residential customers in Sri Lanka. With its agreement with IBM, Lanka Bell will expand its portfolio to include a wide range of cloud solutions. For example, in addition to IaaS and PaaS services, the IBM Cloud infrastructure will enable Lanka Bell to offer clients back-up storage, virtual machines and virtual storage facilities which can be integrated with the IBM NAS (Network Access Service) solutions. “This partnership is an extension of our 20+ year relationship with IBM and demonstrates our shared vision that will help enterprise customers in the country to embrace cloud offerings quickly and easily,” said Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe, Managing Director, Lanka Bell. “We anticipate customers will benefit from this collaboration and expansion of Lanka Bell’s cloud offerings.” Over 50 IBM Cloud data centers connect to world class networking infrastructure, hardware and software with exceptional bandwidth and connectivity for the highest speed and reliability that enables seamless data transfer, low latency and more consistent performance. IBM’s triple network architecture enables high bandwidth apps and services like video streaming, database querying and HPC applications to perform at their best. “IBM cloud is open by design, offering a set of tools, flexibility and agility that helps organizations of all size and developers to easily translate their innovative ideas into technical solutions and business models,” said Mr. Chrishan Fernando, Country General Manager, IBM, Sri Lanka. “The collaboration is built on our two companies’ long history of bringing innovation to business. We are confident that our cloud platform and joint offerings will enable customers to support new ways to work in an era shaped by cognitive and digital transformation.” Reuters
