By 2025, 95% of new digital workloads will be installed on cloud-native platforms, according to a study conducted by Gartner, highlighting the next phase of innovation in telecommunications.
The advent of 5G has exponentially enhanced applications that intend to entertain and improve our lifestyles, enabling an array of innovative uses that amplify user experiences.
The demand for more agile, efficient, and innovative service delivery has surged in recent years, prompting the emergence of new technologies that will reshape operations and revolutionize industries.
With the ever-evolving nature of technology, 5G makes room for another powerful upgrade by integrating cloud-native platforms, enabling organizations to build and run scalable applications.
Also Read: 5G Standalone: New Ways to Operate and Automate Networks
The Cloud-Native, 5G-Core Upgrade
The digital innovation journey is accelerating at an unprecedented speed. Thus, communication service providers (CSPs) must leverage the full potential of 5G before the arrival of newer network technologies. Being the first network generation to embrace the cloud, significant transformations and innovations are expected, forging a new path for advanced applications.
5G’s transition to the cloud-native 5G core will harness the full power of the fifth generation of network technology, enabling innovations and new developments such as the use of microservices, containers, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices.
Given the cloud-native platform’s microservices architecture, applications are broken down into smaller and independent services, enabling their own development and deployment. These services are run in containers—isolated environments that enhance portability.
The cloud-native application architecture boasts benefits that will accelerate the effectiveness of 5G. According to IBM, the cloud-native 5G core will be faster, more manageable, and portable, delivering enhanced scalability to meet the demands for additional infrastructure resources.
Increased scalability, one of the main features of cloud-native applications, will aid organizations as they adjust to rapid changes, allowing them to stay ahead of the curve. Its amplified efficiency and deployment will sever dependence on new infrastructures, enabling businesses to be more responsive and operate efficiently.
The robust infrastructure of cloud-based platforms will provide greater reliability, while its automated processes will streamline deployment, allowing businesses to reduce manual intervention.
Furthermore, cloud-native applications are cost-effective, serving as a major advantage for developers and deployers. As applications become more cloud-based, developers can significantly save on infrastructure, hardware, and maintenance costs.
Also Read: Unleashing the Potential of 5G With Cloud-Native Solutions
Navigating Cloud-Native, 5G-Core Risks and Challenges
With every technological advancement, risks are inevitable, making the pros and cons a constant factor. Security challenges persist with each technological progression.
As applications migrate to various cloud platforms and services, data and communication become more vulnerable, prompting developers to enhance security measures to guard against potential breaches or cyber-attacks.
According to cybersecurity company, Fortinet, 96% of organizations expressed concern about cloud security, indicating the need for heightened security measures in cloud environments.
The dependency on the cloud provider should also be taken into consideration by organizations. Service interruptions or outages may affect businesses if the cloud platform experiences an issue.
Microservices in cloud-native technologies produce massive amounts of data, creating a huge array of metrics. Choosing the relevant metrics in the gigantic collection can be time-consuming, affecting the visibility of processes.
Selecting the relevant tools may also come as a challenge due to a multitude of cloud providers and services.
Furthermore, the continuous deployment of new technology requires consistent knowledge, skills, and expertise. Developers should equip their workforce with the technical proficiency needed in cloud-native infrastructure, enabling a long-term approach to driving advancements.
Leveraging an advanced skillset and framework in the workforce can catapult organizations into developing more innovations that will support future networks and applications.
Embracing the shift to cloud models will provide unique challenges to CSPs, driving them to unlock solutions to enable further 5G innovation.
Read More: Elements of Impact: Exploring Key Enablers of Cloud-Native Ecosystem
Cloud-Native Advancements
Various technology and telecommunications conglomerates have raced to adopt 5G core solutions.
In the Middle East, cloud adoption is becoming a growing trend, streamlining operations and improving efficiency. Within the next two years, approximately 68% of Gulf companies surveyed have plans to migrate their operations to the cloud, according to PwC.
Global cloud service providers, such as Google, Microsoft, and Oracle, have expanded their cloud adoption in Saudi Arabia, making the country a leader in cloud-native adoption in the region in accordance with the UAE’s strategic roadmap, Vision 2030.
UAE telecommunications operator, du, is also poised to launch Oracle Alloy which will provide hyperscale cloud and sovereign AI services in the country’s government and public sector units. The platform will enable du to provide 100 Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services, driving significant improvement in the UAE’s highly digitalized country.
Furthermore, telecommunications service provider, Telefónica Germany, migrated 1 million 5G users to the AWS cloud, utilizing the software and infrastructure of telecom giant, Nokia.
Telefónica will operate on Nokia’s cloud-native 5G core architecture for a more robust network with enhanced scalability, reliability, and near zero-touch automation.
Solidifying its position as a global leader in 5G standalone core, Nokia’s deployment on AWS will deliver advanced next-generation technology services with ultra-low latency to O2 Telefónica. This highlights Nokia’s capacity to facilitate migration among CSPs to the public cloud.
Earlier this year, NEC Corporation deployed its 5G standalone (SA) Cloud Native Core Network solution in the United Kingdom, fast-tracking 5G services adoption. NEC’s 5G core technology will be used by United Kingdom-based company, Clear Mobitel Ltd., to support its software-focused ecosystem.
This collaboration will enable NEC to provide 5G SA core network software on Amazon Web Services (AWS), paving the way for enhanced scalability and rapid distribution.
Furthermore, NEC is preparing for a post-5G world in 2030 by developing cloud-native 5G core-based products and solutions.
Telecommunications company, Ericsson, announced its strategic partnership with Google Cloud in April 2024, cementing its global leadership in wireless technology while innovating core network advancements. Ericsson’s 5G core cloud-native network functions (CNFs) have been deployed on an on-premises Google Distributed Cloud Edge (GDC Edge).
Ericsson introduced its Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution (CNIS) in 2020, a bare metal cloud infrastructure supporting the transition to cloud-native applications. In addition, the company has commercially deployed its Ericsson NFVI, a high-performing telco-grade cloud platform that enables operators to deploy virtual network functions (VNFs).
Similarly, in 2022, South Korea’s SK Telecom introduced its cloud-native 5G core, a bare-metal infrastructure enabling traffic handling with a single system, with Ericsson as its technology partner.
Moreover, Vodafone Germany, became the first telecommunications operator to launch the 5G SA core in Europe in 2021, integrating Ericsson’s container-based cloud-native dual-mode 5G core.
Lumine Group, a global acquirer of communications and media software businesses, acquired the Axycom Cloud-Native 5G Core Software and Radio Access Network (RAN) assets of information technology company, Casa System, this year, providing CNFs.
Furthermore, the cloud-native SA from South Korean technology conglomerate, Samsung, was implemented earlier this year to support the commercial 5G SA services of the telecommunications operator, KDDI Corporation, in Japan, delivering enhanced reliability and ultra-fast response times.
Samsung’s 5G SA core is poised to support multi-level redundancy, multi-vendor interoperability, seamless migration to 5G SA, and session continuity.
Read More: Cloud-Native Solutions for CSPs and Enterprises
Final Thoughts
The launch of the new cloud-based 5G core network will open up new possibilities, paving the way for innovations and applications while accelerating digital transformation.
The adoption of cloud-native architecture will enable an unceasing mobile core network innovation, delivering upgraded automation, flexibility, and scalability.
Investing in new solutions to support next-generation technologies and diversify customers’ needs will fuel the constant evolution of industries, particularly telecommunications. Embracing these new technologies will be essential for CSPs to stay relevant and remain competitive in the market.
This paradigm shift in the telecommunications industry promises to elevate user experience and data throughput to the next level, creating opportunities to enhance global interaction and drive innovation.
Read More: Advantages of Cloud-Native Technologies for Telcos
