OpenCloud touts “the power of open.” Being open is an important concept, but is not necessarily a new topic. Consider the context in which “open” plays a role in this specific discussion.
Networks today are pretty much standardized. Although services are different from a packaging and pricing perspective, the basic network architecture and functionality are quite similar. Why is that? All the network vendors offer basically the same thing to network operators. Sure, features come to market at different times and there certainly are early innovators, but once one vendor offers something, others quickly follow suit.
Where do these new ideas come from? Vendors rely heavily on input from their customers for future direction; what the operators want to be able to offer and when, what problems need solved, where they want to differentiate. Building custom functionality is very costly, so even though something might be created out of the input from a handful of operators, it soon becomes available to all of them. So how can an operator truly differentiate while being first to market and keeping costs in check? OpenCloud believes it has the solution to this problem with its open concept. OpenCloud has over 60 operators in 35 countries with its solutions deployed. So it seems it has solid support for this vision.
What’s new in the OpenCloud discussion is taking the concept to VoLTE. Virtualizing VoLTE allows for a much faster time to market and enhanced customer experience. In a closed-cloud deployment, an operator can reduce its cost and speed time to market, but the cloud is still closed and limits the options for working with partners across the industry. In an open-cloud deployment there are more opportunities to continually improve services. Rather than wait for a yearly large deployment, small deployments can be made throughout the course of the year.
In the video below, there is an example of deploying new VoLTE service from set-up to taking calls in less than seven minutes. Users are also shown changing their call routing options on the fly. The speed of those updates is impressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lyw81YFO89s&feature=youtu.be
Telekom Austria announced the first fully virtualized stack in a live network in February working with OpenCloud. An example of real-world use of this open concept.
VoLTE and NFV are certainly key topics as operators look to improve time to market, personalize customer experiences and reduce costs. With many vendors offering options related to these topics it is always interesting to see a company that is not one of the usual large vendors having this level of success.
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Claudia Bacco, Managing Director – EMEA for RCR Wireless News, has spent her entire career in telecom, IT and security. Having experience as an operator, software and hardware vendor and as a well-known industry analyst, she has many opinions on the market. She’ll be sharing those opinions along with ongoing trend analysis for RCR Wireless News.
