Learn how Huawei brings vast managed services experience to evolving IT landscape
Network operators are transforming the way they do business by using more agile methods to reduce opex and capex while accelerating time to market. Some of the approaches involved in this radical change include network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN). Instead of tackling the complexities of implementing the network infrastructure on their own, operators can use managed services to confront all IP evolution and the challenges associated with information and communication technology (ICT) convergence.
Huawei’s Operation Web Services (OWS) is the company’s answer to enabling ICT managed services with an open, programmable, cloud-based platform with micro-services architecture. It was built to enable real-time operations management to make services available on-demand across both network and IT domains. Key attributes of OWS include end-to-end monitoring, connection with a data analytics engine, and enabling the use of a devops model to set up a developer ecosystem with an end goal of achieving end-to-end automation and intelligent operations.
The ICT Operation platform answers a number of challenges service providers need to solve:
- Limited end-to-end network visibility;
- Difficulties in application and tool deployment;
- No single unified dashboard to view and analyze operational performance;
- Partial automation with limited error resolution.
Huawei believes enterprises must change from support systems to production systems, and use software-defined and cloud-based models for networks and IT infrastructure. Huawei offers dozens of solutions to achieve this goal, and reach what it refers to as a ‘user experience model comprised of real-time, on-demand, all-online, DIY and social (ROADS) elements.’ A few of the available services include NFV, data center and SDN integration. These services work alongside the company’s Cloud Open Labs initiative to enable an all-cloud transformation.
Huawei’s NFV System Integration service includes Primary System Integration, with E2E services, including evaluation, planning, design, deployment and optimization, as well as a product range to meet changing requirements of different scenarios to help operators improve user experience and increase revenue.
Huawei cites three advantages of using this service:
- Fast time to market
- Carrier-grade service high availability
- Open Ecosystem
The company also offers a number of specific data center services:
- Cloud IT infrastructure integration
- Facility integration
- Security integration
- Consolidation and migration
And Huawei’s SDN service takes a three-pronged approach to integration:
- SDN WAN network evolution to accelerate service launches and improve service capabilities.
- Pre-integration and modeling of value-added services to provide competitive value-added services in the industry.
- Unified ICT resource orchestration to implement convenient enterprise self-service.
Additionally, the company launched its Cloud Open Labs earlier this year. The Cloud Open Labs – with interconnected facilities across four labs – aims to enable operator’s business success. The centers were made to provide the foundation for integrating and verifying solutions to enable an ‘All Cloud transformation.’ Huawei connected its four open labs and built a unified digital operations platform to support operator network evolution and operations transformation.
These open labs include the Global Network Evolution and Experience Center (GNEEC), the NFV Open Lab, the SDN Open Lab and the DC Open Lab. The Cloud Open Labs enable Huawei to work with operators, industry organizations and partners to achieve mutual certification and authorization. So far, the labs have worked with more than 40 partners for solution integration and verification. They have also completed pre-verification for over 550 projects, and pursued joint innovation in conjunction with Wind River, VMware, Red Hat, and Accenture.
“To meet industry digital transformation trends, Huawei proactively promotes the all cloud strategy to help network operators build efficient and agile networks,” Xiao Feng, NFV marketing director of Huawei’s Cloud Core Network product line, said in September while accepting an award for ‘Best NFV/SDN Solution’ at the 5G Asia Summit. “Meanwhile, Huawei will construct an open industry ecosystem on all-cloud networks, to promote beneficial mutual cooperation between NFV players.”
Huawei also offers specific managed services, from planning and engineering to video. Its Managed Mobile Network operation service is based on a “two factories, one cloud” concept. The centralized and standard module of mobile network managed services solution provides standard, automated, centralized and offshoring solutions, in order to help operators manage their networks efficiently.
Benefits of this service include:
- Better quality: Automation, standardized measurement, analysis and improvement
- Lower cost: Economies of scale, effective E2E resolution
- Faster time to market: Resource + competency readiness, sustainable competency
Huawei’s managed services platform has seen rapid growth since its inception.
In 2016, based on the success of their 4 year CT MS engagement, Sunrise and Huawei signed a five-year managed services agreement for IT operations. Huawei will take care of Sunrise IT infrastructure and operations of IT systems in regards to server, infrastructure and office IT. 31 employees will join Huawei as of November 2016. After a stabilization period, Huawei will begin an IT transformation, and overall transformation from CT MS and IT MS to ICT MS with Sunrise.
New operating methods like IT and the cloud are radical changes for operators used to doing business the same way for decades. These approaches can be complicated, and require expertise from companies with proven experience. As unmanaged connectivity prices continue to decline, the successful evolution of what is becoming a mandatory shift in doing business, is essential to the future successes of network operators.
