Altiplano Access Controller and Wi-Fi Cloud Controller are available, along with modem activation tools and more, according to Nokia
Nokia on Thursday introduced its cross-portfolio lineup of Fixed Networks solutions that are now available on a Software as a Service (SaaS) basis. The solutions are already available to deliver on bare-metal servers and in the cloud. But using Fixed Network SaaS solutions can help Communication Service Providers (CSPs) reduce IT dependencies and deliver a 25% lower cost of ownership, Nokia claimed.
Sandy Motley, Nokia’s president of Fixed Networks, said that the new solution will help operators get started quickly. Operators can scale services up and down with no capital outplay and a small investment and subscription plan.
“No special IT set-up means reduced upfront deployment costs, and in a highly competitive world, operation efficiency is key to both high-quality customer service and business profitability,” said Motley. “Operators can tailor the subscription package, choosing the Service-Level Agreements and levels of support to meet their operational needs. They can deploy different Nokia SaaS instances for use in production, lab testing, pilots, or development.”
Nokia counts Indiana-based fiber telecom service provider MetroNet and Louisiana-based LUSFiber as early adopters of the Fixed Network SaaS solutions.
The SaaS portfolio includes Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller and Wi-Fi Cloud Controller. “Operational tools for automated activation of end-user fiber modems, predictive care and network build and management are also part of the line-up,” said Nokia.
Nokia describes Altiplano Access Controller as the heart of its Software Defined Access Network (SDAN) solution. It sports a unified interface to visualize, optimize and enhance the fixed access network. It supports Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-native, legacy and third-party equipment.
Altiplano leverages zero-touch operations and closed-loop automation with intent-based policies and validated blueprints to help operators continuously monitor and maintain the intended network state, with self-adjustment a key feature. It also touts a modular architecture compatible with new network capabilities and easy integration with OSS/BSS, IT and cloud platforms, according to Nokia.
Nokia’s Wi-Fi Cloud Controller is a tool to help IT help desks and network operations teams solve Wi-Fi issues quickly. The software gives operators a view inside in-home Wi-Fi networks for troubleshooting, and can also help self-optimize on-premises Wi-Fi, providing detailed reporting of network key performance indicators (KPIs) to help identify areas of improvement or upsell opportunities for the operator.
Wi-Fi Cloud Controller’s functionality is split between a Home Console, which gives help desk agents a real-time view of the in-home network, including topology, connected devices and traffic patterns, along with a 30-day history. The Network Console offers network operations teams with tools to adjust Wi-Fi performance, advanced troubleshooting down to the device level and detailed reporting across all Wi-Fi access points active on the entire broadband network.
Nokia nudged into the SaaS marketplace in 2021 with the introduction of Nokia Data Marketplace, and has since launched several SaaS services aimed at CSPs and enterprises. AVA Charging is the most recent, it rolled out in September. The solution provides “intelligence everywhere” using AI, machine learning, no code configuration, open APIs, multi-cloud orchestration and digital ecosystems, according to Nokia.
Nokia’s Mark Bunn, SVP of cloud and network services, sees SaaS as an important tool for CSPs and enterprises looking for “dynamic digital infrastructure,” because it provides a “pay-as-you-go, pay-as-you-grow commercial model.”
Speaking to RCR Wireless News at this year’s Big 5G Event in Austin, Bunn said: “The reality is that the industry has been transitioning from a hardware industry to a software industry. It makes a lot of sense for us, at this time, to think about software as a service.”
