Cisco is to use France-based virtual network operator (MVNO) Transatel, owned by NTT Data, to provide enterprise customers with ‘out-of-the-box’ 4G and 5G cellular connectivity on its own eSIM solution in 180 countries. Cisco’s eSIM technology will be embedded initially into Cisco’s infrastructure solutions, it said. Cisco is targeting enterprises in financial services, retail, hospitality, and also manufacturing, among other industries.
Cisco called it a “game-changer” for a variety of enterprise use cases – “such as on-demand SD-WAN, fast scaling for 5G carriers, and edge computing for IoT applications”. There was no mention in the press note about roaming extensions for private networks, but Cisco and NTT Data, which issued the notice as a joint release, have a deal on private 4G and 5G deployments, as well, where the latter is distributing the former’s core network solutions.
As above, they also mention Industry 4.0 venues like manufacturing, where all-edge private networks have particular value. NTT Data is offering public roaming extensions on private 4G/5G deployments via Transatel as part of its own managed service offering. It also resells private 4G/5G systems from Nokia and Celona; the offer to extend coverage on Cisco systems beyond enterprise campuses is implicit, presumably.
The new eSIM deal, on Cisco’s standard infrastructure offerings, means enterprises can remotely activate, provision, and configure cellular airtime “for primary or secondary connectivity” as they deploy “secure mobile branches” anywhere, the duo explained. “Enterprises can easily scale and manage their network needs, ensuring their networks are always connected and optimised for peak performance,” they declared.
They referenced Omdia forecasts that demand for fixed wireless access (FWA) connectivity is rising fast, at 14 percent per annum (CAGR), pegged to reach $39 billion by 2029. They said the addition of remotely-configurable MVNO-organised 5G connectivity works “even in rural and remote areas” and “temporary locations such as pop-up stores and outdoor functions” in a way that “bypasses the complexity of managing multiple carriers”.
They segmented certain benefits, all about “centralised”, “simplified”, and “secure” cellular management and backup, mostly at remote (manufacturing), temporary (hospitality, for “events [and] outdoor activities”; financial services, for “branch and temporary location connectivity”), and pop-up locations (retail). They quoted Omdia, that there is “real need [for enterprises] to stand-up secure mobile branch services at short notice”.
Andrew Brown, practice lead for IoT research at Omdia, said: “The need to lower setup and installation costs as well as provide vital services, such as backup in a managed and secure end-to-end fashion are pivotal to customers. This integration between Cisco and NTT DATA will simplify and streamline the process of getting customers up and running at scale and will provide an excellent complement to fixed line offerings.”
There was a quote from IDC, to boot. Alejandro Cadenas, associate vice president at IDC, commented: “Seamless, secure, and scalable connectivity solutions are now essential for unlocking innovation and growth in a connected world. These advancements reflect a broader shift toward democratizing access to advanced connectivity solutions, ensuring organizations of all sizes can capitalize on emerging opportunities with agility and confidence.”
Masum Mir, senior vice president and general manager for ‘provider mobility’ at Cisco, said: “We can enable a faster, simpler and more convenient way for enterprises to securely connect their organisations through an enhanced setup and provisioning process.”
Shahid Ahmed, group executive vice president for edge services at NTT DATA, said: “This partnership will deliver the future of connectivity today, allowing businesses to focus on their digital transformation journeys without worrying about the complexities of network management.”
