Telstra and Ericsson have struck a deal to bundle localised edge-based 5G connectivity and compute functions for enterprises in Australia. The pair are looking to develop a reusable “edge cloud solution”, out of a test model deployed already with an unnamed financial services company, to create a go-to industrial IoT template for various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, cities, and buildings.
Their connectivity-and-compute bundle will enable “seamless” network orchestration, network exposure, and service assurance, they said. It will be available “within months”, they reckon, and “act as a catalyst for the development of a reusable and open framework”. They will “explore solutions for various industries over the coming months”, they added.
Ultimately, the aim is that Telstra can more particularly and more easily respond to requirements from enterprises, shifting the needle on scalability, security, availability, latency and bandwidth, according to each use case — whether via private 5G setups or public 5G slices, and whether with compute arrangements ranging between edge-based infrastructure and cloud-based servers.
The original financial-services trial, from which the project has developed, has been running since last year. The duo said in a statement: “These capabilities will help make consumption-based interfaces between cloud providers and the Telstra network possible. With agile, enterprise-tuned network services across its network, Telstra will be able to promote enhanced services for enterprise customers.”
Emilio Romeo, head of Ericsson in Australia and New Zealand, said: “With this extended partnership with Telstra into enterprise edge cloud, we continue to push the boundaries of technological innovation, bringing the benefits of 5G and edge to enterprises, whilst supporting Telstra to create new services across its network.”
Nikos Katinakis, group executive of networks and IT at Telstra, said: “This is a natural progression from last year’s trial around 5G edge computing and will serve as a framework for us to bring the benefits of 5G to the hands of Australians. It also paves the way for future use cases into other industries, such as agriculture and manufacturing.
“As the 5G rollout continues across Australia, harnessing edge computing will enable us to tap into the potential of 5G technology, ensuring that Australia and our customers remain at the cutting edge of mobile technology.”
