Amdocs claims to have developed / solved a series of “new use cases” for private 5G networks at its new sandbox lab in Texas. The US telecoms software firm said it has worked with Microsoft to create new solutions for industrial maintenance and training and also for smart cities; these are designed to work on private 5G networks, it said.
Amdocs’ new “use cases” / “solutions” are built on Microsoft’s Azure private MEC and Azure Private 5G Core (AP5GC) products. These are “tailored to different enterprise needs”, it said, and offer a “purpose-fit approach to the network compared to a one-size-fits-all method”, apparently.
The new solutions, out of its 5G Experience Lab in Dallas, have been launched in the Azure Marketplace. They include a new smart cities product for street lighting which combines private 5G connectivity from Microsoft (AP5GC), software from Amdocs, and lighting hardware from Israeli lighting specialist Juganu.
The novelty of the solution, it would appear, is the ability for cities to spin-off “public/private internet access capabilities”, plus a “series of city management supports through the provision of real-time environmental and movement data”. The solution is called Amdocs Smart Lighting.
A second solution is also available in Azure Marketplace, called Amdocs AR Maintenance and Training, also uses Microsoft’s AP5GC core network software, plus Amdocs “software and connectivity”. It is pitched to maintenance crews, and provides an augmented reality (AR) platform to deliver remote assistance to engineers in the field; it is presented as a training tool, as well.
A statement said: “The remote expert can see what the technician in the field can see, providing support or education, and the job can be documented in real-time.” Again, the precise novelty of the solution – or use case, indeed – is unclear. But Amdocs use the opportunity to flag its partnership approach, and also its intention to solve the challenge of “network blueprints” for scalable Industry 4.0 use cases.
Anthony Goonetilleke, group president of technology at the firm, said: “Accelerating the innovation of 5G use cases by leveraging cloud and edge-based technologies is a crucial component of delivering ubiquitous connectivity to the world. Our engagement with Microsoft… will create an amazing playing field for the next generation of enterprise experiences and monetization.”
Tad Brockway, corporate vice president for the “operators” division within Azure, said: “By combining Amdocs’ telco solutions and deep industry expertise with Microsoft’s technology, we can help advance enterprise network possibilities while improving experiences for consumers and businesses. We believe there are no limits to what can be done when combining the right expertise, advanced networks, and collaborative tools.”
