By Keith Basil, Edge General Manager, SUSE
More and more organizations are recognizing the benefits of going cloud native and adopting next gen infrastructure, including the telco industry. Not only are telecom operators embracing cloud-native environments as they realize the strategic and economic benefits they can reap, but just as importantly they see this as an opportunity to transform their entire operational model in a way that future proofs their business. Looking at the next generation of telecom infrastructure we believe that 5G and cloud computing will enable a new class of applications and use cases.
From better connectivity, advancements in augmented reality to smart cities, we’ve seen the promise of 5G rapidly take shape and showcase truly how endless the possibilities of 5G are. As the past has shown, it is often difficult to predict the detailed technical requirements these new use cases and applications put on the networks. If there is one lesson to be learned, it is that the most successful networks are the ones that can adapt to unforeseen requirements quickly and in the most cost effective way. To enable more agile networks, greater feature velocity and a more diverse vendor ecosystem, 5G will need to be based on open source network virtualization platforms and be operated according to cloud native principles.
There is a strong case for adopting cloud-native architectures in the context of 5G networks for telecom operators – and here’s why:
- Operators need Scalability. 5G networks are expected to be able to handle massive amounts of traffic with high quality of service. Cloud native platforms are designed to facilitate applications to scale up and scale back based on demand and therefore are the perfect solution for 5G networks.
- Operators need Agility. Whether it’s a personal device, business or smart city, 5G networks must adapt to constant changes in user demands and new innovation. Cloud native applications remove the restrictions that traditional network architectures present and instead allow organizations to work on best-in-class cloud platforms, which is critically important when it comes to adapting 5G networks to ever-changing end-user requirements. These cloud native environments also help solve these challenges as they allow for rapid deployment of new software versions and flexible configuration changes at scale.
- Operators need Efficiency. Cloud native environments present opportunities for 5G networks to be built more cost effectively and efficiently as they can help reduce spend for expensive special purpose hardware and infrastructure. Instead, the telco industry can start to benefit from the economies of scale of traditional IT equipment and limit the use of specialized silicon for only those computations that really need it.
- Operators need Collaboration. By introducing a cloud native approach, there is an element of added complexity and operational teams need to manage new technology with unfamiliar paradigms. Therefore it is important for the industry to drive commonality across cloud platforms instead of each CNF vendor bringing their own cloud stack. To make this a reality, the integration effort of CNFs and underlying cloud platforms must reduce significantly.
In addition to these benefits, we’re also seeing a number of pillars arise that will be key to the future of telecom architecture: hybrid environments, management at scale of containerized applications, the need for fast integration and interoperability across vendors and that both public cloud and private cloud will have a role to play in the overall success of 5G.
It’s truly an exciting time to witness the innovation happening with 5G. This innovation will be primed to continue as cloud native technology will enable 5G to utilize the latest technology, including AI, ML and Edge computing, as well as fosters opportunities for new uses and experiences.
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To learn more about the transformative nature of cloud native applications and open source software, join us at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2023, hosted by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, which takes place from April 18-21.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keith Basil Edge General Manager, SUSE
Keith Basil brings over 21 years of hands on experience in cloud and related industries. As the lead growth catalyst, Basil leads product management, marketing, engineering and communications alignment for SUSE’s Edge business unit. Working with the SUSE global customer base, he is also driving development of cloud-native edge solutions that encompass cluster management, heterogeneous architectures, and zero-trust security approaches at scale. He was previously the Vice President of Cloud Native Infrastructure where he drove strategy and management of SUSE Rancher cloud-native products.
Basil is also passionate about the next generation of decentralized cloud computing models. As an advocate in this area, he is working with communication service providers and public sector organizations to establish decentralized cloud infrastructure, applications and new revenue models.
Before Rancher, Basil led product management, positioning, and business strategy for security within Red Hat’s Cloud Platforms business unit. Prior to Red Hat, he was instrumental in the design of a secure, high-performance cloud architecture that provided compute, storage and application hosting services for US public sector civilian agencies and contractors. Basil holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Norfolk State University.
