VMware announces a suite of updates to its cloud platform to reduce complexity in 5G deployments for CSPs.
Engineers and operators today are in the process of transitioning to 5G networks. But this transition is becoming increasingly complex as companies look to support existing customers and services even as they add new 5G features. To make matters even more complicated, many companies simultaneously want to move to a virtualized or open radio access network (RAN). The ongoing support for these legacy systems and vertical technology stacks during this transition is increasing operational complexity and costs. As a result, companies are looking for solutions that support the entire process and help them improve the speed of 5G network deployments.
At the end of September 2022, VMware released several announcements aimed at making it easier for communication service providers (CSPs) to reach full 5G deployment. The new additions to its VMware cloud platform solutions are designed to simplify the deployment process, improve network security and automated performance, and make closed-loop operations a reality for large-scale mobile networks.
“Today’s CSPs find themselves in a unique position in the edge value chain, with the ability to act as principals and provide the most cost and energy efficient path to edge transformation,” said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware, in a press release. “At the same time, CSPs need to rapidly modernize their networks and deploy overlay services to monetize their investments. VMware’s flexibility and consistency in delivering a multi-cloud approach allows our CSP customers to meet this challenge head-on.”
With its announcement, VMware looks to fill a perceived gap among CSPs that want to make the transition to 5G less complicated.
So, What’s New for VMware?
Broadening the VMware Telco Cloud Platform Ecosystem
Expansions to the VMware cloud platform were designed to make it easier for CSPs to deploy new network services and reduce the operational complexities for virtual and containerized network functions. VMware Telco Cloud Platform 2.5, the next generation of the company’s cloud platform, is aimed at meeting the needs of modern 5G networks. For example, the updated solution focuses on providing increased cybersecurity, recognizing that 5G networks remain key targets for cyberattacks. Intrusion detection and prevention systems are now integrated for east-west network traffic on the platform to protect and secure entire mobile networks. With integrated automated security, CSPs can more easily ensure the real-time protection of everything from core to RAN networks.
Plus, VMware announced that the cloud platform ecosystem will now support over 275 virtual and containerized network functions, including Mavenir’s Converged Packet Core. The company states that the further expanded partner ecosystem will help CSPs accelerate the deployment of new network services on 5G. Mavenir’s Converged Packet Core includes a fully containerized 5G core that can support 2G, 3G and 4G. Basically, it makes it easier for CSPs to maintain existing services during the transition to 5G.
“The success of 5G rollouts hinges on the ability to disaggregate networks and roll out new services at a faster pace and larger scale,” said Ashok Khuntia, Mavenir’s president, Core Networks. “With Mavenir’s 5G Converged Packet Core certified through the VMware Ready for Telco Cloud program, we were able to quickly validate our CSAR package conformity as well as the steps for onboarding and lifecycle management of our network functions. As a result, VMware and Mavenir will enable CSPs to quickly onboard and deploy network functions resulting in time, money and integration savings.”
A Further Investment in the Multicloud
With the announcement of VMware Telco Cloud Automation 2.1, the company looks to further expand the multicloud capabilities of its platform. The updated software will now support Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service, allowing telecommunications companies to make new cloud-native functions directly on Amazon platforms.
Beyond the addition of AWS support, VMware describes the tool as a multilayered infrastructure solution that automates workloads and network function management. This will further improve the functionality and usability of the cloud platform, enabling engineers to deploy new functions for 5G networks more quickly and efficiently.
“DISH Wireless has already deployed thousands of edge nodes to build the world’s first hyper-distributed cloud, and it’s growing exponentially. Our 5G Open RAN network is the first application deployed and supported by VMware Telco Cloud Automation,” said Marc Rouanne, EVP and chief network officer, DISH Wireless. “VMware Telco Cloud Automation enables DISH to automate deployment and management of physical and virtual infrastructure and applications, at scale. We, with the help of VMware, can now offer a new platform for developers to stretch the cloud to end devices and create a bridge between hyper-scale clouds.”
Improved Closed-Loop Operations for Large-Scale Mobile Networks
VMware Telco Cloud Service Assurance 2.0 is aimed at making it easier for engineers to reliably deploy 5G networks. The software is an automated service assurance solution that can manage services, track real-time performance and identify the cause of service issues. The software is designed to automate optimization across physical, virtual and service layers for CSPs. The closed-loop automation also optimizes workloads to ensure that they can meet changes in demand both from the edge and from the services themselves—even for large-scale mobile networks.
The solution was formerly known as VMware Telco Cloud Operations and was renamed to reflect some of these announced expansions. The solution is basically a network operations center that can take input from multi-vendor and multicloud environments to enable end-to-end performance and service management. The solution can also collect and manage data from third-party monitoring tools. The goal is to improve the service quality and network operations of 5G services to meet the demands of mobile users.
The solution also directly integrates with VMware Telco Cloud Automation for closed-loop network automation and optimization.
Faster Deployment and More Savings for Distributed RAN Sites
Despite many CSPs working on virtualizing and containerizing their core networks, the RAN remains largely operated by legacy hardware. To make it easier and less expensive to deploy 5G networks and services, it’s important for CSPs to disaggregate their RAN functions. This allows a consistent virtualization architecture from the core to the RAN in 5G networks.
The VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN solution seems to have been developed to help companies achieve RAN modernization. The solution facilitates the transition from traditional RAN to a disaggregated virtual RAN (vRAN) and, eventually, the move toward open RAN. The software also simplifies CSP operations by creating consistency across distributed RAN sites. Another solution aimed at reducing the complexity of network operations and supporting the large-scale deployment of 5G.
VMware’s Goal: Removing Complexity from the 5G Network Deployment Process
With VMware’s suite of software upgrades, it looks like the company is trying to make it easier for companies to manage the complex transition to 5G. Recognizing the challenge of maintaining legacy systems while making this transition, all of VMware’s solutions aim to improve the security, automation and modernization of services and deployments. By increasing its multicloud capabilities and further expanding their integration with third-party tools, VMware appears to be offering a solution that aims to meet the true complexity of modern network maintenance and deployment.