Airtel selects IBM, Red Hat to build open cloud network for 5G, emerging tech

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel has selected IT companies IBM and Red Hat to build its new network cloud to support 5G procedures and applications around emerging technologies on its network.

Beneath the agreement, Airtel will build its next generation core network, analytical tools and new consumer and enterprise services moreover cloud platform predicated on open standards.

“As part of our endeavour to create a 5G ready network for India’s requirements, we are very happy to collaborate with IBM and Red Hat inside our cloud journey.

“The hybrid cloud architecture will resonate with this customer-obsession by giving improved flexibility, network stability and performance and bringing agility and automation inside our network operations, Bharti Airtel chief technology officer Randeep Sekhon said in a statement.

A cloud-based telecom network is considered better and flexible in delivering services especially new applications at large scale in less time with minimal capital and operational expenditure.

In line with the statement, India’s data consumption is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 70 per cent by 2021.

Adopting today's hybrid cloud architecture permits communication companies (CSPs) to provide more responsive networks that tap into automation and AI to address growing customer needs and deploy new services at the proper location and network tier, the statement said.

“IBM is a valued collaborator to many of the world’s most significant and most ground breaking communications companies like Airtel because they transform their networks into open and secure hybrid multi-cloud platforms and plan the 5G and edge computing era,” Steve Canepa, Global Managing Director, Communications Sector and Worldwide Head of Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment Industry at IBM said