Abstract
Questions Addressed in the Study
- What are the vendor strategies for offering cloud solutions to telecom
operators?
- Are the vendors focused on public, private or hybrid cloud solutions?
- Are vendors focused on the consumer or enterprise cloud services, or both?
- What are the vendor market outlooks for the telecom cloud market?
- In cloud solutions, what are the vendor go-to-market strategies,
geographic focus, and channel partner plans?
- What are the range of cloud products and technology offered, and
architectural frameworks for telecom operator cloud environments?
- Has the vendor established technology partners for joint cloud solutions?
- What are the vendor professional services strategies, including
consulting, integration, and managed services for operator cloud environments?
- What customer success stories do the vendors have with operators?
Executive Summary
The focus of this study is how 4G wireless combined with cloud computing will
drive a new wave of innovation and ROI for operator content, services and
applications. The study is a result of interviews and online surveys with
mobile operators worldwide, and interviews with IT, software and telecom
vendors on cloud solutions and capabilities for telecom operators.
The vendor component of the study looked at infrastructure, professional
services and enabling technology that IT and telecom vendors are providing to
operators to build cloud capabilities.
Collectively, the leading telecom and IT vendors are focused on enabling
operator cloud architectures and platforms that are integrated with the
network and OSS/BSS systems.
The key question and uncertainty for operators is defining what a
carrier-class cloud platform is and what infrastructure and technology is
needed to truly enable differentiated cloud services. The wild card in the
equation for developing operator cloud technology is in the use of OpenStack,
the open source cloud platform that is attracting the attention of many
vendors and operators as the foundation for battling Amazon and Google in
cloud services.
While the vendors are taking different approaches to enable the operator
cloud, the common theme is that the network is essential in enabling
carrier-class cloud services to support real-time applications and enterprise
cloud services with service level guarantees. Telecom vendors are focused on
exposing, or enabling the use of network assets and unique telecom
capabilities to allow the operator and its partners to develop more robust and
differentiated cloud services to compete against Amazon, Google and other
public cloud providers.
While IT vendors IBM and HP have both developed comprehensive cloud
architectures and broad portfolios for telecom operators, HP has teamed with
Alcatel-Lucent to create a combined IT and network approach. Alcatel-Lucent is
distinguishing itself as the first telecom vendor to announce a carrier-class
cloud architecture and platform for telecom operators. Ericsson and Nokia
Siemens Networks have not yet announced comprehensive cloud strategies and
end-to-end platforms for telecom operators.
Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE have both launched cloud strategies that
include devices, connectivity, and cloud services. However, Huawei is
primarily focused on enabling enterprise cloud services for operators, while
ZTE is more focused on expanding its enterprise business with cloud solutions.
Since China will ultimately have the highest demand worldwide for cloud
services and data storage, Huawei and ZTE are well positioned to become major
cloud players based on their domestic market alone.
Although Cisco is not always top-of-mind in the cloud market, the company is
aggressively promoting the role of Cisco networking and technology as the
'essential architecture' for cloud computing. Cisco is a cloud provider with
its WebEx services, and is moving into cloud provisioning with its newScale
acquisition. Meanwhile, smaller firms are moving to challenge the incumbent
vendors.
Cloudscaling, for example, is offering an operator cloud platform that is
based on its own commodity server platform and open source cloud software.
Cloudscaling, along with partner cloudTP, have implemented KT's (Korea
Telecom) cloud platform and program.
Leveraging its distribution partner relationship with IBM, Jamcracker is
leading the emerging cloud services brokerage market and leveraging IBM to
support its global expansion.
Mavenir is a mobile IMS core systems platform vendor offering cloud-based
applications solutions to be implemented prior to a full-scale IMS
infrastructure implementation. Mavenior has OEM partner agreements with
Ericsson, IBM, and Cisco.
Consistent with Maravedis' operator cloud study 4G + Cloud = Innovation and
Profits? Released November 2011, all the vendors believe the operators need
help with developing cloud strategies, business models, developer ecosystems
and partnerships, so all the vendors are aggressively marketing professional
services offerings.
Looking beyond enterprise cloud services, most vendors have future plans to
develop specialized cloud solutions for machine-to-machine and vertical
sectors. In parallel with operator cloud platforms, telecom vendors are also
developing cloud- RAN technology, which includes applying cloud computing
principles to the mobile network architecture and equipment.
Table of Contents
Questions Addressed in the Study
Executive Summary
Key Findings and Vendor Profile Summary Points
- Alcatel-Lucent
- Ericsson
- Huawei
- Nokia Siemens Networks
- ZTE
- Cloudscaling
- Cisco
- Jamcracker
- Mavenir
- Hewlett-Packard
- IBM
Introduction
Worldwide 4G Launch Status
Vendor Profiles: Cloud Solutions for Operators
- Profile: Alcatel-Lucent
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy (and any MNO specific)
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Ericsson
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Huawei
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Nokia Siemens Networks
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: ZTE
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Cloudscaling
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Cisco
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy (and any MNO specific)
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Jamcracker
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Mavenir
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: Hewlett-Packard
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
- Profile: IBM
- Telecom Sector Cloud Strategy
- Market Outlook/Opportunity
- Go-To-Market, Geographic & Channel Partners
- Products/Solutions
- Technology Partners
- Professional Services (Consulting, Integration, and Managed Services)
- Customer Highlights
ABOUT MARAVEDIS
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- Exposing the reality behind the 4G hype
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Contact Information
Table of Figures
- Figure 1: Status of 4G deployment
- Figure 2: Global LTE Forecast 2010-2016
- Figure 3: Global 4G Subscriber Forecast
- Figure 4: Alcatel-Lucent Cloud Architecture
- Figure 5: Ericsson's Role in Operator Cloud
- Figure 6: Partner Roles in Cisco's Cloud GTM Strategy
- Figure 7: Cisco Cloud Builder Partner Program
- Figure 8: Jamcracker Cloud Services Brokerage Model
- Figure 9: Jamcracker Platform
- Figure 10: HP Cloud Services Enablement Portfolio
- Figure 11: IBM's Public Cloud Market Forecast
