Swisscom names AWS preferred public cloud partner
Swisscom has selected AWS as its preferred public cloud provider for enterprise IT and to explore possibilities for its 5G core in the cloud.
As part of its overall digital transformation, Swisscom will migrate to AWS a wide range of core applications that power its enterprise resource planning, operational support system (OSS), business support system (BSS), analytics, contact centre, and communications provisioning workloads.
Swisscom will also leverage AWS to explore how it can build a "reliable, scalable, secure, and cost-effective" 5G Core in the cloud that would enable rapid development and deployment of new 5G services for its customers.
“AWS contributes to the technological foundation and agility we need to unlock new growth potential by transforming our IT services and delivering robust 5G communications that meet the needs of our enterprise and consumer customers,” said Christoph Aeschlimann, CTIO of Swisscom.
“We expect 5G to open the door for a host of specialised services. Having AWS by our side, with their proven infrastructure and unparalleled suite of cloud technologies, will help us innovate and grow at a rapid pace. Leveraging AWS, we are able to quickly build and run the applications that underpin our organisation with low latency, reliability, and scalability, while meeting security and compliance requirements.”
Orange lines up eco-handset, mixed reality showcase
Orange is to showcase AR, VR and gaming capabilities at MWC 2021, alongside its new, eco-handset.
This year will see Orange's corporate focus prioritise 5G, fibre, convergence, submarine cables and overall network coverage, however, the group has also started to reinvent its operating model by setting up a new TowerCo, Totem, Orange Concessions in France and a FiberCo in Poland to promote further network development.
On new tech, 5G augmented reality gaming was top of the list of MWC previews for Orange. Orange has partnered with Niantic, a firm that has developed a demo to show the exciting potential of gaming capabilities when powered by its 5G network. This is the first augmented reality demo of a game that allows multiple players to play in the same place, simultaneously and enjoy an AR experience through 5G.
Simulated reality 3D is now possible without glasses. Two people will be able to interact with the same 3D virtual object (no glasses, no wearables required) at the same time, in front of two special 3D screens. Both users will be able to “touch”, to “move” and to “send” the 3D object to the other one, with an impressive effect of volume and depth.
Demonstrating 5G multi-slices on single devices, Orange's first slicing demo will be based on a smartphone connected to a 5G network to show both consumer and business uses. It will demonstrate the coexistence of a default internet slice and a dedicated company slice corresponding to an e-health service.
The latter is used to transport the data collected by sensors (cardio, blood pressure, temperature, etc.) between the customer’s mobile and its doctor during a teleconsultation. Slicing isolates e-health data from generic web traffic and therefore guarantees end-to-end confidentiality with an optimal quality of service. The simultaneous implementation of two slices from a smartphone is a first in Europe and was developed in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies Inc, Oppo, Casa Systems and HPE.
The second slicing demo will be based on a slice supporting a remote-controlled robot. If the network is congested, it automatically detects the degradation in the end-to-end quality of service and creates a new slice to recover the performance level required by the robot.
On the handset front, Neva leaf will adopt an "eco-design approach" by taking the modular approach to parts and repairs. It is also designed to last longer through security software upgrades and is made from 20% recycled plastic to minimise its ecological footprint.
For Africa, there is also the launch of Nola fun, a 4G smartphone for the Africa market.
IBM unveils enterprise cloud and blockchain advances
Telefonica Tech and IBM have launched hybrid cloud enterprise solutions based on AI and blockchain.
Comprising an Watson-powered virtual assistant and a blockchain platform for enterprise assets, the solutions are part of Telefonica and IBM’s ongoing work together to embrace an open hybrid cloud strategy.
"These agreements reinforce our strategy of being the best partners for companies to face digital transformation with guarantees, complementing solutions based on our own technology with the best services from our partners," said Gonzalo Martín-Villa, CEO of IoT and big data at Telefonica tech.
The AI-powered virtual assistant solution can streamline customer service for enterprises and public entities. IBM Global Business Services (GBS) trained and implemented the solution, which uses IBM Watson Assistant and is deployed on Telefónica Tech's Cloud Garden, a hybrid cloud platform that runs on Red Hat OpenShift.
At the same time, Telefonica Tech and IBM have built a new solution using the IBM Blockchain Platform, based on open hybrid cloud technologies, to improve how companies trace their assets throughout the supply chain.
Telefonica Tech and IBM said they are exploring the possibility of commercializing this solution in the local and international business market, offering a blockchain traceability platform solution that allows companies to establish their own secure data exchange ecosystem with their supply chain partners.
Totogi unveils "world’s most advanced" charging system and BSS
Telco DR-backed Totogi, which specialises in building telco software for the public cloud, has unveiled what it said is the "world’s most advanced" charging system and BSS.
The Totogi Charging System is the first webscale real-time charging and plan design engines for telcos and Totogi has achieved an "industry-leading performance benchmark" of handling one million transactions per second, with a commitment to doubling this figure every six months.
Following this is a new, webscale BSS platform, which has achieved gold status with TM Forum as it supports 12 of the TM Forum Open Digital Architecture APIs, with plans to support the full set by the end of 2021.
Danielle Royston, CEO and Founder of TelcoDR, announced a $100 million investment in Totogi in May. She is now the firm's acting CEO.
She said: “Totogi represents everything I’ve been talking about over the past few years about the public cloud. Totogi is entering the market with a webscale platform that can do for telcos what Salesforce did for CRM in the early 2000s. The $100 million investment illustrates that this new start-up has the capital and resources needed to build the most innovative telco software solution on the market, offering usage-based pricing our industry has been clamouring for.”
