Nokia, du highlight need for cloud-based networks for 5G

du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) has recently developed a white paper in conjunction with Nokia to highlight the need for cloud-based future network architecture for new 5G and IOT use cases.

The whitepaper also delved into the changes needed for adopting the new architecture and the ways to address new security threats through holistic security management.

“The digital world is changing very fast, and the arrival of 5G will bring about a plethora of transformation for all industry verticals,” said Saleem AlBlooshi, CTO, EITC. “With the cloudification of our network, this will mean that the future network architecture will be more agile, dynamic, and optimised, opening up a new array of use cases and new product offerings based upon next generation technologies such as 5G and IoT,” he added.

5G is being designed to enhance existing mobile broadband services, but more importantly, it will open new capabilities and achieve network efficiencies, which are not possible with today’s networks. There are endless possibilities with 5G, but to turn them into real business cases there is a need for a future-proofed network architecture.

Telco cloud based on Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN) is the key enabling technology for future network architecture. Adoption of NFV and SDN technology helps to automatically adapt to changing requirements, efficiently scale, constantly self-optimize, and make use of innovation from the wider ecosystem. Currently EITC is in the midst of such technology and architecture transition.

The future for telcos is in offering differentiated ICT products and services, which are a far cry from purely offering connectivity solutions of the past. The cloudification of EITC’s network with the support of partners such as Nokia offers the promise of an agile, optimized and future-ready network that will open new ICT and use cases based on IoT and 5G business streams that are more in tune with meeting customer demands in the future.