With this new network, Airtel’s customers and ecosystem partners have a flexible foundation to build and deploy next-gen applications on the cloud network. They will also gain enhanced performance, availability, automation and scaling, from the core to the network edge.
“Airtel has been at the forefront of adopting leading edge technologies to modernize our network architecture,” said Randeep Sekhon (pictured), CTO, Bharti Airtel.
“By adopting an open hybrid cloud network with the support of IBM and Red Hat we are building a scalable and future-ready network to serve our customers with best-in-class services.”
In this first phase, IBM and Airtel have co-developed a single click automated hybrid cloud design and deployment capability and light touch operations. The two have plans to embed AI capabilities in the future as a core part of its network transformation.
The architecture, which is built on open source technology, including Red Hat OpenStack Platform and Red Hat OpenShift, enables Airtel to manage communications across distributed network environments.
“Telco companies are at an inflection point in modernizing their networks and harnessing an open hybrid cloud architecture is fundamental to driving the scale, cost efficiencies and innovation they need,” added Steve Canepa, global managing director of communications sector and worldwide head of telecommunications, media & entertainment industry at IBM.
“Together with Bharti Airtel, our most recent automation benchmarks have demonstrated our approach can shorten RAN service deployment times from weeks to a few days, compelling improvements in innovation for Bharti and their customers.”
This gives Airtel’s customers and ecosystem partners the flexibility to create more targeted, innovative solutions in the cloud or any on-premises location. Additionally, this open architecture enables Airtel to embrace open source Radio Access Network (RAN) to improve interoperability for ecosystem partners using RAN equipment.
“With an open hybrid cloud architecture built on Red Hat OpenStack Platform and Red Hat OpenShift, Airtel can fuel faster innovation with greater flexibility, consistency and agility,” said Darrell Jordan Smith, senior vice president, industries and global accounts at Red Hat.
“With IBM and Red Hat, Airtel is strengthening its network foundation so it can rapidly adapt to the shifting needs of its partners and customers and deliver advanced solutions, all the way to the edge.”
