Major global telecommunications operators, including SoftBank and Vodafone Qatar, are working with VMware to accelerate 5G and Open RAN deployments.

Enterprise software company VMware introduced global telecommunications companies' cases of building the VMware Telco Cloud Platform and the 5G ecosystem accelerated by telecommunications companies at 'MWC 2023' held in Barcelona, Spain on the 28th (local time).

Based on the VMware Telco Cloud Platform, SoftBank adopted a horizontal digital infrastructure for its 5G core network. This approach has enabled it to increase efficiency and improve automation. After adopting the platform, Vodafone Qatar can leverage the capabilities of 5G, cloud, and modern infrastructure to launch new services.

VMware highlighted innovation through its expanding rApp and xApp partner ecosystem by hosting the rAppathon, an app development challenge, at MWC 2023. In partnership with Intel, VMware presented xApp and rApp LAN applications developed by seven partner developers on the VMware RIC platform to a panel of communications industry expert judges, who selected winners based on innovation, business, network impact and network sustainability.

VMware also collaborates extensively with LAN partners to deliver smart network solutions through the VMware Telco Cloud Platform. NTT DATA and VMware will help telecom operators quickly leverage OpenLAN large-scale deployment know-how and best practices, including instantiating, configuring, testing, and operating cloud-native capabilities when building new or existing networks.

■ Samsung Electronics and US DC Launch 5G Network Initial Network
Samsung Electronics recently completed the launch of a 5G initial network with DISH Network, the fourth largest mobile carrier in the United States.

Samsung Electronics' 5G virtual base station is a next-generation base station that integrates cutting-edge technology and supports efficient communication network construction and operation by installing base station software on a general server. Based on this, we plan to expand the construction of a large-scale 5G network across the United States.

Samsung Electronics and VMware today announced the launch of their first virtual network, integrating Samsung Electronics’ virtual LAN with VMware’s Telco Cloud platform as part of the DISH 5G network expansion.

The two companies provide advanced topologies to help telecommunications carriers accelerate LAN deployments efficiently.

■ Telco Cloud Platform Feature Line

VMware provides solutions that telecommunications operators can leverage to build programmable 5G LAN networks through end-to-end automation and optimization.

VMware presented its vision for a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework that follows the OpenRAN Alliance’s approach to simplifying, optimizing, and automating LAN and apps.

To this end, various telco cloud SMO solutions are utilized, including △VMware Centralized RIC (non-real-time RIC), △VMware Telco Cloud Automation, and △VMware Telco Cloud Service Assurance.

It also announced Project Kauai, which provides carriers with a variety of options for building out segmented LANs.

Telecommunications carriers can take advantage of an architecture based on VMware ESXi, while Project Kauai complements the hypervisor by enabling virtualized and disaggregated LAN functions to run directly on bare metal servers via VMware Tanzu. This can be particularly beneficial at base stations at the edge of a LAN.

“VMware is further advancing digital infrastructure for telecommunications and the edge by providing telecommunications providers with a more flexible and efficient cloud-smart approach from both a technical and operational perspective,” said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge Business Unit, VMware. “Through close collaboration with our partners, VMware customers will be able to develop more innovative and advanced services that will drive the industry into the future.”