Ushering in a new era for the Telco industry

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By Steve O’Donnell, Managing Partner, IBM NZ Global Business Services

There is a rapidly growing need in the telecommunications industry for a new network architecture. Emerging technologies, such as virtualisation, 5G, edge computing, AI and machine learning (ML), are ushering in a new era supported by cloud, often referred to as the digital era, the 5G era or the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). 

According to IDC research “An Unexpected Journey,” published in November 2020, New Zealand’s telecommunications market is ripe for disruption, partly because COVID-19 has dented revenue streams, particularly roaming revenue, prepay revenue and handset sales. 

IBM’s Cloud for Telecommunications provides an open, hybrid cloud architecture to enable Telcos to respond to three fundamental sector-wide shifts to: 

• Modernise and make their business more agile so they can keep pace with change in the marketplace
• Provide compelling experiences to their customers, whether they’re consumers or enterprises
• Evolve quickly from networks into platforms. 

The platform also integrates and extends IBM Edge Application Manager and IBM Telco Network Cloud Manager to reduce network-related infrastructure costs, increase automation, speed next-gen services and deliver new consumer and enterprise value. The holistic hybrid cloud offering built on Red Hat OpenShift is complemented by some 35 global ecosystem partners’ software and technology. 

Our partner ecosystem provides customers with a wide range of ways to leverage the platform so they can deliver next generation 5G and Edge services, deploy and manage new cloud capabilities, and enrich relationships through AI-driven engagement.

Providing the first high trust, unified hybrid architecture, IBM Cloud for Telecommunications addresses the fundamental transformation challenges facing telecommunications operators today.