AWS has opened a new shopfront and for operator partners to hawk their private LTE (4G) and 5G solutions to enterprises, to be combined with its own cloud-to-edge compute services and applications, including sundry IoT and AI/ML based solutions. AWS has deals with Deutsche Telekom, KDDI, Orange, T-Mobile (US), and Telefónica. The hook is to “simplify the process” for enterprises to “discover, deploy, and manage private wireless networks”, it said.
The new portal / club is called Integrated Private Wireless, and it is “built in close collaboration with leading telcos”, the company said. AWS said it is contributing its services across its various edge outposts (Regions, Local Zones, Outposts, and Snow Family) into the bargain; it will also tap into its 100,000-odd partners offering AWS-based Industry 4.0 solutions and applications in 150-odd countries, it said.
There is no mention in the blog note that attended its launch about AWS’ own private 5G service, AWS Private 5G, launched last year for CBRS installs in the US, offering small cell RAN units, core and RAN software, and subscriber identity modules (SIM cards), plus sundry edge servers and edge-cloud resources. Among others, its own private 5G package combines RAN hardware from Mavenir, core network software from Athonet, and CBRS (SAS) frequency coordination from Federated Wireless.
Its latest community effort in the private 5G space appears to be geared towards global enterprise markets, notably Europe, and also Asia Pacific. AWS said both enterprises and operators have “expressed to us the need to simplify the [private 5G discovery] process”.
A new portal is intended to simplify this discovery process for enterprises interested in private cellular as a means to connect, automate, and animate their operations. A statement said: “Customers can explore private wireless offerings from participating telcos, browsing by industry or use case. From the portal, customers can contact the telco of choice, who will design, deliver, operate, and support the private wireless solution.”
Adolfo Hernandez, vice president of global telecoms business unit, emphasized the AWS position as well to support telcos in pursuit of new revenue generation opportunities in the enterprise space. He wrote: “Private wireless holds tremendous promise [for] enterprises [to] realize the benefits of Industry 4.0 and for [telcos] to generate new lines of revenue… By working closely together, we’ll be able to reduce the barriers of cost, time, and complexity, and help enterprises more easily discover private wireless offerings that meet their needs.
AWS said it will work with its telco partners to “create and launch further use cases and offerings” in the coming months. The blog included quotes from operators, as follows.
Antje Williams, senior vice president of 5G campus networks at Deutsche Telekom, said: “Deutsche Telekom is focused on driving innovation and developing new solutions… [for] enterprise customers. We have up to 50 [customers for] campus networks in Greece, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary… We saw an opportunity to further innovate and scale… by working with AWS. The collaboration enables us to deliver even more value.”
Yasuaki Kuwahara, managing executive officer at KDDI, said: “KDDI and AWS have a history of working together to pioneer new technologies for 5G and edge… We are pleased to collaborate on a secure, dedicated 5G private wireless and edge compute offering to further accelerate our customers’ digital transformations.”
Valérie Cussac, executive vice president of smart mobility services at Orange Business, said: “Orange is pleased to leverage its leading-edge Pikeo initiative and partnership with AWS to launch its new solution Mobile Private Network cloud. With our operator-integrator expertise, Orange Business can orchestrate, integrate and operate 5G private networks on AWS and edge infrastructure to unleash innovative use cases, combining private 5G, IoT, cloud/edge, data and AI.”
Mishka Dehghan, senior vice president of strategy, product and solutions engineering at T-Mobile Business Group, said: “T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced Network Solutions portfolio gives businesses the optimal level of performance they need with 5G public, hybrid, or private network options. Now, as the first US provider to collaborate with AWS on customizable solutions via the Integrated Private Wireless on AWS portal, we make it even easier for customers to get what they need to run their business.”
Andres Escribano, vice president of new business at Telefonica Tech, said: “Telefonica Tech and AWS have been working to leverage private MEC to improve operational efficiencies and deliver value to their end customers. Now with Integrated Private Wireless on AWS, we can combine the power of 5G connectivity, public, and private MEC with AWS infrastructure and services to give customers flexibility, agility, and control to maximize the value of the data they generate.”
