Ericsson and Telstra Pioneer the First Programmable Network in Asia-Pacific
Ericsson and Australian communications service provider Telstra
have announced a partnership that will enable Telstra's customers to become the
first in the Asia-Pacific region to benefit from a high-performing,
programmable network with 5G Advanced capabilities.
Under the four-year deal, Telstra will upgrade its radio
access network (RAN) with Ericsson's next-generation Open RAN-ready hardware
solutions and 5G Advanced software. It will also implement AI and automation to
optimize network management through self-detection and self-healing
capabilities.
The transformation will power Telstra with one of the most
advanced, resilient and reliable 5G networks in the world. Telstra's
programmable network will provide a platform for innovative application
development and the ability to tailor superior connectivity to the unique
requirements of its customers, including new performance-based offerings.
Further, it will open the network to tech innovators from
wider ecosystems via network APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).
The adoption and acceleration in uptake of network APIs, and
how they can drive telecom industry monetization opportunities, is also the
focus of the recently announced global venture, Aduna, of which Ericsson and
Telstra are founding members. Telstra's new 5G Advanced network capabilities
will be central to the delivery of such API-based services.
The high-performing capabilities of the 5G Standalone (5G SA)
solutions involved are also key to enabling the next-generation use cases and
developer innovation that will make Industry 4.0 a reality in Australia.
Vicki Brady, CEO, Telstra, said, "We are at an
inflection point, where customer needs for technology and connectivity are
becoming more sophisticated, requiring a step change in how connectivity is
delivered and consumed. At the same time, demand for mobile data on our network
has tripled over the past five years."
"Through our partnership with Ericsson, the
first-of-its-kind for any operator across Asia-Pacific, we will evolve our
offering and improve the efficiency of how we use our spectrum so we can
increase our 5G network capacity to deliver better consistency of performance,
reliability and speed to millions of customers," said Brady. "With a
programmable network we will move from a one-size-fits all proposition, to
being able to deliver more sophisticated use cases and commercial models to
provide a differentiated and more tailored connectivity experience to
customers."
Börje Ekholm, President and CEO, Ericsson, said,
"High-performing programmable networks are the building blocks to
digitalize enterprises and nations. Telstra, a longstanding early adopter
partner of Ericsson, is set to enjoy the benefits that Ericsson 5G Standalone
connectivity will bring. This faster, more secure and differentiated connectivity
will transform consumer and enterprise experiences and enable developers to use
5G technologies to experiment, innovate and build game-changing applications."
"Through this deal, Telstra is also empowering
Australians, from single developers to the nation's largest industries, to play
their part in ensuring Australia is competitive on the global stage. We look
forward to working closely with Telstra to make that happen," added Ekholm.
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