Nokia joins forces with Google Cloud to deliver 5G services to CSPs

Nokia / Google logos.
(Image credit: Nokia / Google.)

Nokia and Google Cloud – which enables customers to build, deploy, and scale applications, websites, and services on the same infrastructure as Google – have entered a partnership to offer communication service providers (CSPs) the expertise of Nokia’s 5G Core, alongside Google Cloud.

This means that customers will be able to harness Nokia’s expertise in areas such as Open RAN, virtual RAN and the cloud-native 5G Core, whilst delivering new cloud-based services that harness AI, ML and analytics, all running on Google’s Anthos platform.

"We’re proud to partner with Nokia to help the telecommunications industry expand and support these customers.”

George Nazi, Google Cloud.

“Communications service providers have a tremendous opportunity ahead of them to support businesses’ digital transformations at the network edge through both 5G connectivity and cloud-native applications and capabilities,” said George Nazi, VP of Telco, Media and Entertainment Industry Solutions at Google Cloud. “Doing so requires modernized infrastructure, built for a cloud-native 5G core, and we’re proud to partner with Nokia to help the telecommunications industry expand and support these customers.”

New experiences for consumers

Under the agreement, Google Cloud and Nokia will work closely to validate, optimize and evolve cloud-native network functions. Google Cloud and Nokia will create solutions that combine Nokia’s 5G operations services and networking with Google Cloud’s leading technologies, which will enable CSPs to deliver new, digital experiences for consumers. 

"Cloud-native network functions and automation will enable new agility and use-cases in the 5G era.”

Ron Haberman, Nokia.

“In the past five years, the telecom industry has evolved from physical appliances to virtual network functions and now cloud-native solutions,” explained Ron Haberman, CTO of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia. “Nokia is excited to work with Google Cloud in service of our customers, both CSPs and enterprise, to provide choice and freedom to run workloads on premise and in the public cloud. Cloud-native network functions and automation will enable new agility and use-cases in the 5G era.”

As part of this collaboration, Nokia is supplying its voice core, cloud packet core, network exposure function, data management, signaling, and 5G core. Whilst Google Cloud’s Anthos for Telecom will serve as the platform for deploying applications, enabling CSPs to build an ecosystem of services that are deployable anywhere, from the edge of the network, to public clouds, private clouds and carrier networks.

Dan Oliver

Dan is a British journalist with 20 years of experience in the design and tech sectors, producing content for the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Dell and The Sunday Times. In 2012 he helped launch the world's number one design blog, Creative Bloq. Dan is now editor-in-chief at 5Gradar, where he oversees news, insight and reviews, providing an invaluable resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the key issues facing 5G.