2021 Telco Infrastructure Report
Top 5 Ideas about Telco Cloud
Telco Server Farms vs Public Clouds
Telco Cloud Requires a Forward-looking Platform
How Europe's Data Sovereignty Rules are Driving Changes to the Vendor Landscape
HPE Telco Blueprints for Next-Gen Infrastructure
IBM builds a Cloud for Telecommunications
Automation and Orchestration will drive the Next Gen Telco Cloud
Introducing Anuket
Microsoft builds Azure for Operators
O-RAN Opens Doors for New Telco xApps
3 Key Considerations for Cloud-Native Telco Deployments
The Journey to CI/CD and Automation
Redefining Telco Cloud
Will Telcos Lose Strategic Control if they go to Public Clouds?
Telco Cloud Network Flexibility
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What the 2021 Telco Infrastructure report finds
Across these interviews, telcos are re-platforming onto cloud-native infrastructure while wrestling with how much to keep in-house versus hand to hyperscalers. The recurring theme is coexistence: telco-owned clouds and edges running alongside public cloud, glued together by open standards, automation, and CI/CD.
Telco cloud coexists with public cloud
Colt keeps server farms alongside public cloud, and Spirent and TelcoDR argue operators must exploit public cloud without ceding strategic control. Aarna Networks notes telcos lack the appetite to run tens of thousands of edge clouds themselves.
Cloud-native is the new foundation
IBM builds its Cloud for Telecommunications on Red Hat OpenShift, while Ribbon Communications lays out key considerations for moving telecom workloads to cloud-native deployments and frictionless integration.
Automation and CI/CD drive agility
Lenovo sees automation and orchestration powering the next-gen telco cloud for 5G data, and Ribbon details automating its CI/CD pipeline to align with customers' own environments.
Open standards define the infrastructure
LF Networking's Anuket merges GSMA's CNTT specs with OPNFV testing to define foundational telco infrastructure, while ONF's SD-RAN implements an O-RAN consistent 5G RAN stack for future telco clouds.
Sovereignty and flexibility shape investment
Ekinops highlights how Europe's data sovereignty rules push open operating systems and local data handling, while Telia Carrier's CEO stresses network flexibility as the lasting lesson of 2020.
Hyperscalers court the operators
Microsoft's Azure for Operators re-engineered its cloud to be carrier-grade for network workloads, signaling that public cloud vendors are building specifically for telco requirements.
Highlights from industry thought leaders














Video interviews
Top 5 Ideas about Telco Cloud
- Aarna Networks' Amar Kapadia argues telcos lack the skill and appetite to manage tens of thousands of edge clouds.
- Public cloud vendors have the capabilities telcos need for the new telco cloud.
Abstract
Telco Server Farms vs Public Clouds
- Colt's Peter Coppens says telco-owned server farms will coexist with public cloud alternatives.
- Colt is moving toward telco cloud and network edge to deliver functionality to customers.
Abstract
Telco Cloud Requires a Forward-looking Platform
- Comcast Business's Jeff Lewis stresses that carrier networks must scale.
- A forward-looking platform approach helps bring in more products and services.
Abstract
How Europe's Data Sovereignty Rules are Driving Changes to the Vendor Landscape
- Ekinops' Sylvain Quartier notes varied global laws make local data management challenging for cloud vendors.
- These challenges drive more secure networks and highlight the importance of an open operating system.
Abstract
HPE Telco Blueprints for Next-Gen Infrastructure
- HPE's Roshan Thekkekunnel covers the fundamentals of a Telco Blueprint for next-gen infrastructure.
Abstract
IBM builds a Cloud for Telecommunications
- IBM's Bill Lambertson overviews the IBM Cloud for Telecommunications.
- Red Hat OpenShift is positioned as a strategic advantage.
Abstract
Automation and Orchestration will drive the Next Gen Telco Cloud
- Lenovo's Chadie Ghadie examines infrastructure features telcos need to become more agile and software-driven.
- Greater automation supports the data generated from 5G.
Abstract
Introducing Anuket
- LF Networking's Anuket merges GSMA's CNTT specifications with OPNFV implementation and testing work.
- Heather Kirksey introduces Anuket as defining foundational infrastructure for next-gen telcos.
Abstract
Microsoft builds Azure for Operators
- Microsoft's Shawn Hakl explains how Azure for Operators helps operators adopt cloud for network workloads.
- Azure made important changes to build a carrier-grade cloud.
Abstract
O-RAN Opens Doors for New Telco xApps
- ONF's Timon Sloane details its first SD-RAN release, an O-RAN consistent end-to-end 5G RAN stack.
- SD-RAN is intended to run as a key workload on future telco clouds.
Abstract
3 Key Considerations for Cloud-Native Telco Deployments
- Ribbon's Justin Hart offers three key considerations for moving telecom workloads to cloud-native deployment.
Abstract
The Journey to CI/CD and Automation
- Ribbon automates its CI/CD pipeline to align with and enable customers' CI/CD environments.
- Automation enables cloud-native operations and frictionless integration of Ribbon's delivered artifacts.
Abstract
Redefining Telco Cloud
- Spirent's Marc Cohn says public cloud momentum forces operators to consider how to exploit it.
- He discusses the fundamental ways telco cloud differs from public cloud.
Abstract
Will Telcos Lose Strategic Control if they go to Public Clouds?
- TelcoDR's Danielle Royston argues telcos retain strategic assets and control even when running on other clouds.
- She weighs the strategic risks for telco clouds.
Abstract
Telco Cloud Network Flexibility
- Telia Carrier CEO Staffan Gojeryd stresses network flexibility as the key lesson of 2020.
- He shares views on network infrastructure investments.
Abstract
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