Vodafone Group and VMWare have completed the roll-out of network virtual infrastructure (NVI) across all its European business and 21 markets in total.
Vodafone has a single digital network architecture across its European markets, enabling the operator to design, build, test and deploy next generation functions more securely and around 40% faster, according to the operator’s own internal analysis and reporting in March.
The company said infrastructure automation limits the manual intervention required to operate and maintain its networks.
VMware’s telco cloud infrastructure is deployed by Vodafone at more than 57 sites across Europe and 25 in its Africa, Asia and Oceania markets.
Half-way there
It supports voice core, data core and service platforms on over 900 virtual network functions. Almost 50% of Vodafone’s core network nodes that provide voice and data services are run on VMware’s NVI platform, vCloud NFV.
VMware’s telco cloud platform provides the automation for virtual compute, storage, networking, management and operations enabling operators to provide virtualised network services.
According to VMWare, it allows operators to accelerate time to market and increase revenue with new services, streamline operations, reduce network infrastructure costs, and deploy elastic business models for telecommunications workloads.
Leading the digital charge
Johan Wibergh (pictured), Chief Technology Officer Vodafone Group, said, “Vodafone wants to be the industry’s leading digital telco and we are pleased with the progress made to introduce modern cloud-based technology and automation.
“Working with VMware, we have improved the speed and efficiency with which we can support customers and estimate that the cost of our core network functions has been reduced by 50%.”
Shekar Ayyar, EVP and GM, Telco and Edge Cloud, VMware, commented, “The successful engagement between our two companies is evident in the tremendous results Vodafone has captured since starting on [its] network transformation journey. We look forward to continuing to innovate together to unlock the transformational benefits of network modernization for Vodafone customers.”