As mobility becomes part of the mainstream digital lifestyle, the next step is for the network to be the vehicle of cloud evolution. With an increasing focus on quality of experience among smartphone users, and with operators looking for new revenue, today's networks and the cloud need to evolve in parallel. Cloud services need to be distributed and networks -- including computing and storage capabilities -- need to be elastic on an end-to-end basis. This combination will bring a new set of capabilities that doesn't exist today.
In response to this evolving need, Ericsson introduces the Ericsson Cloud System. This revolutionary cloud solution enables carriers and service providers to grasp market opportunities by enabling end-to-end elasticity using network assets. It enables distributed cloud capabilities such as computing and storage capabilities in the network, resulting in a better experience when using cloud applications, and more efficient utilization of network resources.
The Ericsson Cloud System includes the Ericsson Cloud Manager, which offers new features in terms of management and operation across the entire network, while supporting carrier-grade performance.
The Ericsson Cloud System includes the Ericsson Cloud Execution Environment, which is based on OpenStack Cloud Management and KVM hypervisor. The solution is an addition to the existing OSS system, the Ericsson Cloud Manager. It offers a smooth migration as it builds on the Ericsson Blade System and Ericsson SSR and it allows virtualized and non-virtualized applications to execute side-by-side with maintained carrier-grade performance. The system provides an execution environment for applications irrespective of the source - whether it's Ericsson, the operator, a partner or other innovators. This makes it possible to introduce new services and consolidate existing ones onto the same virtualized platform.
Magnus Furustam, Vice President and Head of Product Area Core and IMS at Ericsson, says: "We protect existing operator investments when introducing new technologies. We implement cloud-enabled networks by evolving what operators already have in the field.
We do this by using established telecom platforms - such as EBS and SSR - and integrating them with new software in a way that ensures carrier-grade performance, while introducing a platform for new partners. This systematic implementation of end-to-end elasticity across network, computing and storage assets enables the delivery of new services and business models and is what we call Cloud Evolution."
The Ericsson Cloud System will be available on the market in Q1, 2014. Ericsson will showcase the solution at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona from February 25-28.