04 Mar 2021

Event recap: The role of cloud in telco infrastructure

February's Cloud Monthly Webinar looked to examine how telecoms operators could exploit cloud computing services to revolutionise their businesses and networks, and some of the key challenges to overcome when adopting cloud.

Security and the secure adoption of cloud emerged as a key theme in both out presentations and panel discussion.

Clive Grethe from Atos reiterated the importance of the secure adoption of cloud, and if done right, the huge benefits for the telco industry. From efficiencies in business operations, to access to a more mature SaaS portfolio, even automation and standardisation could all be within reach. However, even with these benefits, cyber security will remain fundamental as new vulnerabilities emerge.

5G and edge computing

The role of cloud in 5G network infrastructure will be defined by the potential of multi-access edge computing (MEC), in which apps and services will be pushed to the edge of the network. Paul Miller, CTO at Wind River, presented the key benefits of both MEC and virtualisation, which Paul argued are already here for telcos, and both will have the potential for solving real life challenges and enabling new revenue streams. Wind River has found that 80% of industrial leaders it had spoken to were looking to adopt 5G, and that a cloud-native infrastructure (offered by Wind River Studio) successfully meets the challenges of adopting 5G in these verticals through zero-touch deployment, new analytical tools and automation.

Disruption is coming

For the telcos themselves, there was a warning against complacency—and Accenture’s Oliver Neuberger asked our audience to imagine a future without telcos, unless customers’ increased expectations of their networks are not met. These higher expectations, however, offer a unique opportunity for telcos to transform with the rollout of 5G, and new services and applications. A mindset shift will be required, to ensure transparent governance and proactive compliance in cloud-native networks. The complexity for telcos in the secure configuration of cloud underscores the need for secure platforms and secure services.

Driving cloud to the next level

On this point, Shadi Razak from CyNation, agreed that the trick for success is in secure by design from day one, which will take telcos one step closer to realising the future in edge and virtualisation. The sharing of best practice and open communication between telcos and cloud-computing service providers emerged as a key theme in our panel discussion—all will benefit, and will help telcos themselves to drive cloud to the next level.

Find out more about techUK's Edge Computing Campaign here, and catch up with our Diversifying Telecoms event series.

Sophie Greaves

Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK

Laura Foster

Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK

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