Alice Chambers |
Telecommunications companies Nokia and A1 have completed a 5G edge cloud network slicing trial with Microsoft, a first of its kind for the media industry.
The deployment used Nokia’s 5G edge slicing solution, which integrates with Microsoft Azure, to manage A1’s live commercial network. The edge cloud network slicing allowed A1 to transmit live HD video streaming to mobile devices, via Multicasting.io’s streaming mobile platform, over a secure high-capacity and low-latency network.
Nokia’s solution enables A1 to deliver “secure, reliable and high-performance enterprise VPN services integrated with edge cloud applications over 4G/LTE and 5G networks”, according to Marcus Grausam, CEO of A1.
The solution also offers a sliced mobile broadband virtual private network (VPN) in selected business areas such as a campus or city environment.
“Edge cloud network slicing gives customers the best of both worlds with network slicing and edge cloud applications that enhance the enterprise customer experience,” said Tommi Uitto, president of mobile networks at Nokia.
Azure managed edge computing technology was deployed at A1’s data centre in Vienna, with connectivity to the Azure region in Austria to support the trial.
“Our collaboration with A1 and Nokia, and the deployment of network slicing using Microsoft Azure, is a testament to our commitment to innovation,” said Silvia Candiani, vice president of telecommunications and media at Microsoft. “As we redefine connectivity, we’re also providing opportunities to industry leaders like A1 and Nokia to tap into the large Microsoft ecosystem of enterprise developers and solution providers to help drive new monetisation efforts.”