NTT DATA Launches First Cloud-Native 5G SA Network
Munich, 29 June 2021 – NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business, IT and telecommunications services, is launching an end-to-end cloud-native 5G standalone (SA) campus network at “Ensō – The Space for Creators” in Munich using the radio frequencies reserved for this purpose. The aim is to develop solutions and services for private as well as public 4G and 5G networks, which will be realised through NTT Group’s global network. Innovation partners are Mavenir, an industry-leading provider of cloud-native networking software, and NTT Ltd, a leading global technology services provider.
5G offers numerous advantages over previous mobile technologies: a higher data transmission rate, very low latency, the ability to connect a very large number of end devices and sensors, and specific functions for industrial users. This makes 5G mobile radio a superior technology for a variety of Industry 4.0 applications compared to previous mobile radio generations and other radio technologies. 5G is interesting for companies because they can set up private campus networks in many countries. These are self-sufficient, spatially limited mobile networks with their own frequencies, independent of other users and public 5G coverage.
“NTT DATA was an early adopter of 5G-only networks and is a pioneer in virtualised campus networks,” says Ralf Malter, COO and Managing Director at NTT DATA DACH. “With our cloud-native 5G SA network in combination with O-RAN, we are now taking the next step and developing attractive solutions that are exciting for many industries worldwide.”
Cloud-native mobile networks have the great advantage of being built on standard servers as well as a standard IT stack, making them highly scalable and more cost-effective. O-RAN’s open interfaces also enable the combination of different hardware and software providers.
The 5G campus network in the “Ensō – The Space for Creators” is unique in Germany for several reasons. What makes it special is the end-to-end cloud-native 5G SA solution with a focus on the interoperability of the 5G networks and how they can be integrated into the existing telecommunications and IT infrastructure. To achieve this, the 5G network is seamlessly combined with a Wi-Fi 6, centrally controlled via 5G and complemented by an edge-core cloud architecture.
“By connecting the 5G network to the NTT Data Center, we can map a complete company IT infrastructure in Ensō and, based on this, create use cases together with the companies as well as develop E2E solutions, for example for user and device management with SIM card solutions as well as for security aspects,” explains Kai Grunwitz, Managing Director of NTT Germany.
Mavenir is a companion in the construction of the campus network and provides the cloud-native software for its operation. “We are working with NTT DATA on innovative projects and are breaking new ground together so that companies can reduce their dependence on system suppliers and the costs of development and operation,” says Aniruddho Basu, SVP Emerging Business at Mavenir.
Companies also benefit from the know-how of the entire NTT Group in “Ensō – The Space for Creators”. It operates in cross-country and cross-industry centre-of-excellence and project teams, exchanging experiences and developing 5G solutions in conjunction with IoT, VR/AR technologies and smart operations for international companies.
NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s leading mobile operator and part of NTT Group, has already deployed and experienced open RAN on the public 5G network in Japan. The company is also a founding member of the O-RAN ALLIANCE. There, NTT DOCOMO, together with renowned partners, has demonstrated complete cross-vendor interoperability based on the open O-RAN interface specifications. It is currently working to accelerate O-RAN and provide flexible network provisioning.
For more information and videos on the cloud-native 5G SA campus network, please visit:
https://de.nttdata.com/Industrien/Telecommunications
