Google Cloud has signed strategic partnership deals with telecommunications companies Orange and Ericsson, to develop cloud-based 5G and edge computing services to help organisations unlock new use cases.
Accelerated by 5G, the Google Cloud Platform is a suite of cloud computing services that run on the same infrastructure that Google uses for its end-user products, such as Google Search, Gmail, file storage and YouTube.
Google Cloud and Ericsson come together to help communications service providers deliver capabilities to the edge, by bringing together Google Cloud’s compute platform with Ericsson’s 5G portfolio.
Globally, industries with edge presences – including communication service providers, retailers, manufacturers, transport businesses, healthcare and media/entertainment providers – face increasing pressure to build more digitised businesses and new digital experiences for customers.
To help businesses address this shift, Google Cloud and Ericsson say they are working together to develop new solutions at Ericsson’s Silicon Valley D-15 Labs, an innovation centre where advanced solutions and technologies can be developed and tested on a live, multi-layer 5G platform.
Ericsson and Google Cloud have already completed functional on-boarding of Ericsson 5G on Google’s Anthos to enable telco edge and on-premises use cases for communications service providers and enterprises.
As part of the partnership, Google Cloud and Ericsson are also piloting enterprise applications at the edge on a live network with global telco TIM. The project, which will automate the functions of TIM’s core 5G network and cloud-based applications, will help enterprises in the automotive, transportation, manufacturing and other sectors to improve efficiencies and lower latency, by bringing connectivity close to companies’ physical locations.
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, says: “Organisations have a tremendous opportunity to digitally transform their businesses with 5G and cloud capabilities like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning at the edge.
“We are proud to partner with Ericsson to help build a foundation for communications service providers and enterprises alike, to take advantage of cloud technology and cloud-native services, from telecom network core to the edge and enterprise premises.”
Google says its joint partnership with Orange seeks to accelerate the transformation of Orange’s IT infrastructure and the development of future cloud services, in particular edge computing.
The agreement re-enforces Orange’s commitment, as set out in its Engage 2025 plan, to drive its internal transformation through the innovative use of AI and data, to improve operational efficiency and the customer experience.
The collaboration will also pave the way for the development of new, advanced cloud, edge computing and cyber security services that will open up business opportunities for both Google Cloud and Orange, note the companies.
The cooperation will combine the strengths of Google Cloud and Orange to provide flexible, secure solutions for the B2B, wholesale and B2C markets.
“Orange is a pioneer of digital transformation and is pleased to partner with Google to accelerate its data and AI transformation, and continue towards a better service for its customers,” says Stéphane Richard, chairman and CEO of Orange.
“Google has been a long-term partner of Orange and, as Google is eager to invest in Europe − and especially in France − to develop new data centres, this is the perfect time to work on new services and opportunities in French and European markets.”
Orange and Google Cloud have also agreed to jointly create an Innovation Lab and a Centre of Excellence that will foster innovation and growth.
Share