Ericsson has introduced its Network Manager as a service to support telecom operators for their virtualization, software-defined networking and 5G network transformation.
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Ericsson will be offering three options for operators to power their network functions with Ericsson Network Manager: native with software and hardware; software in customer chosen cloud; and as service.
The Sweden-based telecom technology giant is accelerating software as a service as a business and delivery model for networks and management systems. The new Ericsson Network Manager as a Service combines latest IT cloud technologies together with managed hosting and managed services capabilities.
Ericsson Network Manager combines Element Management System, Network Management System and Analytics functions. It manages physical and virtual network functions across many technologies (multiple Radio technologies, Core & IP) and exposes them in a unified manner to operator’s existing OSS ecosystems.
Frost & Sullivan earlier said that telecom service providers such as AT&T, Verizon, and Level 3 will leverage their software defined network (SDN) and NFV capabilities to launch Network as a Service (NaaS) offerings to run virtual network functions on commodity servers for enterprises.
“Virtualization and software defined networking is transforming the telecom networks and how they are managed. Software as service is another way of delivering and consuming the network management features that brings automation, agility and innovation,” said Anders Lindblad, head of Business Unit IT & Cloud products.
“This as-a-service announcement is an expected, but innovative evolution of Network Management and meets a key need for operators seeking to gain greater benefits from internet models that drive out cost, and improve customer experience,” said Larry Goldman, partner and head of Networks and Software Research at Analysys Mason.
