Ericsson and Turkcell have achieved a milestone in automating various functions within the Ericsson dual-mode 5G Core solution. The demonstration took place in a test environment hosted on Red Hat OpenShift, a hybrid cloud application platform powered by Kubernetes.
The accomplishment marks a crucial step forward in enhancing network operations efficiency through automation in Turkcell’s network operations. It promises improved network quality and accelerated deployment of the latest features and functionalities, thereby reducing time-to-market. The test builds upon the live deployment of Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution on Turkcell’s network, catering to emerging use cases.
Collaborating closely, Ericsson, Turkcell, and Red Hat utilized the Turkcell test environment, leveraging Red Hat OpenShift’s existing validation alongside Ericsson solutions and automation toolsets. Notably, Ericsson’s Evolved Virtual Network Function Manager facilitated the onboarding and hosting of the dual-mode 5G Core solution within this environment.
The demonstration illustrated the delivery of software changes to Turkcell’s CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) environment. It showcased automation processes such as software ingestion, preparation, upgrade, verification, and validation from Ericsson’s products. The collaboration highlighted tangible benefits for Turkcell, emphasizing advanced capabilities in network management.
Turkcell also tested Ericsson automation toolsets including Evolved Virtual Network Function Manager (EVNFM), Automated Acceptance Tests (AAT), and Core Network Operations Manager (CNOM). These toolsets address tailored test and validation requirements within CI/CD pipelines, ensuring effective lifecycle management of the 5G SA (Standalone) network.
Vehbi Cagrı Gungor, Chief Network Technologies Officer at Turkcell, has expressed confidence in the potential of CI/CD automation in telecom networks. He underscored the collaboration’s role in accelerating Turkcell’s network transformation and emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance network automation capabilities using cloud-native technologies.
Isıl Yalcın, Vice President and Head of Ericsson Turkiye at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, highlighted the demand for agility among communication service providers deploying 5G services. He emphasized the significance of Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core with automation capabilities in enabling Turkcell to differentiate its services and deliver enhanced value to customers.
Honore LaBourdette, Acting Senior Vice President, Global Telco, Vice President, Telco Partner Ecosystem at Red Hat, emphasized the importance of infrastructure flexibility and openness in enabling advanced 5G services.
