Ericsson Joins Nokia as Google Cloud 5G, Edge Partner

Google Cloud and Ericsson are going to build 5G and edge computing solutions together.

The companies on Tuesday announced an expanded partnership. Previously they partnered to to use cloud-native, container-based solutions to enhance operator networks and application migration. Now they are testing and building 5G and edge solutions at Ericsson’s D-15 Labs. For example, Ericsson has already onboarded its 5G solutions on to the Google Cloud Anthos managed application platform.

Furthermore, the companies say their partnership will help telcos develop new customer use cases.

Google Cloud’s Thomas Kurian

“Organizations have a tremendous opportunity to digitally transform their businesses with 5G and cloud capabilities like artificial intelligence and machine learning at the edge,” Google Cloud Thomas Kurian said. “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.”

A spokesperson said indirect and direct sales forces will be able to sell the offerings.

One analyst said earlier this year that 5G edge computing opportunities will start with the enterprise and make their way down-market.

Pilot

In addition, the companies are piloting edge enterprise applications in Italy with Italian telco TIM. The team-up uses Ericsson and Google Cloud solutions on TIM’s wireless network. As a result, customers in various industries can work more efficiently by “bringing connectivity close to companies’ physical locations.”

Niklas Heuveldop, Ericsson North America’s president and head, said their combined capabilities will help consumers and enterprises alike.

Ericsson’s Niklas Heuveldop

“5G is a powerful innovation platform. Combined with edge cloud capabilities, 5G has the potential to accelerate the digital transformation of virtually any sector of industry or society,” he said.

Google Cloud is following its vow to help telcos monetize 5G. The company in March 2020 unveiled the telecom version of its Anthos platform and announced partnerships with AT&T and other large carriers.

Data Center Knowledge‘s Yevgeniy Sverdik noted that Ericsson rival Nokia has already been partnering with the cloud provider as of January.

“In both cases, the networking vendors’ communications technology is being combined with Google Cloud’s Anthos platform for building and running applications on hybrid and multicloud infrastructure,” Sverdik wrote.

On the other hand, Ericsson last month made AWS available on its business support systems portfolio.

Check out what Google Cloud vice president of worldwide channel sales Carolee Gearhart said about her channel program.

Meantime, on Monday, Ericsson and Telstra claimed to have recorded the longest 5G standalone call in history. The call spanned about 70 miles, utilizing Telstra’s 850 MHz spectrum.