New NTT Private 5G Network Goes 'Far Beyond Basic Connectivity'

NTT claims to have launched the first global private LTE/5G network-as-a-service platform.

NTT’s Private 5G solution connects companies’ onsite and distributed devices and users to the cloud. In addition, the P5G platform runs on cloud-native architecture with cloud-based, edge-based or premises-based delivery models.

NTT’s Eric Clark

The company is targeting the offering to chief information officers and chief digital officers. These buyers can use private 5G to tackle business problems and gain a competitive advantage. Eric Clark, chief digital and strategy officer for NTT Data Services North America, said data and mobility will play a growing role in business initiatives as 5G comes of age.

“With faster speeds and more data, 5G will facilitate advances in artificial intelligence, automation and IoT,” Clark said. “How a company collects, stores and uses that data in real-time will be critical to success, and NTT is well positioned to guide our clients on this journey.”

NTT’s Shahid Ahmed

New Executive

Shahid Ahmed has joined the company to lead the new portfolio as executive vice president of new ventures and innovation. Shahid cut his teeth working at Sprint, Accenture, PwC and Imagine Wireless. He also serves as an advisor to the FCC.

Ahmed said NTT can help enterprise deploy a single, multi-country private 5G solution.

“They need one truly private network, one point of accountability, one management platform, and one solution partner that eliminates all the major friction points across the entire global footprint of the enterprise,” Ahmed said. “Our NTT P5G offering supports many of the CXO [chief experience officer] requirements today, and we will continue to invest in P5G as enterprise adoption evolves.”

In addition, the offering comes with zero-trust network access capabilities. NTT also provides coverage in more than 190 countries.

Reactions

IDC research vice president Ghassan Abdo praised the solution’s depth. For example, P5G will connect applications to the network using patent-pending network slicing technology. Abdo said NTT’s private 5G technology could “fundamentally change” the process of digital transformation.

“NTT has a strong track record of focusing on breadth of service, and NTT P5G capabilities extend far beyond basic connectivity to offer a comprehensive suite of services geared toward important business outcomes,” Abdo said.

NTT’s various subsidiaries are working together to drive “open and virtualized” 5G solutions.

Snack manufacturing company Mondelēz International uses the solution. Javier Polit, Mondelēz’s chief information and global digital services officer, praised it.

“NTT’s unique approach to private 5G provides the kind of agility and insight we will need to further accelerate our business,” Polit said.