Google Cloud, Intel partner to help CSPs accelerate 5G deployment

The collaboration will see Google Cloud and Intel developing reference architectures and integrated solutions for CSPs to help them deliver agile, scalable solutions for emerging 5G and edge use cases.

Google Cloud has partnered with Intel to help communications service providers (CSPs) accelerate their deployment of cloud-native 5G and edge network solutions.

"We believe that by partnering across the telecommunications stack - with application providers, carriers and communications service providers, hardware providers, and global telecoms - we can decrease the cost and time-to-market needed for the telecommunications industry to shift to cloud-native 5G, and open new lines of business for communications service providers as they deliver cloud-native 5G for enterprises," Google Cloud wrote in a blog post.

The collaboration will see Google Cloud and Intel developing reference architectures and integrated solutions for CSPs to help them deliver agile, scalable solutions for emerging 5G and edge use cases. The partnership will focus on three key areas:

• accelerating the ability of CSPs to deploy their Virtualized RAN (vRAN) and Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) solutions by providing next-generation infrastructure and hardware
• launching new lab environments to help them innovate on cloud-native 5G
• making it easier for CSPs to deliver business applications to the network edge

Google said vRAN solutions can deliver multiple benefits like improved network performance and spectral efficiency, cost efficiencies, and flexible deployment models. To streamline the rollout of vRAN and therefore 5G, the partnership will leverage Google Cloud's global infrastructure and capabilities alongside Intel solutions such as FlexRAN reference software and cloud-native OpenNESS, among others.

Further, Google Cloud and Intel will launch a Network Functions Validation lab to support vendors in testing, optimizing, and validating their core network functions running on Google Cloud's Anthos for Telecom platform.

The duo will also work closely to develop edge solutions with Intel compute-optimized technology to make it even easier for CSPs to deliver applications to the edge. The partnership also aims to create blueprints and solutions to accelerate edge transformation in key industries, such as manufacturing or retail.