Nokia and A1, in collaboration with Microsoft, have successfully completed a groundbreaking 5G edge cloud network slicing trial, marking a significant milestone for the media industry. The trial utilized Nokia’s 5G edge slicing solution, seamlessly integrating with Microsoft Azure, to oversee A1’s operational commercial network. Leveraging edge cloud network slicing, A1 achieved the transmission of live HD video streaming to mobile devices through Multicasting.io’s streaming mobile platform, ensuring a secure, high-capacity, and low-latency network.
Marcus Grausam, CEO of A1, highlighted the capabilities of Nokia’s solution, stating that it enables A1 to provide “secure, reliable, and high-performance enterprise VPN services integrated with edge cloud applications over 4G/LTE and 5G networks.” Additionally, the solution offers a sliced mobile broadband virtual private network (VPN) in specific business areas, such as campuses or city environments.
Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, emphasized the advantages of edge cloud network slicing, noting that it delivers the best of both worlds by combining network slicing with edge cloud applications to enhance the enterprise customer experience.
The deployment featured Azure-managed edge computing technology at A1’s data center in Vienna, with connectivity extending to the Azure region in Austria to support the trial. Silvia Candiani, Vice President of Telecommunications and Media at Microsoft, expressed the company’s commitment to innovation and highlighted the collaboration’s role in redefining connectivity. Candiani mentioned that by utilizing Microsoft Azure, A1 and Nokia can tap into a vast ecosystem of enterprise developers and solution providers, opening up opportunities for new monetization efforts. This successful trial exemplifies the potential for transformative advancements in the telecommunications landscape.