A week in telecoms: TM Forum and MEF align APIs for NaaS automation

TM Forum and MEF announced a joint initiative to align API development and enable end-to-end automation for MEF network-as-a-service (NaaS) services.

MEF says the move will enable it to “streamline automation for MEF Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) implementations delivered across a global partner ecosystem.”

Under the agreement MEF will evolve its LSO APIs to conform to TM Forum’s Gen5 Open APIsstandards, using Domain Context Specialization (DCS) capabilities to support standardized, MEF-defined models.

“Our expanded collaboration with TM Forum to align on common APIs and data models empowers service providers to automate the full lifecycle delivery of complex multi-provider NaaS services with the ease, agility and responsiveness businesses expect in the cloud era," according to Pascal Menezes, Chief Technology Officer, MEF.

TM Forum’s agreement with MEF follows its collaboration with GSMA and the CAMARA Project on GSMA’s Open Gateway API ecosystem. In November, TM Forum members began developing new Operate APIs to complement CAMARA network APIs, with a goal of providing a standardized way for mobile operators to make the interfaces commercially available to aggregators and developers.

"True end-to-end automation requires industry-wide collaboration on common specifications to enable automated service delivery across the broader telecommunications ecosystem,” said George Glass, CTO, TM Forum. “Our work with MEF serves as a blueprint for other domains facing similar multi-partner integration challenges as we continue collaborating to drive industry-wide standardization."

Vendors and telcos unveil new network API initiatives ...

Nokia launched the Network Exposure Platform to help expose APIs to service providers, noting that is the first implementation of the GSMA Operator Platform and supports TM Forum and CAMARA APIs, amongst others.

In addition, Telstra and Ericsson’s Vonage signed an MoU that gives the Australian telco access to the Vonage API platform.

... while IDC predicts $6.7bn spend on network APIs by 2028

International Data Corporation (IDC) has predicted global spending on network APIs will reach $6.7 billion in 2028, up from just over $700 million in 2023, with success depending on the development of a supportive ecosystem. Patrick Filkins, research manager, IoT and Telecom Network Infrastructure at IDC notes that although leading telcos are championing network APIs, including global support from key API aggregators, “the long-term success of these efforts is expected to largely fall to the broader ecosystem consisting of API aggregators and systems integrators that can generate the value propositions required for market education and adoption to take place.”

Swisscom launches Swiss AI platform

Swisscom is channelling Switzerland’s reputation for precision engineering and political stability with the launch of a new platform that is designed to produce “AI made in Switzerland.”

The Swiss AI Platform represents the next step in the telco’s journey that began at the start of the year, when it announced it is working with NVIDIA to develop its own AI supercomputers in Switzerland.

Through its partnership with NVIDIA, Swisscom wants to provide standardized self-service AI applications and work with customers to develop customized AI applications. The modular Swiss AI Platform will be launched in the autumn and will give customers access to NVIDIA supercomputers, generative AI services, an AI Work Hub for developing AI solutions and a library of models.

The aim is to enable customers to source all of their AI services from Swisscom, from advice to the development of AI applications, implementation and secure operation. They can choose between the Swiss AI Platform, infrastructure operated by global public cloud providers and integrated AI solutions in standard software applications.

According to Urs Lehner, Head of Business Customers at Swisscom, “understanding our customers’ needs is our top priority. We can then support them in setting up their AI projects and customising them accordingly. Sensitive data is in good hands thanks to our powerful, trustworthy Swiss infrastructure. It is a Swiss solution for the Swiss economy.”

Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), the official Swiss organization for export and investment promotion, points out that a number of global tech companies conduct their AI research from Switzerland, including Google, IBM, Apple, Disney, Sony, Meta, Huawei, Magic Leap, and Microsoft.

Elisa and Ålcom deploy solar power for base stations

An operator in the autonomous Finnish region of Åland is adopting an environmentally friendly approach to powering its mobile base stations, with other added benefits.

Ålcom is deploying an AI/ML-based distributed energy storage (DES) solution from Finnish partner Elisa to utilise energy from solar panels in mobile network operations, following a trial earlier this year between Elisa, Ålcom and solar panel provider Solel Åland.

The companies said this is the first time that solar energy production has been added to an Elisa DES deployment. They said it allows Ålcom to store and use solar energy in its mobile network backup batteries, enabling it to cut costs and reduce its carbon emissions while also reducing dependency on the grid.

The solution combines solar panels and batteries in a battery energy storage system that captures and stores solar energy when conditions are good. It is also said to unlock a new revenue stream from providing balancing services for the electricity grid by turning the backup batteries into a virtual power plant (VPP).

Jukka-Pekka Salmenkaita, VP for AI and DES at Elisa, commented that this “proves how we can harness AI/ML-powered technology and renewable power generation in mobile network operations to fight climate change and reduce carbon emissions.”

Henri Korpi, EVP for International Digital Services at Elisa, observed that “this type of democratisation and real-time participation in the energy market has not been accessible to telecom operators before. Selling excess capacity back to the grid to help balance supply and demand can be a source of additional revenue for operators.”

O2 Telefónica extends Ericsson 5G core contract

Telefónica Deutschland (O2 Telefónica) has been advancing towards its goal of transforming its network through a cloud-based and disaggregated approach, working with a partners old and new, including cloud providers.

The operator recently teamed up with Nokia and Amazon Web Services (AWS) on a new project that involves the launch of a live 5G cloud core built entirely in the cloud. The plan is to migrate around one million customers to this new cloud core in the first phase.

The aim, as Mallik Rao, chief technology and information officer (CTIO) at O2 Telefónica, said at the time, is to move away from continual trials and experience how migrating a standalone 5G network to the public cloud will work in a live environment with live customers.

At the same time, O2 Telefónica is operating in parallel a 5G core network built on Ericsson kit that supports its entire base of 45 million customers. And the operator has just extended its Ericsson contract by an unspecified number of years.

Ericsson has been the supplier of O2 Telefónica’s classic 5G core network since 2020 and supports standalone and non-standalone 5G services as well as 4G and 2G services. The partners have also agreed to develop and implement new core network functions and plan to embrace network slicing, automation, and API access.

In addition, they unveiled what they described as a new milestone: the execution of a software upgrade on the user plane of the operational 5G core network, otherwise known as an in-service software upgrade or ISSU.

In-service software upgrades enable operators to update software in the core network without having to interrupt operations in individual parts of the network or reroute data traffic.

Malaysia plans 5G push for enterprise users

Malaysia has unveiled an ambitious plan to showcase at least 40 private 5G network use cases across various industries by 2025 as part of its goal to become a regional leader in 5G technology and digital innovation.

The plan is to enable sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, logistics, healthcare, and plantations to benefit from the advanced connectivity and operational efficiencies offered by 5G private wireless networks.

According to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, “this ongoing effort to accelerate 5G adoption among various enterprises is crucial for Malaysia’s digital transformation. It positions Malaysia as a 5G leader during our ASEAN chairmanship in 2025 and strengthens our hold on digital-related investments and benefits in the region.”

Malaysia takes over the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2024 holder Laos next year.

The minister also claimed that Malaysia’s 5G network now covers 80% of populated areas, with 13 million people now having signed up for the services.

Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) is Malaysia’s single wholesale 5G network operator. Gobind noted that DNB is collaborating with the government, relevant ministries, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), telcos and enterprises to promote 5G technology adoption across all Malaysian industries.

Also noted…

Apple launched Apple Intelligence to drive AI-based software developments in all its devices.

Carlos Slim’s investment firm takes a 3.2% stake in BT.

Veon unveiled plans to invest $1 billion in Ukraine.

Vodafone has hooked up the 2Africa subsea cable system to the UK via a Cornwall landing point, the eleventh location connected with the Group as a landing partner.

Vodafone Germany and FlyNex have launched DroNet Hub for commercial drone flights.