At MWC 2023, Google Cloud targets cloud-native network transformation
"Google’s solutions focus on Telecom Network Automation, a new cloud service that’s said to accelerate CSP network and edge deployments through the use of Kubernetes-based cloud-native automation tools. It’s managed by a cloud version of the open-source Nephio project that Google founded in 2022, aimed at increasing time to market and ensure multivendor interoperability while reducing configuration errors."
Linux Foundation Press Release
"San Francisco—April 12, 2022 Today, the Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization enabling mass innovation through open source, announced the formation of project Nephio in partnership with Google Cloud and leaders across the telecommunications industry. The Linux Foundation provides a venue for continued ecosystem, developer growth and diversity, as well as collaboration across the open source ecosystems."
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"The transition of telecommunications networks to the cloud has begun. Yet, simply containerizing network functions and running them on centralized or edge clouds will not maximize the cost savings and operational efficiencies promised by the cloud. A nominal change in technology from virtualized to containerized functions risks the same disappointments seen with the previous virtualization effort: minimal reductions in costs and continued rigidity in deployments.
Over the last two years, Communication Service Providers (CSPs) have been approaching Google Cloud to ask us how we created our network. How did we achieve economies of scale and build out a resilient, flexible network while flattening the cost curve? How can they seize the opportunity to do the same during this network transition to telco and edge cloud?
To address these questions, Google Cloud and the Linux Foundation are thrilled to announce the formation of project Nephio in partnership with leaders across the telecommunications industry to work towards true cloud native automation to drive scale, efficiency, and high reliability across network operations."
Achieving cloud-native network automation at a global scale with Nephio - Google Blog Post
"We started with a set of automation tools for software deployment (remotely executing commands), a set of tools for auditing/repairs (if this condition occurs, run that command), and a third set of tools for configuration management. As the fleet grew and was deployed in more varied environments, we discovered and fixed more edge cases in our automation tools. Soon, the system started reaching its scaling limits, and we built a new, more uniform and more scalable system in its place. We learned a few key lessons in the process:
- Intent-driven, continuously reconciling systems are more robust at scale than imperative, fire-and-forget tools.
- Distributed actuation of intent is a must for large-scale edge deployments. Triggering all actions from a centralized location is not reliable and does not scale, especially for edge deployments.
- Uniformity in systems is easier to maintain. Being able to manage deployment, repairs, and configuration using common components and common workflows (in other words, files checked into a repository with presubmit validation, review, version control, and rollback capability) reduces cognitive load for the operations team and allows more rapid response with fewer human errors"
On the road to public cloud 5G networks - Nephio
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"Since launching in April 2022 in partnership with Google Cloud, support has grown with 28 new organizations now part of the project (with over 50 contributing organizations), progress towards Technical Steering Committee (TSC) formation, and an upcoming Nephio Technical Summit, June 22-23, in Sunnyvale, Calif. New supporters include: A5G Networks, Alicon Sweden, Amdocs, ARGELA, Capgemini Technology, CIMI Corporation, Cohere Technologies, Coredge.io, CPQD, Deutsche Telekom, HPE, Keysight Technologies, KT, Kubermatic, Kydea, MantisNet, Matrixx, Minsait, Nabstract, Prodapt, Sandvine, SigScale, Spirent Communications, Telefónica, Tata Elxsi, TechMahidra, Verizon, Vodafone, Wind River, and Wipro."
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