Google Cloud is collaborating with StarHub to support the telco in creating an open, secure, scalable, and energy-efficient cloud-native network for enterprises in Singapore.
Cloud-native networks have become critical for communications service provider (CSPs) to thrive in a connected world. In January, StarHub embarked on its Cloud Infinity transformation initiative to boost the delivery, scalability, and performance of services while reducing operational costs. It will pilot Google Distributed Cloud Edge (GDC Edge) and Nokia 5G Standalone Core to create a unique, multi-access, software-based 5G cloud core network.
GDC Edge builds on Google Cloud’s existing telecom solutions, and can empower companies such as StarHub to run core network functions at the edge in the carrier’s network. This brings Google Cloud’s stable and secure infrastructure even closer to where data is being generated and consumed.
By moving its 5G core network to a cloud platform, StarHub’s subscribers and enterprise customers across manufacturing, retail, hospitality, transportation, and other industries will be able to reap the benefits of its newly scalable, secure, low-latency, and globally accessible, software-driven network.
StarHub will also explore leveraging Google Cloud’s rich expertise in data management, AI and ML across its network operations. As part of the collaboration, StarHub will be able to break down information silos and drive insights gleaned from this new interoperability. Additionally, understanding the breadth of its data points will help StarHub simplify the management of day-to-day network operations.
Together, the companies will support StarHub’s technical teams through extensive upskilling and certifications on cloud-native architecture, principles, and practices, thereby enabling StarHub to bring differentiated cloud managed services to market.
“As we lift our 5G network to the cloud, we believe our collaboration with Google Cloud and Nokia will better enable us to improve the experience for our subscribers and help industry leaders re-imagine their businesses for the future,” said Ayush Sharma, Chief Technology Officer of StarHub.
“StarHub’s commitment to cloud-native network transformation has raised the bar for telecommunication companies in the region. Combined with Google Cloud’s global scale and the capabilities of our leading data analytics, AI, and ML technologies, StarHub’s next-generation network is built for faster innovation, efficiency, and scale for the benefit of its enterprise customers and more,” said Adaire Fox-Martin, President of Go-to-Market at Google Cloud.
Unlocking new opportunities
To empower CSPs to transform their networks with hybrid cloud principles and unlock new revenue opportunities, Google Cloud has unveiled three new telecom innovations at MWC 2023.
Now available in private preview globally, Google Cloud’s Telecom Network Automation, Telecom Data Fabric and Telecom Subscriber Insights, will offer CSPs a unified cloud solution that helps them build, deploy and operate their hybrid cloud-native networks, collect as well as manage network data and improve customer experiences through AI and analytics.
Telecom Network Automation accelerates network and edge deployments by leveraging cloud-native automation tools based on Kubernetes and industry learnings from Nephio, an open-source project Google Cloud founded in 2022 in partnership with The Linux Foundation.
Telecom Data Fabric helps CSPs quickly derive insights from their data by simplifying data collection, normalisation, and correlation through an adapter framework.
Telecom Subscriber Insights is an AI-powered product that helps CSPs extract insights using their own existing data sources in a privacy-safe manner. The product ingests and analyses data with AI models to provide recommended actions and helps CSPs engage with their subscribers across a multitude of channels. The result is CSPs can better understand subscriber behavior, cross-sell and upsell, manage churn, and acquire new customers more effectively.
“To succeed in a connected world, communication service providers are under enormous pressure to build and manage next-generation networks against rising capital and operational expenses. By applying cloud-native principles to network architectures, and accelerating subscriber growth through a holistic data management source, CSPs have the opportunity to bridge the gap between connectivity of today and connectivity of the future,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.
Entelechy Asia 