NTT Data and Mavenir to develop public-private network portfolio

Their ambitions span OpenRAN and core cloud network solutions for data and voice, initially in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Further they intend to develop the management and orchestration of 5G solutions, digital enablement platforms, analytics, and enterprise and industrial applications.

Initially, they intend to provide 4G and 5G solutions for Germany, Switzerland and Austria, but subsequently will address other markets.

Opportunities

NTT Data and Mavenir are looking to work with mobile operators, but also for opportunities to collaborate with the public sector, private industry and government authorities.

They say their aim in the initial region that are targeting is to “support the introduction and integration” of private networks and services.

5G licence

NTT Data has a private 5G campus network at its ‘Ensō’ innovation centre in Munich, which has a private spectrum licence in the 3.7-3.8GHz band after Germany’s telecoms regulator, BNetzA, took the unusual step in the 5G auctions held earlier this year to allocate spectrum to industrial groups.

NTT Data already uses the centre for co-creation with research and enterprise organisations in Europe and the Middle East.

Obvious partner

This is a critical ingredient for Sebastian Solbach, Head of Telecoms at NTT Data, commented: “While major providers only offer combinations of 4G and 5G networks and rely on proprietary systems, NTT Data focused early on virtualised networks. It is a clear pioneer in offering a pure 5G network.

“Mavenir was an obvious partner because it has several years of experience with virtualised core and RAN network elements, is established with all German mobile providers and is one of the few to offer a complete network portfolio.”

Aniruddho Basu, SVP and GM of Emerging Business at Mavenir, said, “Together with NTT Data, we will bring to bear global and local market reach, strong cloud capabilities, complementary technology and solution assets, and enhance a digital marketplace with a joint ecosystem of applications and devices.”