Telenor Group is working with Ericsson to transform its network core in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
The operator will use the Swedish vendor’s entire range of network function solutions and services to allow it to deploy Ericsson’s Cloud Core range across a range of data centres.
Ericsson said these solutions span policy control, virtual IMS and virtual user data consolidation, as well as lead system integration and support services.
The vendor said the shift would make Telenor more responsive and dynamic ahead of the shift to 5G. The operator will improve operational efficiency and open it up to develop new IoT applications and other potential new services.
Morten Karlsen Sørby, Telenor’s Executive Vice President and Acting Cluster Head Scandinavia, said: “Ericsson’s portfolio of VNF enables Telenor to become more agile while reducing costs through improved operations. This transformational deal is an important step towards future-proofing our core network as we look towards 5G. It provides us with state-of-the-art virtual core applications that serve mobile and fixed access and extend the lifecycle of our legacy network.”
Arun Bansal, Ericsson’s Head of Europe & Latin America, added: “Ericsson is a long-term partner to Telenor in Scandinavia, supporting the company across multiple engagements in fixed and mobile networks in the region. This deal strengthens that partnership by evolving Telenor’s existing network to the cloud, ensuring continued exceptional services to their customers. As we move together towards 5G it also opens up new opportunities in the IoT space.”