Telefonica Germany to Move One Million 5G Customers to Amazon Web Services Cloud
Telefonica Germany is set to transfer one million 5G customers to Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud later this month, marking a groundbreaking move in the telecom industry. This bold decision by the subsidiary of Spanish group Telefonica will make it the first existing mobile operator to switch its core network to a public cloud.
While some telecom networks have previously moved non-core operations to the public cloud, this move by Telefonica Germany sets a new global precedent. Big cloud-computing services firms like Amazon and Microsoft have been eyeing the telecom sector for potential revenue, and this partnership with Telefonica Germany is a significant step in that direction.
Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer at O2 Telefonica, expressed his cautious optimism about the move, stating, “I want to see it working for at least one to two quarters and have a roadmap to move at least 30-40 per cent of my customer base by 2025-2026.” With 45 million customers in Germany, Telefonica is aiming for a gradual transition to the cloud.
The shift to a public cloud for the core network will bring cost savings, increased scalability, and the ability to perform repairs without service disruption. AWS will provide the infrastructure, while Nokia will supply the software for Telefonica’s network. This move is expected to drive growth in the global telecom cloud market, which is projected to reach $108.7 billion by 2030.
AWS vice president Jan Hofmeyr highlighted the significance of this move, emphasizing that the days of trial and error are over. With the telecom cloud market on the rise, AWS anticipates more partnerships with operators in the coming months. This strategic move by Telefonica Germany and AWS signals a new era in the telecom industry, paving the way for further innovation and collaboration.