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NEC Taps AWS for Its 5G Buildout
Japan-based IT conglomerate NEC is expanding its existing partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to include its ongoing 5G network efforts.
The two companies will work together to help NEC build out an "edge-to-edge 5G offering" to support telecom carriers around the world, according to an announcement this week.
The partnership will integrate AWS' various cloud and edge technologies with "NEC's high-performance cloud-native open 5G mobile core, OSS/BSS solutions, local 5G use cases etc.," NEC said in its announcement. "This combined solution stack will be supported by NEC's system integration services to enable customers to efficiently deploy and scale 5G networks, enhance automation and drive significant improvement in operational economics."
NEC and AWS first inked a "Strategic Collaboration Agreement" last November. The partnership revolved broadly around NEC using the AWS platform to help organizations in Japan adopt cloud technologies. It included guidance around regulatory compliance, a common migration framework, and a goal by NEC to double its number of AWS-certified engineers from 1,500 to 3,000.
This week's announcement provides a number of updates to that initial agreement, including NEC's aforementioned effort to develop a 5G network backed by AWS infrastructure. This new wrinkle in the partnership will help NEC "accelerate telecom carriers' cloudification of network workloads and enhance digital transformation for enterprises by deploying 5G-based infrastructure and applications at the network edge," the company said.
In addition, NEC is hoping that with AWS support, it can enable greater adoption in Japan of "hybrid" environments -- those that incorporate use of both on-premises and cloud applications. It plans to create a "menu of offerings that connects on-premises and cloud environments securely, at high speed, and with low latency."
In a prepared announcement, Doug Yeum, global head of Alliances and Channels at AWS, praised the new developments. "We are delighted to deepen our relationship with NEC," he said. "AWS welcomes NEC's commitment and delivery of solutions built on AWS to deliver high-quality solutions that accelerate customers' digital transformations. We look forward to NEC's continued expansion of offerings and further expansion of delivery capabilities to optimize these transformations."