Cloud App Development
Ericsson | September 25, 2023
Ericsson and Google Cloud join forces to introduce Ericsson Cloud RAN on Google Distributed Cloud, enhancing automation and AI/ML capabilities for CSPs.
The collaboration enables highly efficient and secure distributed cloud solutions, leveraging Google Cloud services like Vertex AI and BigQuery.
Ericsson and Google Cloud's expanded partnership offers CSPs greater flexibility and advanced solutions to meet evolving network demands.
Ericsson has announced an expansion of its partnership with Google Cloud, introducing an Ericsson Cloud RAN solution on Google Distributed Cloud (GDC). This collaboration, utilizing the x86-based accelerator stack, aims to provide integrated automation and orchestration through AI and ML. The solution promises faster service delivery, enhanced efficiency, and increased flexibility for communication service providers (CSPs) in their networks.
GDC offers a fully managed hardware and software portfolio, extending Google Cloud's capabilities to the edge and data centers.
The Ericsson vDU and vCU are successfully running on GDC Edge in the Ericsson Open Lab in Ottawa, Canada. Deploying Ericsson Cloud RAN on GDC Edge enables a highly efficient, secure, and scalable distributed cloud for radio access network infrastructure.
Running Ericsson Cloud RAN on GDC Edge will enable CSPs to leverage Google Cloud services such as Vertex AI and BigQuery to enhance the usability of data sets from Cloud RAN applications, offering opportunities for better control and optimization.
This collaboration allows CSPs to build networks based on open standards and interface with multiple vendors. Ericsson's Cloud RAN solution is infrastructure-agnostic, accommodating various cloud infrastructures.
To enhance cloud-native automation, Ericsson and Google Cloud are collaborating on the open-source project Nephio, aiming to standardize critical functionality.
Mårten Lerner, Head of Product Line Cloud RAN at Ericsson, emphasizes the partnership's benefits for cloud-native solutions and automation, providing flexibility and choice for CSPs.
Gabriele Di Piazza, Senior Director of Telecom Products at Google Cloud, acknowledges Ericsson as a distinguished Google Cloud Partner, highlighting their support for mutual customers.
This expansion of the Ericsson-Google Cloud partnership aims to empower CSPs with advanced solutions for their evolving networks.
The integration of Ericsson Cloud RAN with Google Distributed Cloud may add complexity to network management and require additional investment in personnel training for CSPs.
The partnership between Ericsson and Google Cloud offers CSP automation and AI/ML capabilities for faster service delivery and greater network efficiency. Google Distributed Cloud ensures secure infrastructure, and CSPs can optimize data management with services like Vertex AI and BigQuery while maintaining vendor diversity through open standards and interfaces. This collaboration equips CSPs to meet evolving network demands effectively.
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Cloud Security
Avanade | November 06, 2023
Avanade launches an AI-based platform, "Avanade Cloud Impact", to unlock up to 50% of cloud spend.
The platform generates insights on IT estate risks and opportunities by analyzing cloud consumption patterns.
Avanade offers a free cost optimization workshop to clients interested in adopting an AI-first approach.
Avanade, a leading Microsoft solutions provider, launches a new platform, ‘Avanade Cloud Impact’, designed to help businesses establish an AI-ready digital core and unlock funding for innovation. The platform uses AI and machine learning to analyze industry, business, and technical data sources, providing tailored modernization insights for companies on their cloud journey. It has already saved Avanade clients up to 50% of their cloud spend.
The platform works by analyzing cloud consumption patterns and comparing them with various data sources to generate insights on a wide range of risks and opportunities across an IT estate. These insights can include modernization recommendations and cost-benefit analyses. Avanade Cloud Impact can deliver information about data egress cost spikes, application redesign options, and achieve up to 50% cloud cost savings while quantifying sustainability benefits, all without the need to make any code changes.
Andrew Stahel, Regional Applications and Infrastructure Solution Area Lead, Avanade Australia, emphasized the importance of AI in today's business environment and the need for businesses to rethink what the cloud can do for them. He expressed excitement about the potential of the Avanade Cloud Impact platform to help Australian businesses harness the true potential of AI by strengthening their digital core.
Merrie Williamson, CVP, Azure Infrastructure, Digital and App Innovation, Microsoft, also expressed enthusiasm about the new platform and its ability to provide deep insights and recommendations that accelerate value for Azure customers.
While Avanade's new platform, ‘Avanade Cloud Impact’, promises to unlock up to 50% of a business's cloud spend and provide tailored modernization insights, it does come with potential drawbacks. The platform's effectiveness is heavily dependent on the quality and accuracy of the data it analyzes, and incorrect or incomplete data could lead to misleading insights. Additionally, there may be a learning curve associated with understanding and effectively utilizing the insights generated by the platform. Furthermore, the platform might not be suitable for all types of businesses, particularly those with unique or complex cloud consumption patterns.
However, the benefits of the platform are significant. It can lead to substantial cost savings and help businesses make informed decisions on their cloud journey. The use of AI and machine learning allows the platform to handle large amounts of data and provide comprehensive insights. Plus, Avanade offers a free introductory cost optimization workshop, providing additional support for businesses adopting an AI-first approach.
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AWS Management
Investopedia | October 06, 2023
Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Alphabet's Google (GOOGL) face an investigation into cloud services by the U.K. Competitions and Markets Authority, which said it's looking into whether big cloud services providers make it difficult for businesses to switch or use more than one provider.
Together, Amazon and Microsoft control 70% to 80% of the cloud infrastructure services market in the U.K., which was worth £7.0 billion ($8.5 billion) to £7.5 (billion ($9 billion) in 2022. Google (GOOGL) has a share of about 5% to 10%.
The investigation comes after a request from Ofcom, highlighting concerns that included egress fees or the expense of transferring data away from the cloud, discounts that incentivize customers to remain with their cloud provider, and technological hurdles for migration that hinder users from switching platforms or using multiple providers.
Amazon dismissed the concerns, saying they are "based on fundamental misconceptions about the IT sector."4 However, Amazon and Microsoft indicated they plan to work constructively with the CMA as it carries out the inquiry.5 The authority expects that its investigation will be concluded by April 2025.
French antitrust regulators are also looking into cloud services, amid concerns that practices in the industry may be restricting competition. The European Union's competition authorities are examining Microsoft's cloud computing activities after a complaint was filed by the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE), a trade association that counts Amazon among its members.
Amazon shares were close to 2% lower in early trading as of 10:50 a.m. ET on Thursday following the news, while shares of Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet were down 1%.
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