Nokia unveils 'DelOps' 5G core deployment services

Nokia has launched its DelOps initiative, a new and innovative approach to managing the complexity of 5G core software delivery and operations, and a new suite of CI/CD Services to help communication service providers (CSPs) realize increased operational efficiencies and velocity of new services.

As a result of increased automation enabled by CI/CD services, CSPs can expect to see faster time to market with rapid iterations and increased flexibility through the entire lifecycle of 5G core network functions and services.

With Nokia’s CI/CD services playing a critical role in 5G core deployments, these solutions have already been selected by five Tier 1 CSPs for upcoming rollouts, and discussions are ongoing with several other operators globally.

Nokia’s DelOps approach allows CSPs to harness the benefits of DevOps-style software development, yet also caters to the complexity and customization needs of the telecom industry by enabling the efficiencies of continuous integration and delivery. Nokia’s DelOps approach is flexible, scalable and agile, providing network reliability and reducing time to market for new products and services.

DelOps can support multiple domain environments, third-party software and hybrid cloud environments by initiating a separate integration process for each environment or platform with independent design, deploy, test and operate phases.

In combination with DelOps, Nokia’s new suite of CI/CD services reduces the complexity of the full lifecycle management of cloud-native 5G core applications. With three tailored segments for CSPs to choose from that accommodate existing CI/CD frameworks created by the operator, a third-party or by Nokia, operators have the flexibility to choose the solution that best fits their needs.

Dave Bolan, Research Director at Dell’Oro Group, said: “As we begin to enter the era of 5G Standalone Networks with 5G Core, CSPs will need to deliver new features and services in a more complex environment than ever before. With network slicing, multi-access edge computing, on-premises enterprise wireless networks, potentially all in a multi-cloud environment, CSPs are going to need solutions that simplify, while at the same time accelerate, bringing new services and features to the market. Nokia’s DelOps addresses this transition to make the complex simple.”

Fran Heeran, SVP & Head of Core Networks, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia, said: “Just as DevOps revolutionized the IT and web scale industries, DelOps opens a door to a new way of deploying and integrating new telecom solutions, and rapidly provides for efficient delivery into a wide range of environment types. Working in tandem with Nokia’s CI/CD services, CSPs will be able to innovate and deploy new services faster and more frequently without sacrificing network reliability.”