Telco Cloud: Hybrid Networks for Service Providers

In the evolution of telecommunications networks and infrastructure, Service Providers (service provider companies that offer connectivity to other companies or end users, especially in the world of telecommunications and digital services) face a crucial challenge: traditional clouds were designed for DevOps and IT environments, but not to support use cases as complex as those handled by telecom operators.

The network architecture in the cloud lacked the necessary capabilities to absorb the specific loads and protocols that an SP needs. This technology gap has been a barrier to cloud adoption in this sector.

A latent need and a solution

At Telecom District, we have worked on the standardization of networks and protocols, allowing Service Providers to adopt the cloud as if it were an extension of their own Data Center (DC). In other words, we make the cloud become another "cabinet" within the operator's infrastructure, with the same functionality and control that it would have over its traditional hardware and networks.

This process required a specific cloud routing architecture, ensuring interoperability with on-premise systems and facilitating frictionless migration. To achieve this, we implemented a cloud network homologation process, ensuring compatibility with the protocols used by the Service Providers.

What do we guarantee through the Telco Cloud concept?

Increased efficiency in deployments

The cloud allows Service Providers to streamline the implementation of services in a much simpler way than on-premise deployments. While in traditional environments it is necessary to purchase and configure physical hardware, in the cloud these processes are automated with just a few lines of code. This represents a key advantage in a market where speed of deployment is a determining factor for competitiveness.

Reduction of operating costs

One of the major benefits of Telco Cloud is cost optimization. Under a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) model, service providers can scale their infrastructure according to demand, without the need for large upfront investments.

With Telco Cloud you can make networks that breathe in and breathe out. This translates into scalability: as when there are massive events, for example Black Friday, all e-commerce websites collapse if there is no way to scale the network in the face of massive data traffic and demand. With a cloud infrastructure, it is possible to scale dynamically without affecting the quality of service or incurring unnecessary costs outside these periods of high demand.

In addition, the adoption of Telco Cloud significantly reduces the costs associated with hardware maintenance, eliminating expenses in cooling, electricity and equipment replacement. In a traditional environment, SPs must consider a very high capex in physical infrastructure investment, with inherent costs such as maintenance, technical support and energy. With the cloud, these expenses are drastically reduced.

3. Deployment and operation automation

The cloud makes it possible to automate almost all deployment processes, improving operational efficiency and reducing the workload on technical teams. In AWS, for example, it is possible to use APIs to automate everything from the creation of virtual machines to the configuration of subnets and interconnections between clouds. This allows SPs to focus on developing and optimizing their services instead of managing infrastructure.

If we take this to an everyday example, let's think of roads and vehicles. The road is built with a series of components such as virtual machines, sub-networks, interconnections, etc. Once the road is built, the vehicles are needed, which in this case are the services and applications that are going to travel that road. And just as these vehicles can be trucks, electric vehicles or SUVs, the services can also be varied.

Another illustrative case is the use of Kubernetes in the cloud, where operators can manage networks and services dynamically, ensuring scalability and efficiency without compromising network stability.

This operational flexibility has been key for many of our customers, who can now scale their resources according to demand and pay only for what they use.

This model also facilitates infrastructure automation, allowing network configuration with a few lines of code and reducing deployment time from days to minutes.

Telco Cloud: A model designed for Service Providers

At Telecom District we have detected a strong need for Service Providers to migrate to the cloud, but with the right tools to do it effectively. Many cloud networks were originally designed for enterprise environments and, consequently, did not have the necessary capabilities to support the complexity of Service Providers' networks.

Throughout our experience, we have acted as consultants and advisors, accompanying operators in the transition to a hybrid network architecture. Our technical team works closely with each customer to tailor Telco Cloud solutions to their specific needs, ensuring that they can take full advantage of the benefits of the cloud without compromising the security, performance and reliability of their infrastructure.

An innovation that is here to stay

Telco Cloud adoption is transforming the way Service Providers manage their networks, enabling them to operate more efficiently, reduce costs and automate key processes. With a hybrid approach that combines the best of on-premise with the advantages of the cloud, SPs can offer more agile, flexible and scalable services, while guaranteeing the quality and availability their customers demand.

At Telecom District, we continue to innovate and accompany operators on this journey towards the connectivity of the future, ensuring that each Telco Cloud implementation is a step forward in the evolution of telecommunications. Our commitment is to provide tailored solutions to Service Providers, enabling them to adopt the best cloud technologies without the barriers that have traditionally limited their access.

>> Learn more about our Telco Cloud services