StarHub has completed a trial of Southeast Asia’s first 5G cloud radio access network (cloud RAN), in collaboration with Nokia and Dell. The trial is part of the telco’s Cloud Infinity initiative, which is designed to support enterprises’ digital transformation efforts.
Cloud RAN is important to the evolution of mobile network infrastructure as it’s capable of supporting dynamic network demands. For mobile operators, the shift to cloud-based architecture enables more efficient resource allocation and scalability.
The trial demonstrated the cloud RAN’s capability to deal with enterprise use cases like ultra-low latency applications, time-based service provisioning, and variable throughput services. It also showed how cloud RAN could facilitate new enterprise offerings and open additional business opportunities.
As part of the trial, Nokia’s commercial 5G cloud RAN solution was used to establish carrier-grade calls. The setup remained consistent with existing RAN systems and integrated with various extant server and cloud platforms. Dell provided the underlying hardware via PowerEdge XR8620 servers, and Nokia’s MantaRay NM handled network management tasks between the cloud and traditional RAN setups.
The trial also incorporated Red Hat OpenShift, a Kubernetes-powered hybrid cloud platform, to support the deployment of the cloud-native RAN functions.
Ayush Sharma, StarHub’s chief technology officer, said the implementation of cloud RAN is intended to improve network performance and prepare the telco for future technologies. “It also marks a key step in our Cloud Infinity journey, strengthening our ability to deliver cloud-native services,” said Sharma.
According to Computer Weekly, Sharma said Cloud Infinity was designed to enable “an infinite number of digital platforms and services” for both StarHub and its customers. He noted that traditional approaches were no longer viable in a saturated market. “Two years ago, we decided we couldn’t continue to operate in this hyper-commoditised market in the way you build traditional telco stacks,” he said. “We wanted to transform into a hybrid multicloud company […]. Cloud Infinity was the result.”
The platform’s multi-tenancy design has enabled StarHub to work with enterprise clients in a range of industries, including a major financial institution that uses Cloud Infinity for low-latency connectivity, better cybersecurity, and improved observability. “This offloads complexity and extraneous costs, allowing [the financial company] to focus on their core business,” Sharma said.
Cloud Infinity is positioned to help organisations address the increasing demand for sovereign cloud services in Southeast Asia, especially among government agencies and in highly-regulated sectors. Features like enhanced encryption and quantum-safe technologies are being integrated to support specific requirements of those sectors.
As part of its regional strategy, StarHub is exploring further ways to utilise its terrestrial, subsea, and satellite infrastructure to expand service availability.