Page 37 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Microsoft Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Metaswitch Networks

Microsoft announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to and operations support system/business support system (OSS/
acquire Metaswitch Networks, a leading provider of virtualized BSS) modernization. A future that is interoperable has never been
network software and voice, data and communications solutions more important to ensure the success of customers and partners.
for operators. The convergence of cloud and communication By enabling advancements in enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-
networks presents a unique opportunity for Microsoft to serve reliable low latency communications and massive machine-
operators globally via continued investment in Azure, adding type communication to enable IoT at scale, 5G offers significant
additional depth to our hyperscale cloud infrastructure with the potential for enterprises and governments and in turn creates new
specialized software required to run virtualized communication opportunities for operators. 5G will ultimately give operators a path
functions, applications and networks. This announcement builds to accelerate service innovation and deliver new transformative
on our recent acquisition of Affirmed Networks, which closed on experiences that are faster, more resilient and more secure, spurred
April 23, 2020. Metaswitch’s complementary portfolio of ultra- on by software advances to drive transformation at scale. We
high-performance, cloud-native communications software will have a long history of working with operators as they increasingly
expand our range of offerings available for the telecommunications embrace software-based solutions and continue to support the
industry. Microsoft intends to leverage the talent and technology advancement of cloud-based networking while helping create
of these two organizations, extending the Azure platform to both new partnership opportunities for existing network equipment
deploy and grow these capabilities at scale in a way that is secure, providers. Our intention over time is to create modern alternatives
efficient and creates a sustainable ecosystem. As the industry to network infrastructure, enabling operators to deliver existing
moves to 5G, operators will have opportunities to advance the and value-added services – with greater cost efficiency and lower
virtualization of their core networks and move forward on a path capital investment than they’ve faced in the past.
to an increasingly cloud-native future. Microsoft will continue to
meet customers where they are, working together with the industry
as operators and network equipment providers evolve their own
operations. We will continue to support hybrid and multi-cloud
models to create a more diverse telecom ecosystem and spur
faster innovation, an expanded set of unique offerings and greater
opportunities for differentiation. We will continue to partner with
existing suppliers, emerging innovators and network equipment
partners to share roadmaps and explore expanded opportunities
to work together, including in the areas of radio access networks
(RAN), next-generation core, virtualized services, orchestration

Microsoft Teams and Bahrain’s MoE Accelerates e-Learning across the

Kingdom with an Educational Platform

Bahrain’s Ministry of Education joined and students to attend virtually.” To classrooms, and the times they interacted
forces with Microsoft to accelerate its ensure a smooth roll out of the distance with teachers. The students felt just exactly
E-learning strategy and make the transition learning initiative, the ministry established as if they were in the physical classroom.”
to remote education in the Kingdom. The a control room with personnel from each The Ministry and Microsoft also conducted
effort has enabled public schools with free department to contribute their efforts in a series of joint e-workshops to train
access to Office 365, including Microsoft enabling a seamless implementation. With teachers and educators in helping them
Teams for students, teachers, and faculty Microsoft Teams, schools were able to better leverage the remote learning tools
to connect, engage and learn. “Microsoft build collaborative e-classrooms bringing and applications and embed them in their
Teams is an international platform teachers and students together to use daily teaching models. An assessment
used by millions”, said Dr. Mohammed apps, chat, conduct audio and video calls, form was also created by the ministry’s IT
Mubarak Juma, Undersecretary for and collaborate on content as well as team for each student to complete after
Resources, Services and Chairman of assignments in one digital hub. “We had each session. “The form enabled teachers
Virtual Classrooms Committee at Ministry over 60,000 students participating from to identify the level of understanding of
of Education. “And we found it easier the beginning of our first session. And each student.” Said Shaikha Latifa Bint
to implement it across our schools. We we kept track of the numbers growing on Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Head of Coordination,
brought all our departments together in a daily basis. Added Juma. “Through the Follow-up, Undersecretary for Resources,
the process to support the journey and Team’s application I can track the number Services at the Ministry. “The success
create centralized classrooms for teachers of the students that attended virtual of these sessions has been due to the

37 MAY 2020