Page 50 - SAMENA Trends - October-December 2024

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Microsoft Sells Metaswitch to Alianza

Cloud player Alianza struck a deal to buy software company provides cloud communications services to operators and plans
Metaswitch from Microsoft for an undisclosed sum, a move the to integrate Metaswitch’s voice and communications software
purchaser positioned as bolstering its offering for communications services and IP protocol into its range. Including the assets
service providers. Microsoft bought virtualized network software being acquired, it will have a customer base of more than 1,000
and voice, data and communications specialist Metaswitch in 2020 communications service providers, including 19 of the top 20
as part of a drive to up its role in the then emerging 5G ecosystem. operators, the company stated in the acquisition announcement.
Although now offloading the asset, Microsoft corporate VP Alianza noted its upgraded “comprehensive portfolio of services”
Yousef Khalidi said “the telecommunications industry remains a would “streamline the path to a cloud-orchestrated, AI-powered
priority” for the company, adding “we will continue to empower communications future” for customers. CEO Brian Beutler
telecom operators to modernize, monetize, and innovate through added its platform “empowers operators to monetize network
our secure AI platform”. The executive added “as we advance our investments through improved customer experiences and
cloud platform and AI capabilities, partners like Alianza are crucial the delivery of modern, high-margin communications service
for providing support to our mutual customers”. Alianza already offerings”. The deal is expected to close in Q1 2025.

Nokia Secures 5G Extension Deal from Bharti

Airtel

Nokia said it has secured a multi-year be eco-friendly to minimize environmental improving the energy efficiency of Airtel’s
extension deal from Indian operator impact.” “This strategic agreement further network and reducing carbon emissions.
Bharti Airtel to deploy 4G and 5G solidifies our long-standing collaboration Last month, Ericsson had secured a new
equipment across key Indian cities and with Airtel and our footprint in India. Our 5G contract for selling 5G equipment from
states Under the terms of the new deal, AirScale portfolio and AI-based services Bharti Airtel. The new contract comes
Nokia will deploy equipment from its 5G will enhance the energy efficiency of after Ericsson got part of a $3.6 billion
AirScale portfolio including base stations, Airtel’s network, enabling premium 5G contract for selling 5G equipment to
baseband units and the latest generation capacity and connectivity,” said Pekka India’s Vodafone Idea. Airtel is currently
of Massive MIMO radios, all powered by Lundmark, president and CEO of Nokia. using equipment from Ericsson, Nokia and
its ReefShark System-on-Chip technology. Nokia and Airtel had previously launched Samsung to provide 5G services.
The European vendor noted that these the so-called “Green 5G Initiative", aimed at
solutions will enhance Airtel’s network
with additional 5G capacity and coverage.
Furthermore, Nokia will modernize Airtel’s
existing 4G network with multiband radios
and baseband equipment, which can also
support 5G. Airtel will also be leveraging
Nokia’s MantaRay Network Management
for intelligent network monitoring and
management that uses AI-based tools
covering digital deployment, optimization
and technical support, the vendor
added. Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and
managing director at Bharti Airtel, said:
“This strategic partnership with Nokia will
future proof our network infrastructure and
provide customers with unparalleled user
experience along with a network that will

50 OCT-DEC 2024