Velcom launches fully virtualised core network

Belarusian mobile operator Velcom, a subsidiary of Telekom Austria, and ZTE have conducted a major project, migrating and transforming the core architecture of Velcom's network. All legacy core network components – like HLR/HSS, EPC, MSC, PCRF – were migrated to a fully virtualised platform on OpenStack based NFV and standard hardware. The project team of velcom and ZTE delivered the project within nine months from contract signature to full deployment.
 
Sascha Zabransky, director for technology at Telekom Austria, said the step towards the next generation network architecture will enable the operator to significantly reduce OPEX spending, benefit from massive economies of scale for further growth and provide the highest flexibility and service value to customers, as it makes its way towards a fully cloud-based network architecture.
 
By transforming and virtualising its core network into vCore, Velcom managed to abolish its legacy silo-based network and significantly cut service running costs, while at the same time ensuring higher flexibility, feature richness and reliability for customers of voice and packet services.
This step was carried out by implementating ZTE's OpenStack based TECS software (Tulip Elastic Cloud System), which combines virtualisation and cloud infrastructure management for computing, storage and network resources. As the system is convergent with NFV (Network Functions Virtualization) and ready for SDN (Software Defined Networking), it centralises technical processes and therefore cuts costs, allowing Velcom to regain flexibility through easy configuration of new services and improving the security as well as reliability level.
 
Both Velcom and ZTE Corporation are planning to collaborate on further project partnerships in the future.

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