Microsoft and Nokia have formed a strategic collaboration they say will accelerate transformation and innovation across industries with cloud, AI and IoT by bringing together Microsoft cloud solutions and Nokia’s expertise in mission-critical networking.
The two companies say they are uniquely positioned to help enterprises and communications service providers transform their businesses, by combining Microsoft’s Azure, Azure IoT, Azure AI and machine learning tools with Nokia’s LTE/5G-ready private wireless products, IP, SD-WAN, and IoT connectivity offerings, and will “drive industrial digitalisation and automation across enterprises, and enable CSPs to offer new services to enterprise customers.”
They have named BT is the first global communications service provider to offer its enterprise customers a managed service, Cloud Connect Azure, integrating Microsoft Azure cloud and Nokia SD-WAN.
BT customers are able to access this through a customer automated delegated rights service that enables BT to manage both the customer Azure vWAN and the Agile Connect SD-WAN, based on Nokia’s Nuage SD-WAN 2.0.
Jason Zander, executive vice president Microsoft Azure, said bringing together Microsoft’s expertise in intelligent cloud solutions and Nokia’s strength in building business and mission-critical networks would unlock new connectivity and automation scenarios.
Kathrin Buvac, president of Nokia Enterprise and chief strategy officer, said the collaboration would enable them to “accelerate the digital transformation journey towards Industry 4.0, driving economic growth and productivity for both enterprises and service providers.”
Private 5G with on-premise Azure
Specifically, they say the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (Nokia DAC) 5G-ready industrial-grade private wireless broadband solution with on-premise Azure elements will enable a wide variety of secure industrial automation solutions that require more reliable connectivity, efficient coverage and better mobility than traditional Wi-Fi networks provide.
“For example, connected smart tools and machines on manufacturing floors that enable increased productivity, flexibility and safety for workers, or autonomous vehicles and robots in industrial environments that improve automation, efficiency and overall safety.”
Nokia’s Nuage SD-WAN 2.0 will enable service providers to offer integration with Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN for branch to cloud connectivity, with the companies planning to offer more options for branch internet connectivity in 2020.
“By automating branch and hybrid WAN connectivity, enterprises will have simplified, faster access to cloud applications such as Office 365, integrated security from branch-to-branch and branch-to-Azure and reduced risk of configuration errors causing security or connectivity issues. “
The two will also integrate Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) with Azure IoT Central “to make the onboarding, deployment, management and servicing of IoT solutions seamless.”
They says this will provide CSPs with the opportunity to offer their enterprises a single platform including vertical solutions to enable secure connected IoT services, such as asset tracking and machine monitoring on a national or global scale.
“Enterprises will be able to use Azure IoT Central and partner solutions for faster and easier enablement and implementation of their IoT applications together with Nokia’s IoT connectivity solutions.”
They will also collaborate to host Nokia’s Analytics, Virtualization and Automation (AVA) cognitive services solutions on Azure, enabling CSPs to “move out of private data centres and into the Azure cloud to realise cost savings and transform operations for 5G.”
