The News: Kyndryl, the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, and Nokia, the leader in state-of-the-art networking technology, announced a three-year extension and expansion of their global network and edge partnership, with a focus on developing and delivering industry-leading LTE and 5G private wireless services and Industry 4.0 solutions to customers worldwide. See the full Kyndryl Press Release here.
Kyndryl and Nokia Extend and Expand Their Global Network and Edge Computing Partnership
Analyst Take: Kyndryl and Nokia announced a three-year extension and expansion of their global network and edge partnership, with a focus on developing and delivering industry-leading LTE and 5G private wireless services and Industry 4.0 solutions to customers worldwide. This will be of interest to enterprise companies who are increasingly looking at private wireless and edge computing to solve complex connectivity issues.
Kyndryl and Nokia established their global network and edge computing alliance in February 2022. Since then, there have been more than 100 active engagements with global enterprises, from advisory to full implementation, across 24 countries. One major implementation was at a Dow Chemical plant in the US, where a private network was deployed to boost staff safety, provide remote audio and video services, and offer real-time processing. The companies report that the majority of active engagements are in the industrial manufacturing sector in fields including petrochemicals, timber and utility/energy providers.
Not surprisingly, Kyndryl and Nokia have been very strategic on this front. Their focus has been on working to understand business challenges in specific verticals like manufacturing, health care, energy or oil and gas, and devise private wireless strategies — which are increasingly popular today — for some of the biggest brands, including Dow, one of the largest chemical producers in the world.
For Kyndryl and Nokia, the global expansion of their collaboration should provide a lift for enterprise organizations embracing digital transformation and fast tracking the integration of smart tech into their operations. Industrial grade wireless networking solutions and edge computing are game changers for industries across the board, and there is a rapidly growing focus in this space as the demand for new, integrated solutions for cloud, Fixed Access 4G and 5G Core and Network Ops software tech, edge, IP networking, and Optics increases at a rapid pace.
Other News from Kyndryl and Nokia
In other news from Kyndryl and Nokia, I thought it worth mentioning that Kyndryl has achieved the highest tier Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) accreditation status. This ensures that enterprise customers benefit from an expanded lineup of expert resources and skilled practitioners who have extensive training and deep understanding of Nokia products and solutions.
In addition, Kyndryl and Nokia plan to launch a partner innovation lab in Raleigh, North Carolina, in collaboration with global cybersecurity leader Palo Alto Networks, in a move to bring advanced wireless connectivity and edge computing, integrated with a multi-factor zero trust model, converging IT and OT for enterprises. That’s really exciting news. Partnering with Palo Alto Networks to make cybersecurity a foundational part of network operations and connectivity is a significant value prop for all involved.
Heading to MWC this year? Our team from Futurum Research will be there and I’m looking forward to seeing Kyndryl and Nokia unveil new device management services. If you’re attending, stop by the Nokia partner arena (Booth #3A20/2A2), and you’ll be able to see a demo showcasing Kyndryl’s auto-provisioning software leveraging Nokia’s customizable enterprise mobile capabilities on Nokia’s XR20 line of industrial-grade, ruggedized devices at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023.
Wrapping up, the Kyndryl and Nokia expanded partnership will benefit enterprise organizations increasingly looking at private wireless and edge computing to solve complex connectivity issues. Kyndryl and Nokia clearly share a vision and commitment to help enterprise and mission critical infrastructure customers accelerate their digital transformations with leading-edge LTE and 5G private wireless networking. I look forward to seeing what innovations the Kyndryl and Nokia innovation lab will bring to help enterprise customers.
Disclosure: Futurum Research is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum Research as a whole.
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Author Information
Shelly Kramer is a Principal Analyst and Founding Partner at Futurum Research. A serial entrepreneur with a technology centric focus, she has worked alongside some of the world’s largest brands to embrace disruption and spur innovation, understand and address the realities of the connected customer, and help navigate the process of digital transformation. She brings 20 years' experience as a brand strategist to her work at Futurum, and has deep experience helping global companies with marketing challenges, GTM strategies, messaging development, and driving strategy and digital transformation for B2B brands across multiple verticals. Shelly's coverage areas include Collaboration/CX/SaaS, platforms, ESG, and Cybersecurity, as well as topics and trends related to the Future of Work, the transformation of the workplace and how people and technology are driving that transformation. A transplanted New Yorker, she has learned to love life in the Midwest, and has firsthand experience that some of the most innovative minds and most successful companies in the world also happen to live in “flyover country.”
