The News: Dell Technologies and Nokia announce the extension of a strategic partnership to use each company’s expertise and solutions, including infrastructure solutions from Dell and private wireless connectivity from Nokia, to advance open network architectures in the telecom ecosystem and private 5G use cases among businesses. Read the full press release on the Nokia website.
MWC24: Dell and Nokia Have Their Mind Set on Private 5G
Analyst Take: Dell and Nokia have extended their partnership with the goal of advancing private 5G use cases and the open network architecture cause. As part of the agreement, Nokia will adopt Dell as its preferred infrastructure partner for existing Nokia AirFrame customers, offering Dell’s technology as the infrastructure of choice for telecom cloud deployments. Now Nokia and Dell will help transition existing AirFrame customers over time to Dell’s broad infrastructure portfolio, including Dell PowerEdge servers, purpose built for modern telecom network workloads from core to edge to RAN.
Dell and Nokia Provide Robust Boost to Private 5G Network Ecosystem
I see the extension of the Nokia alliance as a sales and marketing boost for Dell in gaining valuable mind share and channel presence during the early stages of private 5G adoption, particularly in relation to hybrid cloud/edge platform rivals such as HPE and Lenovo who are targeting the private 5G market segment. Notably, Dell taps into Nokia’s extensive footprint throughout enterprise critical network and private wireless environments. Nokia has deployed mission-critical networks to more than 2,600 enterprise customers in manufacturing, health, transportation, energy, large enterprise, webscale, and public sector segments around the globe, including more than 675 private wireless customers.
Likewise, Nokia bolsters its sales and marketing momentum since Dell is adopting Nokia as its preferred private wireless partner for enterprise edge use cases, providing businesses with integration and support as well as assist operators in scaling networks to the cloud. From my view, Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (or NDAC) private wireless solution becoming Dell’s preferred private wireless platform for enterprise customers’ edge use cases, can further invigorate enterprise adoption of private 5G.
This includes accommodating shifts between private wireless networks and Wi-Fi implementations according to customer requirements. Organizations are adopting private 5G/4G wireless, as it provides critical low latency, high-bandwidth capabilities including for operations technology (OT) applications that require low latency, high bandwidth such as video inspection. Frequently, private wireless adoption is done alongside existing Wi-Fi implementations as well as legacy OT systems, requiring the best technology mix for the right applications – this is where the partnership’s expertise and diverse portfolios can make a difference.
The companies will work together to integrate Nokia’s NDAC solution with Dell NativeEdge, the edge operations software platform, to provide a scalable solution for enterprises as well as enabling operators to scale modern networks to the cloud. For many enterprises, selecting an edge platform can add uncertainty and delay to the private wireless solution selection process. The Dell-Nokia combination directly addresses the enterprise demand for integrated solutions, including pre-integrated certified options, to help ease and accelerate private 5G solution adoption.
Building on existing research and development efforts around core network functions, the two companies will collaborate on platform and application testing and lifecycle management in the Dell Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab. Dell and Nokia plan to certify workloads on Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks that support Nokia Cloud offerings, while also continuing to collaborate on OEM engagements.
Takeaways: Dell and Nokia Set to Energize Private 5G
I find that the Dell-Nokia alliance better positions both companies to meet the evolving private 5G network needs of organizations in the design, deployment, and operation of public and private networks. In tandem, Dell offers the global scale, services, and support key to assuring smooth transition options for Nokia AirFrame customers alongside Nokia’s extensive track record that can provide Dell edge platform customers with scalable proven private wireless solutions.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group 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 The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other Insights from The Futurum Group:
Market Insight Report: Private 5G Networks – MSP Specialists
MWC23 LV: Nokia Debuts Network as Code To Spur App Innovation
5G Factor VRN: Deutsche Telekom and Microsoft Azure Test New Private 5G Capabilities
Author Information
Ron is an experienced, customer-focused research expert and analyst, with over 20 years of experience in the digital and IT transformation markets, working with businesses to drive consistent revenue and sales growth.
Ron holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from University of Nevada — Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Arts in political science/government from William and Mary.
