The News: VMware by Broadcom launched VMware Telco Cloud Platform Release 4.0. The release aims to solidify myriad capabilities into a unified platform that gives operators the flexibility to modernize their telecommunications networks using automation and assurance capabilities according to their unique requirements. Read the full blog on the VMware website.
VMware Telco Cloud Platform Ready to Spur Network Transformation
Analyst Take: VMware by Broadcom is prioritizing enabling telcos to simplify the process of modernizing their networks through the launch of VMware Telco Cloud Platform Release 4.0. The new version of VMware Telco Cloud Platform includes automation capabilities that are offered in two packages: the VMware Telco Cloud Platform Essentials package and the VMware Telco Cloud Platform Advanced package.
The VMware Telco Cloud Platform Essentials package includes key VMware automation capabilities such as containers as a service (CaaS) Manager for lifecycle management (LCM) of Kubernetes clusters, CaaS Dynamic Infrastructure Policies Integrator, and the registration of pre-deployed clouds as virtual infrastructure.
The VMware Telco Cloud Platform Advanced package includes the automation capabilities in the Essentials package and adds key capabilities, such as multi-cloud support, network function automation, and network service automation (NFVO), to deliver a thorough automation and orchestration solution for core telecommunications networks. Moreover, the Advanced package provides assurance capabilities that support multi-domain, multi-layer monitoring, visibility, and analytics in a unified dashboard including fault and performance management and automated root-cause analysis.
VMware Telco Cloud Platform Release 4.0: Ups Telco VNF and CNF Agility
From my view, VMware’s overall Telco Cloud Platform capabilities such as CaaS Manager for LCM fully aligns with telco prioritization of using CaaS to administer and deploy container-based abstraction throughout 5G networks that are underpinned by hybrid cloud and multi-cloud environments. This VMware approach provides the orchestration platform integral to automating virtual network functions (VNFs) and cloud-native functions (CNFs). To directly address and support the deployment and management of VNFs and CNFs, VMware Telco Cloud Platform 4.0 includes features from the latest versions of VMware vSphere, NSX, vSAN, Tanzu, and Cloud Director.
The network functions validated by the VMware Ready for Telco Cloud program helps ensure that telcos can swiftly onboard and deploy VNFs and CNFs from multiple vendors to save time, money, and integration work. The program can deliver flexibility and automation integral to accelerating 5G deployments, deriving more benefit from cloud-native technology and easing multi-vendor network implementations.
As such, VMware’s solution can ensure that CaaS is particularly useful to developers in cultivating containerized applications that are more scalable and secure in accord with ensuring that telcos procure only the resources they require. Specifically, VMware’s solution is designed to simplify infrastructure management and support modern developer workloads by providing Kubernetes as a service (KaaS) that further hones focus on application development rather than infrastructure intricacies.
Built-in benefits include VMware Cloud Director Container Service Extension (CSE) capabilities that enable the creation, management, and operation of Kubernetes clusters, offering a multi-tenanted environment. Through the multi-cloud Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) capabilities, VMware’s CaaS can deploy scalable KaaS offerings that support a vast array of developer workloads and applications.
This release also extends one year support for a single Kubernetes version (1.27), allowing users to remain on a Kubernetes version for a longer period and plan for upgrading to a newer version. There is now support for multiple Tanzu Kubernetes Grid releases (2.1.1 and 2.5). This feature allows users to continue to use Kubernetes 1.24.x clusters from the previous TKG release (2.1.1) while being able to create new workload clusters with the new Kubernetes version from the new TKG release (2.5).
With the new release, I see VMware providing the functional equivalent of a middleware bridge that enables its operator customers to preserve existing investments and avoid rip-and-replace scenarios that they typically dread. Cluster rehoming enables selective upgrading of legacy Kubernetes workload clusters to the latest Kubernetes version. This feature avoids the need to upgrade all legacy workload clusters soon after the management cluster upgrade, providing flexibility on maintenance windows. Keeping the source management cluster (Tanzu Kubernetes Grid 2.1.1) allows support for all LCM/CRUD operations on Kubernetes 1.24 clusters until end of life.
VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN: Let’s Disaggregate
Augmenting the new VMware Telco Cloud Platform release is VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN, which delivers a horizontal platform built to optimize running virtualized baseband functions or virtualized distributed units (vDUs) and virtualized central units (vCUs) from various vendors while meeting the stringent performance and latency requirements of radio access networks. And you can efficiently manage RAN functions with versatility by using cloud-native technology.
VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN 4.0 unifies the flexibility of virtualization with cloud-native features that can drive significant improvements in operational efficiency and business agility. I find that the optimized packaging and deployment options of the VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN product offer telcos choice in selecting the path to modernization that best matches their business objectives. Optional add-ons for bare-metal automation and service management and orchestration reinforce deployment flexibility.
The VMware horizontal RAN platform can establish a fabric that aligns with telco multi-vendor deployment realities in attaining a modernized network. Accordingly, recent VMware collaborations with key partners such as Mavenir have resulted in a commercially proven, operationally ready Open vRAN solution, while virtualization of vRAN network functions by NEC on VMware Telco Cloud Platform demonstrates the company’s commitment to advancing scalable and efficient network transformation.
Takeaways: VMware Telco Cloud Platform Ready to Stimulate Network Transformation
Overall, I believe that VMware Telco Cloud Platform Release 4.0, alongside VMware Telco Cloud Platform RAN 4.0, can fulfill the highest priority telco VNF and CNF demands across their 5G networks by ensuring service availability and telco-grade resiliency. Through the VMware portfolio, telcos can simplify their Kubernetes operations for automated multi-cloud deployments with centralized management and governance for clusters that catalyze their innovation velocity and streamline operations entirely.
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:
VMware Acquisition Close: Q&A with Hock Tan, President and CEO, Broadcom – Six Five Insider
5G Factor: Key MWC24 Takeaways – The Cloud and Telcos
VMware Aria: Broadcom’s Strategic Move and Its Market Implications
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.
