NTT DOCOMO, INC. and NEC Corporation have launched Japan’s first commercial 5G core network (5GC) on Amazon Web Services (AWS). This development marks a significant milestone in the country’s telecommunications landscape, as DOCOMO becomes the first telecommunications provider in the Asia-Pacific region to deploy a commercial 5G Core network on a public cloud. You might be wondering what this means for the industry.
Revolutionizing 5G Core Network Deployment
The 5GC was built using the world’s first AI-automated network construction technology. This advanced architecture enables the network to flexibly and rapidly expand capacity, such as dynamically expanding its capacity in response to sudden traffic surges, for dramatically improved reliability, flexibility, and sustainability. By leveraging Agentic AI, a combination of AI and GitOps in a hybrid cloud environment, DOCOMO and NEC have successfully automated 5GC design and construction on AWS.
Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Success
The journey to this launch began when DOCOMO and NEC started verifying 5GC network equipment operating on a hybrid cloud using AWS. After overcoming significant challenges, including network and security design considerations, the two companies confirmed that the 5GC operates seamlessly in a hybrid cloud environment. You can see how this innovative approach prevents human error and reduces construction time by approximately 80% compared to conventional methods.
The Benefits of a Hybrid Cloud Environment
By combining their virtualization platform with a public cloud, DOCOMO and NEC have created a setup that improves network operational efficiency and enables the flexibility and reliability required in the 5G era. For instance, building the 5GC on AWS in addition to a separate virtualization platform enables flexible operations, such as rapidly expanding capacity when network demand increases due to a sudden event, and scaling down when increased capacity is no longer needed.
Implications and Future Developments
With the increasing demand for 5G services, telecommunications providers need to ensure that their networks can handle the traffic. By leveraging a public cloud like AWS, DOCOMO can quickly scale up or down to meet changing demands. As 5G adoption grows, you can expect to see more telecommunications providers exploring cloud-based solutions. The question is, what’s next for DOCOMO and NEC?
Key Achievements and Takeaways
- Japan’s first commercial 5G core network on AWS
- Successful automation of 5GC design and construction using AI-automated network construction technology
- Improved reliability, flexibility, and sustainability
- 80% reduction in construction time compared to conventional methods
- 70% reduction in power consumption
A Practitioner’s Perspective
This launch demonstrates the potential of cloud-based solutions for 5G core networks and highlights the importance of automation and flexibility in modern telecommunications. As the industry continues to evolve, you can expect to see more innovative applications of AI-automated network construction technology. For practitioners, this launch serves as a reminder of the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest developments in 5G technology and cloud-based solutions.
