Telefónica, Wipro will offer Network Automation in Germany and Brazil

Telefónica and Wipro Limited announced an agreement to offer network automation in Telefonica’s German and Brazilian markets, with the perspective of expansion to Spain and the UK.

Telefónica, Wipro Partner for Network Automation

In a joint statement, the companies said that Telefónica plans to leverage a common CI/CD/CT framework for all the markets. The statement added that it can be then implemented locally to meet specific local integration needs, with Wipro's support. This will ease collaboration among Telefónica OpCos allowing to share design, parametrization/configuration, test plans, and results.

Wipro has developed a solution that will use open-source tools and will allow adaption to future changes. The solution will also use common repository test tools, that will also have the possibility of future integration with the CI/CD/CT pipeline. Per the partnership clauses, Wipro will work with Telefónica to automate the associated Network Operations. That will enable the transition to the Telco Cloud and the adoption of the virtualized Network Functions. This framework will also allow for the industrialization of the process, and help cope with the increased volume and complexity of the Network Functions while adopting an agile working methodology.

Thomas Braun, Manager Test Environments & Integration, Telefónica Germany, said, "agile working methods and delivery mechanisms will play an important role in the future to be a successful player in the market. With Wipro, we have chosen a service provider that can build converged solutions for us to optimally serve all technology segments. Fast, reliable, and standardized automation of all tasks from build to production will improve our time to market as well as service quality". For Telefónica Brazil, the initiative is fundamental in its cloudification and network transformation strategy. Elmo Rocha, Director of Planning and Technology, VIVO., said, “automation of testing and continuous delivery will be one of the pillars to address the new construction model for 5G networks and even for traditional fixed and mobile networks".

The two companies added that they will also work together for implementing and incorporating the CI/CD/CT framework in the Telefónica Technology & Automation Lab. Wipro will support Telefónica in implementing different use cases over Telco Cloud environments. The Indian company will also build an automated and programmable environment based on AI/ML.

Cayetano Carbajo, Director of Core, Service Platforms and Transport, Telefónica CTIO, said, “CI/CD/CT is a must in our 5G strategy enabling the robustness and reliability of our Network while ensuring adaptability and accelerating the time to market. This is one of the key steps in the path of automation of our networks. We see Wipro as the best partner for this journey given the know-how and the experience we have in some other projects of automation like SDN implementation”.

Thomas Mueller, CTO – Engineering and R&D Services, Wipro Limited said, "Network disaggregation, O-RAN, and automation are at the core of our investments to enable cost-efficient, scalable networks of the future. Our decade-long partnership with Telefonica is continuing to thrive through this agreement. Wipro will now leverage our investments into open-source-based network automation and support Telefónica in future network transformation."