Just over a year ago, we announced a partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) under our anyRAN approach to jointly deliver open and efficient Cloud RAN solutions to communications service providers (CSP) and enterprises worldwide.

This year, the joint solution is ready for commercial deployments.

By combining our strengths, we drive efficiency and scalability. We can also ensure that our customers have full freedom of choice when they progress on their cloudification journey.

Together with our anyRAN partners, we ensure performance consistency and feature parity between Cloud RAN and hybrid environments consisting of purpose-built, cloud-based and open deployments.

Optimized reference design for Cloud RAN

The beauty of the Nokia anyRAN approach is that our virtualized baseband functions (vCU and vDU) can run on diverse, pre-integrated hardware platforms with a wide choice of CPU and Containers-as-a-Service (CaaS) software layer options.

One of our reference designs includes the HPE ProLiant DL110 Gen11 platform which is a short depth carrier-grade 1U rack server, delivering best-in-class cloud RAN density and scalable cell capacity with high energy efficiency. The server design supports multiple L1 accelerator cards, ensuring cost efficiency and helps reduce OPEX. This rack server is optimized for Cloud RAN with front cabling, which allows easy installation and low-cost maintenance.

HPE has a broad portfolio of NEBS Level 3 compliance platforms including the HPE DL110 server, providing the highest assurance of product operability. Built-in HPE Silicon Root of Trust and Zero Trust also provides hardware-based security to protect the data and ultimately protect the firmware within the server from potential malware attacks. 

Deep industry expertise and commitment to sustainability

Nokia and HPE are widely recognized in the industry for their deep expertise in radio access technologies, cloud platforms and automation solutions.

Our joint Cloud RAN management solution is based on a unified management stack with HPE iLO6 and Nokia MantaRay NM network management solution. Customers also benefit from the expertise of our global service and support organizations.

For Nokia and HPE, sustainability is the key driver for product creation and distribution. As part of the HPE Living Progress strategy, HPE has set forth a path to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the HPE value chain by 2040. Similarly, Nokia has committed to reducing its total global GHG emissions to net zero by 2040. This puts both companies ahead of the Paris Agreement target of net zero by 2050.

Together, we aim to optimize the efficiency of our solutions by optimizing the placement of applications and data, maximizing asset lifecycle value and enabling asset reuse as a circular economy practice.

Pre-integrated solutions ensuring fast deployments

The reference design for the Nokia Cloud RAN solution includes HPE servers with pre-integrated Nokia L1 acceleration cards. This reduces installation efforts for our customers, makes deployments easier and cuts operational costs.

In addition, the solution offers flexibility to easily support different silicon technologies. so that our customers can benefit from the efficiency advantages of the latest silicon innovations. In a recent Open RAN trial with Vodafone, we showcased the flexibility of the joint solution by using Arm-based processors on HPE servers.

Furthermore, the Nokia Cloud RAN solution is based on a common platform for both distributed and centralized RAN deployments, which allows greater platform reuse and cost savings.

Our customers can deploy a general-purpose platform for edge applications, which can help unlock new revenue opportunities.

Visit the Nokia Cloud RAN webpage to find out how we can help you expand the deployment options and accelerate your business.

To see Nokia anyRAN in action, please visit Nokia booth #2490 at the HPE Discover event in Las Vegas from June 18 to 20, 2024.