Data Backup Digest

As more consumers are now relying on data centre solutions for their long-term storage needs, service providers and operators alike are continually on the lookout for the next big innovation. That said, the team with Nokia is pushing the envelope of mobile technology with the recent launch of a localised, cloud-centric data center known as the Nokia AirFrame Data Center Solution. Originally released to the public in 2015, the platform allows for greater control and resource allocation over data centre operations.

Phil Twist, an executive with Nokia Networks, commented on existing networking infrastructure by saying: "The way that networks are now being built means you have these big data centres hosting all of your core network applications and you end up with a fairly inefficient way of doing it, in which every bit of data that comes from your mobile phone has to be transported across the network to this data centre and then transported back out again."

Operating on the Intel platform and utilizing 5G technology, the Nokia AirFrame Data Center Solution is meant to catapult Nokia onto a level playing field with their top competition, namely Google, Amazon, Cisco, HP and more. However, there are some critical difference between Nokia's AirFrame Data Center Solution and the offerings of their competitors.

Marc Rouanne, executive vice president with the Mobile Broadband division of Nokia Networks, highlighted the security features as well as the cloud-oriented functionality of the Nokia Airframe Data Center Solution in a statement, saying: "We are taking on the IT-telco convergence with a new solution to challenge the traditional IT approach of the data center. This newest solution brings telcos carrier-grade high availability, security-focused reliability as well as low latency, while leveraging the company’s deep networks expertise and strong business with operators to address an increasingly cloud-focused market valued in the tens of billions of euros."

One of the biggest differences is the fact that Nokia's modular devices can be used in brand new installations or alongside pre-existing setups. Moreover, the addition of external antennas and base station hardware can provide even greater reliability and increased access to data and voice services.

To complement the Nokia AirFrame Data Center Solution, Nokia has also established a facility in Finland that is dedicated to the research of data center and storage technologies. Given the fact that Finland is currently the subject of several 5G testing initiatives, as well as Nokia's recent merger with Alcatel-Lucent, and it's safe to say that Nokia is poised to take on the future of mobile and cloud computing.

Rajeev Suri, president and CEO of Nokia, spoke optimistically about the future by saying: " Today's pace of technological change, driven by the transition to 5G, the Internet of Things and the cloud, is demanding extraordinary new capabilities from the network. Combining with Alcatel-Lucent comes at just the right time: we can align our product and technology roadmaps for the next generation of network technology at the outset, allowing us to take full advantage of the coming opportunities and better serve customers including communication service providers, governments, internet players and large enterprises."