The AirFrame Open Edge Cloud infrastructure has been developed for the 5G era, as this next-generation wireless technology will create opportunities for operators to offer advanced applications to both consumers and industry, such as virtual and augmented reality video and real-time industrial automation. Technologies like Cloud RAN will be key to ensuring that 5G deployments achieve high performance in massive data transfers and ultra-low latency, requiring a highly efficient cloud infrastructure solution.
To balance costs and functionality, 5G will encourage operators to implement a layered cloud architecture. This will include regional and centralized data centers, as well as high-capacity processing at the network edge, closer to the point of traffic generation, where space is traditionally limited.
The Nokia AirFrame Open Edge server, launching in Q3 2018, expands Nokia's AirFrame data center solutions portfolio and brings these deployments to the network edge. Designed with an ultra-compact footprint, Open Edge is ideal even for base station sites and will meet the most demanding data needs of users. Nokia's comprehensive AirFrame data center solutions portfolio enables operators to optimize network resources and intelligently distribute the load based on data traffic type, throughput, and latency requirements.
The hardware solution is complemented by an open, real-time platform compatible with NFV (OPNFV) and featuring an embedded OpenStack distribution, facilitating its deployment in small data centers and providing the performance and low latency required for edge environments. Furthermore, Nokia's cloud-based services and collaboration hubs will help operators plan and implement their edge cloud deployments.
Dimitris Mavrakis, Director of Research at ABI Research, comments: “The demand for edge computing in telecom networks is changing rapidly, as the requirements for numerous use cases, applications, and 5G become increasingly demanding. Nokia’s AirFrame Open Edge Cloud infrastructure distributes established AirFrame capabilities to the network edge and offers an easy introduction to edge computing. Its orchestration and compatibility with existing Nokia products will provide a seamless transition to a distributed environment.”.
Dan Rodriguez, Vice President of Intel's Data Center Group and General Manager of the Communications Infrastructure division, states: “The cloud at the edge is an essential part of the 5G architecture, bringing new processing capabilities to where data is generated and consumed. This new AirFrame solution from Nokia is built on modular Intel® Xeon® processors, which offer the balance of compute, I/O, and memory necessary for the cloud at the edge to run smoothly across the full range of deployed workloads. With AirFrame, Nokia and Intel are bringing the performance and capacity of Intel-based data centers to the network edge, delivering an optimal end-user experience in 5G deployments, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and industrial automation.”.
Marc Rouanne, President of Nokia Mobile Networks, states: “The cloud at the network edge will play a vital role in the computing capacity required by 5G. By expanding our AirFrame and 5G Future X portfolio, we can deliver a network architecture that meets the needs of any operator and their customers. Nokia’s AirFrame Open Edge server, together with the Nokia ReefShark chipset and our real-time cloud infrastructure software, will provide the necessary decentralization for 4G and 5G networks. We can work with operators to ensure that data center capabilities are deployed precisely where needed to manage demand as they expand their service offerings.”
About Nokia's AirFrame Open Edge Infrastructure Solution
• A cloud-based, x86-based data center solution designed and scaled to enable cloud deployments at the network edge.
• An ultra-compact AirFrame Open Edge server (133.5 x 444 x 430 mm [H x W x D]) designed for deployment at existing base station sites.
• An AirFrame Open Edge server rack capable of supporting up to five servers, each with its own next-generation Intel® Xeon modular processor.
• A modular, open architecture that supports the coupling of processing accelerator modules with ReefShark, x86, and other technologies.
• With Nokia ReefShark, the AirFrame Open Edge server includes hardware acceleration capabilities for 4G and 5G functions and applications, including Cloud RAN and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Enables acceleration of key AI and machine learning workloads, which will also benefit from the reduced latency enabled by the cloud at the network edge.
• Complemented by cloud infrastructure software compatible with Nokia's Open Realtime Platform for NFV (OPNFV), enabling it to meet the high-performance needs of operators and applications in network edge environments.
• Supports the use of NEBS (Network Equipment-Building System) systems that comply with legal seismic tolerance requirements to achieve high levels of resilience and robustness in its global deployment.
