Oracle is targeting a specifically vital component of 5G network infrastructure and it’s notched a few wins with operators of late, bolstering that strategy.

By focusing on the mobile network core, Oracle has positioned its portfolio on “providing the brains of the 5G standalone architecture core network, specifically the major intelligent components that form the control plane,” Oracle’s group VP of technology Andrew De La Torre explained.

“These components are the most critical for delivering a secure quality of experience in the 5G network, and for rapidly enabling new innovative 5G services to be launched,” De La Torre wrote in response to questions.

Oracle’s strategy is framed around three pillars, according to De La Torre, including: signaling control, policy and charging; security and industrial-centric offerings; and extending the Oracle Cloud to operators for the delivery of cloud-native technologies and services.

“Beyond network infrastructure, we provide a rich set of offerings through our communications applications, cloud infrastructure, and business applications portfolios to help network operators secure the agility and insights needed to deliver powerful, innovative 5G services,” he said. 

One of Oracle’s newest customers is Dish Network, an aspiring greenfield network operator that plans to have its 5G open radio access network (RAN) live in multiple U.S. cities before the end of the year. Dish has inked deals with dozens of vendors spanning hardware, software, and cloud-based services to assemble its 5G network, and it most recently tapped Oracle to provide a service-based architecture for its 5G core.

Oracle’s technology will feature prominently in Dish’s desire to become a “network of networks,” wherein various slices can be initialized for private or otherwise independent networks for specialized use cases. “Oracle’s capabilities will essentially serve as the control tower of our network core, enabling our customers to consume software on demand and facilitating the advanced core functions required to power a truly automated network,” Marc Rouanne, chief network officer at Dish, said in a statement. 

Dish intends to use multiple network functions in Oracle’s 5G core control plane, including: policy control function, which dynamically routes low-latency applications to the edge; network repository function, which will act as a central hub for all of Dish’s 5G network functions; and network exposure function, which is responsible for authorizing access requests originating outside of Dish’s network. 

The operator said it also plans to use Oracle’s 5G service communications proxy, network slice selection function, security edge protection proxy, and binding selection function. Telefónica this week also said it will use Oracle’s 5G standalone core network functions on its Vivo Brazil network with an assist from Mavenir, Nokia, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

When asked to describe Oracle’s strengths in 5G and its pitch to 5G operators, De La Torre pointed to the vendor’s legacy in the market, security chops, and ongoing relationships with the top 20 global operators. 

“Oracle is uniquely positioned versus other mainstream equipment providers with the know-how and extensive experience of developing, operating, and supporting functionality and applications native to cloud,” he said. “Oracle has a rich history spanning back to its earliest days of providing solutions to the most security-minded customers in the world.”

Oracle currently offers 12 core network functions alongside what De La Torre described as a “5G-aware service mesh” and an underlying cloud-native environment for network function deployment. “Across our overall communications portfolio, we plan to further expand our cloud-native offerings, enabling network operators to continue to modernize their networks and leverage the advantages that cloud technology brings,” he said.

The company’s commitment to cloud-native frameworks and principles is all encompassing, according to De La Torre. “Oracle made an early decision to design all of its 5G products as cloud native from the ground up. We have not refactored any legacy software components from appliance-based or virtualized solutions,” he said.

“This purity of approach has ensured that our 5G network functions can fully leverage the benefits of a cloud environment,” De La Torre added.

The 5G core market got off to a strong start during the first quarter of 2021, generating a 16% year-over-year increase in revenues, according to the latest research from Dell’Oro Group. The 5G core market also surpassed 20% of the entire mobile core network market during the quarter, indicating that more 5G network operators are increasingly transitioning from non-standalone 5G infrastructure to standalone 5G architecture.

Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, ZTE, and Mavenir were the top mobile network core vendors during Q1, based on the previous four quarters, according to Dell’Oro Group.