Google Cloud and Nokia today announced a more expansive partnership that calls for the companies to jointly develop and sell cloud-native network functions, 5G edge services, and a 5G core to mobile operators.

The duo claim the combination of Google Cloud’s Anthos for Telecom platform for network-centric applications and Nokia’s 5G services and networking capabilities will deliver a more evolved and efficient cloud-native platform for 5G operators.

The agreement, which comes three months after Nokia said it will move its on-premises IT infrastructure to Google Cloud, blends multiple technology platforms and services into a more comprehensive and integrated offering, according to the companies.

“Through our partnership we can give customers choice and simplicity in interfacing with Google Cloud and Nokia systems. In many cases, we can provide pre-integrated solutions from Google Cloud and Nokia, which may offer a time-to-market advantage and a more seamless path to 5G for communications service providers,” a Google Cloud spokesperson wrote in response to questions.

In addition to Anthos, which will serve as a platform that allows operators to move workloads to the network edge across public and private clouds, Google Cloud said it will provide technologies in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and analytics.

Nokia will supply its voice core, IoT platform, cloud packet core, network exposure function, data management, signaling, and 5G core to the effort.

The vendor’s shift to cloud infrastructure has been swift following the August appointment of its new CEO Pekka Lundmark, and it appears to be broadening the scope of that effort. While Nokia is turning to Google Cloud for the bulk of its cloud aspirations, the vendor’s software division in November inked a deal to move its research and development (R&D) data centers to Hewlett Packard Enterprise's GreenLake. Nokia Software, at the time, said it specifically turned to HPE GreenLake to power a more flexible, consumption-based infrastructure as a private cloud for its R&D function.

Google Cloud and Nokia said they will collaborate to validate cloud-native network functions and jointly develop new 5G technologies to simplify the deployment of 5G connectivity and services by operators. The companies intend to bring those services to market together and as a combined offering.

“At a high level, our approach to supporting the telecommunications industry will span multiple partnerships, geographies, and technology layers,” the Google Cloud spokesperson said.

The No. 3 cloud provider partnered with AT&T at the launch of its Global Mobile Edge Cloud and Anthos for Telecom platform.

Most 5G focused partnerships in the cloud have paired hyperscalers with network operators to date, but joint collaborations between radio access network (RAN) vendors and cloud providers could pick up as more 5G networks get off the ground and operators clamor for all the help they can get in extracting revenue from those investments.

Indeed, a couple European operators applauded the pairing of Nokia and Google Cloud as such.

“The network and the services that our customers depend upon in their everyday lives can be further enhanced in terms of scalability, reliability, and experience with cloud-native technologies," Neil McRae, chief architect at BT Group, said in a statement. "BT is excited that Google and Nokia are innovating together to help accelerate new, on-demand edge and convergence solutions, creating new possibilities for consumers and enterprises.” 

Alex Choi, SVP of strategy and technology innovation at Deutsche Telekom, noted that the collaboration could also bolster its vision for network automation, virtual RAN, open RAN, and a cloud-native 5G core.

“In the past five years, the telecom industry has evolved from physical appliances to virtual network functions and now cloud-native solutions,” Ron Haberman, CTO of cloud and network services at Nokia, said in a statement. “Cloud-native network functions and automation will enable new ability and use cases in the 5G era.”

George Nazi, VP of telco, media, and entertainment at Google Cloud, framed the agreement with Nokia as one that will unlock new opportunities for network operators that want to help enterprises develop new services at the edge via 5G connectivity and cloud-native applications. “Doing so requires modernized infrastructure, built for a cloud-native 5G core,” he said in a statement.