Germany’s O2 Telefónica launched its 5G Cloud Core platform using Nokia components running on Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) cloud infrastructure, marking the first time a brownfield mobile telecommunication operator has migrated its existing network and customer base to a 5G cloud platform running on AWS.

The deployment is using Nokia’s cloud-native 5G core architecture, which includes a software-based packet core. This has been one of Nokia’s flagship software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings that was initially unveiled in late 2022 and officially made commercial late last year.

The Nokia 5G core software is running on AWS’ cloud architecture, including the hyperscaler’s Region and Availability Zones, which support the stringent service resilient needs of a commercial telecom system. Telefónica is using AWS’ Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) to orchestrate Nokia-sourced containerized cloud-native functions (CNFs) and AWS’ Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2) to support different workloads.

Amir Rao, director of product management for AWS’ Telco, 5G and EC2, in an interview with SDxCentral also called out the deployment’s use of AWS’ Nitro security architecture “that enables this cloud continuum of extending EC2 that runs in the Region to on-premises,” which is key as it provides that flexibility for Telefónica to run the 5G core and functions where needed and with the level of security that is needed.

Rao also explained that the deployment is slightly different from work the hyperscaler is doing with greenfield network operator Dish Network in that Telefónica is not relying on AWS’ Local Zones platform that Dish Network is using.

This architecture will allow Telefónica to dynamically scale its 5G network resource needs and workloads across compute and storage.

“With the new 5G cloud core, we are moving away from traditional architectures and instead focusing on modern, high-performance and efficient network technologies,” Telefónica CTO and CIO Mallik Rao explained in a statement.

It also furthers Telefónica’s work toward digitization efforts and work with hyperscalers toward maximizing revenue opportunities.

Telefónica’s digitization efforts were underscored by a recent Omdia report that ranked the operator No. 4 amongst the world’s largest telecom providers in their digital transformation journeys. That report pointed specifically to its cybersecurity and Telefónica Tech division that is focused on enterprise digital services.

Telefónica last year was also one of the initial operator partners to sign up for AWS’ Integrated Private Wireless platform that acts as an infrastructure bridge for operators that want to offer a private network service tapping into AWS’ infrastructure to end users.

AWS' Rao added that Telefónica’s efforts have shown real “executive sponsorship right at the top and you need some visionary leadership,” and that AWS found similar openness from middle management at the carrier.

“That was a great experience because it also challenged us to refine our own hypothesis and stop drinking our own Kool Aid, and say, really, we have to deliver the benefit,” Rao said. “Once we were able to demonstrate it successfully, once you were able to convince [Telefónica] as well as ourselves that not only this is a good idea, but this can actually produce a lasting sustainable advantage for the end customer and sets them up to be the telco of the future.”