Millicom, under its Tigo brand, has selected Affirmed Networks, which supports mobile network 5G transformation, as a strategic partner for the deployment of its cloud-based, 5G-ready core network in Latin America.
Millicom will deploy Affirmed’s virtual evolved packet core (vEPC) solution on VMware’s vCloud NFV platform, to serve as the foundation for a rollout of new mobile and Wi-Fi services.
Millicom’s strategic goal is to build and grow digital highways across Latin America and to provide next-generation digital services to its Tigo customers in the region. Working in partnership with Affirmed, Millicom will build a cloud-based, 5G-ready core network platform based on Affirmed’s distributed architecture.
In addition it aims to improve service agility and reduce operational costs across geographically distributed networks with the introduction of software-based virtualized network functions. It will also offer local breakout services to customers in Latin America that will include differentiated offers and new connectivity services aided by real-time network analytics.
Millicom will also deploy Affirmed’s virtualized Wi-Fi gateway to provide seamless handoffs between Millicom’s macrocellular networks and Wi-Fi environments.
Through its strategic partnership with Affirmed and VMware, Millicom has plans for its telco cloud infrastructure that include a software-defined, automated, NFV-based mobile core, and a converged, unified cloud architecture. VMware’s vCloud platform will allow Millicom to modernize its current network infrastructure to become 5G-ready and accelerate time-to-market for new services.
Through this partnership Millicom aims to have the ability to customize services across brands, simplify its operational model, and develop and launch new services quickly using a distributed, mobile core platform based on control and user plane separation.