Citymesh has launched what it says is the world’s first commercial mobile service based on 5G Core software-as-a-service (SaaS), powered by Nokia and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The new model, which replaces traditional network deployments with subscription-based services, aims to lower upfront capital costs and reduce operational complexity for telecommunications providers.
The 5G Core SaaS model allows for catalog-based service creation, on-demand network capabilities, and rapid deployment of new features. Pricing is predictable due to the subscription approach, with the option to scale infrastructure as needed.
Citymesh is using Nokia’s Core SaaS for Business, hosted on AWS’s global cloud platform. This setup serves a range of enterprise customers in sectors such as venues and events, airports, hospitals, offshore settlements, emergency services, drone operations, and transportation. Citymesh also intends to use the platform for its new mobile offering aimed at self-employed professionals and subject matter experts. The company says this solution lets it design customized service plans without significant engineering or integration work.
The AWS global infrastructure enables Citymesh to handle sudden spikes in demand across different enterprise environments without needing large initial investments in hardware. Its multi-region architecture supports high availability standards expected in telecoms, while built-in security measures are designed to meet industry requirements.
Robin Leblon, Chief Technology Officer at Citymesh, stated: “Launching the world’s first commercial 5G Core SaaS service is a major milestone for Citymesh. With Nokia’s Core SaaS on AWS, we can scale faster, reduce complexity and upfront investment, and deliver secure, high-performance connectivity tailored to our enterprise customers. And what’s more, it allows us to develop a telecom offering tailored for all businesses, including the self-employed and SMEs.”
Nokia’s Core SaaS offers telecom-grade reliability combined with AWS security and performance across a wide range of services such as 4G/5G core functions, network slicing, IMS core services, IoT support, automation tools, and enhanced security features. Operators can adjust capacity as required without managing physical hardware while accessing network functions through APIs.
Kal De, SVP of Product & Engineering for Core Software at Nokia said: “Telecom SaaS represents a paradigm shift in the telecommunications industry. Partnering with leaders like AWS helps us deliver cloud-native infrastructure that makes advanced connectivity simple and intuitive for providers, allowing them to subscribe to services only when needed and growing their spend with demand. This groundbreaking announcement by Citymesh proves that 5G Core SaaS has moved from concept to production-ready reality.”
Fabio Cerone, Managing Director of EMEA Telco Business Unit at AWS added: “Nokia’s Core SaaS for Business exemplifies how telecommunications service providers can leverage AWS to transform their operations, delivering simplified deployment and lifecycle management. Running on AWS, Nokia enables telecommunications operators to launch and scale telecommunications services with the elasticity, reliability, security,and trust the industry demands while dramatically reducing operational complexity. This collaboration shows how AWS’ Cloud is enabling telecommunications providers to innovate faster and respond more quickly to market opportunities.”
Nokia reports that its Core SaaS for Business product is available globally for telecommunication providers. More information will be available during MWC Barcelona from March 2-5 at the Nokia booth.
About the companies:
Nokia provides connectivity solutions worldwide across fixed-line networks as well as mobile technologies.
Amazon Web Services offers cloud computing technology used by organizations globally.
Citymesh is a Belgian technology firm providing business-focused connectivity solutions since 2006; it recently became Belgium’s fourth official telecom operator.
