Dell Technologies, in collaboration with Red Hat, has introduced Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks for Red Hat, aiming to simplify the deployment of open, cloud-native networks for communications service providers (CSPs). This solution marks a significant architectural shift in the telecom industry, moving from proprietary, vertically integrated stacks to disaggregated, cloud-native infrastructure. This transition promises better scalability, agility, and service innovation while addressing deployment, interoperability, and lifecycle management complexities.
The core of the Dell solution is a fully integrated infrastructure that includes Dell PowerEdge servers, Dell PowerSwitch network switches, and the Dell Telecom Infrastructure Automation Suite. Red Hat’s OpenShift further enhances this setup by providing a production-grade container-as-a-service platform. Together, these components allow CSPs to deploy containerized workloads on a unified and scalable foundation, supporting various deployment scenarios from core to edge and RAN.
The deployment lifecycle of Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks is divided into three stages: Day 0 (technology onboarding and pre-production), Day 1 (production), and Day 2+ (operations and support). Dell and Red Hat streamline each stage with pre-integration and validation to expedite time to market, fully configured systems for immediate deployment, and CI/CD tools for seamless operation and support. This approach aims to unify hardware and software support for CSPs.
Moreover, with its fourth release, the solution is AI-ready, supporting emerging AI use cases such as edge inferencing, chatbots, and video analytics. Dell also provides a certification program via its Open Telecom Ecosystem Lab (OTEL) as-a-Service to assist with onboarding containerized network functions (CNFs), ensuring smooth integration and testing.
Already supported by certified partners like 6D Technologies, Amdocs, Axyom.Core, Ciena, Compax Digital, Expeto, Ericsson, FNT, Matrixx Software, NEC, and ng-voice, the solution demonstrates substantial industry acceptance.
In conclusion, Dell Telecom Infrastructure Blocks for Red Hat offer CSPs an optimized foundation for telecom clouds, accelerating network transformation, advancing AI innovation, and simplifying the journey towards new growth opportunities. This comprehensive infrastructure solution is designed for versatility and efficiency, reflecting a cohesive and strategic response to the challenges and opportunities within the telecom sector.
