Vodafone Idea Limited Achieves Major Production Milestone with IBM and Red Hat for its Open Universal Hybrid Cloud for Network and IT workloads

-- Open Universal Hybrid Cloud Platform can now run a wide range of IT and network applications using a single common cloud architecture; provides significant optimization for OpEx, CapEx, automation investments and skills across IT and network

-- Vodafone Idea and IBM already partner together to deliver mobile security services, and intend to build on that success with further B2B offerings leveraging the new Open Universal Cloud as edge computing, network and IT are brought together in a single common infrastructure

ARMONK, New York and NEW DELHI, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced that Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) has delivered the first major production milestone for core network functions on its Open Universal Hybrid Cloud, powered by IBM and Red Hat. The platform now enables IT and network applications to run on a common cloud architecture – designed to deliver breakthrough ROI improvements through optimization of CapEx, OpEx, skills and automation investments across both the Network and IT application domains.

The Open Universal Hybrid Cloud is a hybrid cloud platform that is based on open technology and open standards from IBM and Red Hat. It enables Vodafone Idea to better serve nearly 300 million subscribers by simplifying and transforming its IT and telecom network operations. The new platform is deployed across many distributed Vodafone Idea cloud microsites across India, as well as its central IT operations which are also run by IBM.

This platform enables radical automation through standardization. A wide range of capabilities from IBM and Red Hat, including Watson AI and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, will strengthen VIL's capability in network and IT planning. New network cloud microsites and IT capacity will now be able to be provisioned in an agile way, enabling faster deployments and cost efficiency.

This platform, which has the potential to deliver a step change in the cost and quality of core network delivery, enables new distributed edge compute capabilities that can seamlessly blend network and IT functions. IBM and Vodafone Idea's breakthrough secured hybrid cloud is also built for business and the provisioning of highly differentiated B2B services to the India market. Vodafone Idea and IBM plan to work together as Vodafone Idea brings additional B2B services to market, like blockchain based solutions, in key industry verticals such as retail and financial services.