The first wave of 5G proved that deploying 5G Core functions together with a kubernetes-on-bare-metal platform in a full-stack environment allowed communication service providers (CSPs) to quickly launch edge services, modernize networks with minimal risk, and transition to a cloud-native operating model. In the era of AI, telco cloud will evolve and demand a richer set of complementary applications that will be co-located with the 5G Core functions to enable new business opportunities, such as edge AI inferencing use cases. Having the flexibility to host such applications on the same infrastructure where the core functions are located is key to optimizing total cost of ownership (TCO) and capitalizing on the cloud automation that comes with CNIS right out of the box.
With more than 120 commercial CNIS contracts, over 50 live customer deployments, Ericsson has gained extensive, hands-on experience in delivering cloud-native infrastructure at scale.
CNIS today hosts a broad ecosystem of third-party VNFs and CNFs already running in live customer environments — demonstrating its readiness to support diverse partner applications.
Before the shift toward cloud-native architectures, we supported a large ecosystem of third-party Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) running on traditional NFVI platforms. Over the years, more than 50 partner VNFs were onboarded, integrated, and supported through Ericsson Partner VNF/CNF Certification Program — establishing strong multi-vendor practices and laying the operational foundation for today’s cloud-native CNIS environment.
3PP applications running on our cloud infrastructure today span a broad spectrum of use cases, from consumer and enterprise communication services to load balancers, proxies, traffic management, and monitoring solutions.
Proven operational maturity in live networks
Building on this ecosystem, we have developed strong operational maturity in validating third-party VNFs and CNFs. As more (CSPs) ask to certify partner applications, third-party validation has become a clear strategic priority for us, helping ensure reliable deployments in live environments. This approach — shaped and refined together with leading CSPs across global markets — has resulted in robust, repeatable verification practices that ensure interoperability and consistent performance at scale.
By combining field-proven expertise with a long-established certification program, we provide partners with a clear and dependable path to deploy and operate confidently on CNIS.
Collaboration from onboarding to live operation
True openness extends beyond technology — it is also a matter of process and partnership.
Our certification program welcomes any third-party application provider ready to undergo formal validation. This engagement can be initiated directly by the application owner, or jointly with a CSP who wishes to introduce a new partner into their network ecosystem.
Each certification is carried out in Ericsson’s dedicated validation lab environments, mirroring the CNIS software and hardware components that are commercially live across more than 250 datacentres worldwide. The process verifies deployment automation, application behaviour, and survivability metrics on real infrastructure lifecycle management operations, such as in service software upgrade and CaaS RU.
This ensures that every certified CNF is ready for reliable operation in service provider networks — reducing onboarding time, minimizing integration risk, and maintaining high standards of service availability.
Recent collaborations, such as those between Ericsson and Swisscom demonstrate how this approach enables openness and performance to go hand in hand. Leveraging our cloud, Swisscom is expanding its ability to host cloud-native network functions — from us and third-party providers alike — while maintaining network reliability and efficiency.
A foundation for the future
Openness is most powerful when it is verifiable. CNIS provides the open, cloud-native foundation on which multi-vendor innovation thrives. The Ericsson Partner VNF/CNF Certification Program ensures that these innovations meet telecom-grade standards through a repeatable and trusted validation process. Each certification reinforces our commitment to an open and sustainable telecom ecosystem, enabling CSPs to innovate faster and partners to reach a broader global footprint.
By combining engineering rigor with collaborative engagement, Ericsson continues to help CSPs and partners build the networks of the future — open, secure, and cloud-native by design.
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