Ericsson selects Verizon for business transformation

• Will accelerate transformation of Ericsson’s corporate IT environment
• Focus on deployment of Verizon’s Managed SD WAN service
• Solution will allow Ericsson to expand global reach of corporate IT infrastructure

As part of its ongoing enterprise IT transformation initiative, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has selected Verizon’s Managed Services to accelerate the transformation of Ericsson’s corporate IT environment.

The initial implementation will focus on the deployment of Verizon’s Managed Software Defined Wide Area Network (SD WAN) service integrated with virtualized security services and Managed Enterprise Radio Access Network (E-RAN) solutions.

Johan Torstensson, chief information officer and head of IT, Ericsson, says, "The use of Verizon’s software defined services accelerates the automation of operations, maintains application performance and enables on-demand implementation of WAN policies. This is critical to ensure the ongoing security, integrity and agility of our business. Verizon will accelerate our adoption of the virtualized networking technologies that are transforming the communications industry. In addition, the use of E-RAN, which leverages the Ericsson Radio DOT System and Pico RBS, will enhance the performance and appeal of our corporate facilities paving the way for new applications to be delivered by indoor mobile network infrastructure.”

Verizon’s Managed SD WAN and Managed E-RAN solutions are part of Verizon’s Network-as-a-Service offerings. The management layer delivering these services is a joint development effort that incorporates Ericsson’s Dynamic Orchestration, Closed loop service assurance and Automated Validation and Onboarding Platform (AVOP). Ericsson will consume virtualized network functions (VNFs) as a utility in a pay-as-you-go, usage-based model. This solution will allow Ericsson to expand the global reach of its corporate IT infrastructure using Verizon’s Global IP network for public and private networking solutions.

Shawn Hakl, vice president of business networking and security solutions, Verizon, says, “Ericsson and Verizon continue to work together to bring practical solutions to market that help enterprises leverage the benefits of virtualized networking. Providing end-to-end visibility and control over applications in a mobile to cloud architecture is critical for enterprises to realize the promise of the digital world.”