Ericsson and Cisco have announced a global business and technology partnership to create the networks of the future.
The multi-faceted relationship will offer customers expertise on routing, data centres, networking, cloud, mobility, management and control, and global services capabilities. The companies intend to:
- Offer service provider customers an end-to-end product and services portfolio
- Create the “mobile enterprise experience of the future” through a highly secure technology architecture for seamless indoor/outdoor networks
- Channel the combined scale and innovation of both companies to accelerate the platforms and services needed to digitise countries and create the IoT
Ericsson and Cisco will offer end-to-end leadership across network architectures including 5G, cloud, IP, and the IoT – from devices and sensors to access core networks to the enterprise IT cloud. Customers will be able to accelerate their business transformation by drawing on the parties’ complementary capabilities, including global services capabilities such as consulting, integration, and support to managed operations across IT and networks.
The announcement will be supported by multiple agreements that include commitments to network transformation through reference architectures and joint development, systems-based management and control, a broad reseller agreement, and collaboration in key emerging market segments. The parties have also agreed to discuss policies and enter a licensing agreement for their respective patent portfolios, enabling joint innovation. As part of this agreement, Ericsson will receive license fees from Cisco.
New and greater opportunities are expected, as the partnership enables both companies to drive their efforts and investments to deliver value in growth markets.
Teams from both organisations will also begin working on a joint initiative focused on SDN/NFV and network management and control.