Elisa Pioneers Seamless Software Upgrades on Live 5G Standalone Network in Partnership with Ericsson

(IN BRIEF) Elisa, in partnership with Ericsson, has become the first service provider in Europe to deploy the In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) capability on a live 5G Standalone (SA) network. This milestone allows Elisa to upgrade its core network software seamlessly, without impacting customer services. The ISSU capability, delivered through a Continuous Delivery and Deployment model, is a vital part of Elisa’s transition to a fully cloud-native infrastructure for 5G SA. The deployment is based on Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution, which is designed to be fully cloud-native and utilizes containerization with Kubernetes orchestration. This achievement enables Elisa to maintain service levels while introducing new technologies and enhances its digital transformation strategy.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 12-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), a Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company, announces that Elisa, in collaboration with Ericsson, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first service provider in Europe to deploy In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) capability on a live production 5G Standalone (SA) network. Powered by Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution, this deployment allows Elisa to efficiently upgrade its core network software without interrupting customer services or experiences. The ISSU capability, delivered through a Continuous Delivery and Deployment model, plays a crucial role in Elisa’s transition to a fully cloud-native infrastructure for 5G SA.

Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core solution is designed to be fully cloud-native, leveraging containerization with Kubernetes orchestration. The cloud-native architecture enables the implementation of smaller building blocks called microservices, each with its own lifecycle management processes. ISSU allows individual microservices in a live network to be upgraded and managed separately, ensuring uninterrupted service to end-users and no impact on network Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Markus Kinnunen, Vice President, Cloud Services, Elisa says: “Elisa is known as one of the most automated digital service providers in the whole world. Now we continue on this path by launching new capabilities in our 5G network together with Ericsson. 5G standalone network will further improve the customer experience and with the cloud-native infrastructure and enhanced automation we can unlock new services and business possibilities.”

Daniel Ode, Acting Head of Customer Unit Northern and Central Europe, Ericsson, says: “Upgrading and evolving software across the core network without interruption of service to end users is one of the hallmark benefits of cloud-native 5G architecture. We’re proud to have worked with Elisa to bring this functionality to its 5G Standalone network in Finland as part of a longstanding partnership to drive digital transformation in the country.”

This capability is pivotal for operators like Elisa who aim to maintain service levels while introducing new technologies to capture emerging business opportunities. It reduces manual effort for software upgrades, enables a higher number of upgrades, and facilitates faster implementation of new features.

Elisa Finland is currently utilizing the ISSU capability with live customer traffic on Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core for its 5G SA network. The plan is to extend this capability to other parts of the 5G Core solution in due course. The deployment was made possible through Ericsson’s Continuous Delivery and Deployment (CDD) pipeline, a key automation component of its cloud-native 5G Core. Elisa’s implementation of ISSU using this deployment model makes it the first customer worldwide to achieve this milestone.

Moving towards a cloud-native architecture is essential for the evolution of 5G SA networks. This transformation not only brings technical advancements but also has a significant impact on the operational model of service providers. It enables a range of benefits, including faster change implementation, improved efficiency, enhanced network performance, and increased openness.

Elisa’s evolving 5G SA network delivers substantial advantages to both individual subscribers and enterprise customers. The SA implementation allows for seamless creation of end-to-end network slicing use cases, expanded coverage range and capacity, and the realization of 5G’s promise of ultra-fast response times and high data rates.

This latest development in Elisa’s 5G SA network builds upon the ongoing innovation shared between Elisa and Ericsson. The two companies previously established an end-to-end 5G Standalone connection in Finland in 2020, marking a Nordic first. Ericsson was subsequently chosen to provide the 5G Core network for Elisa Estonia’s 5G SA rollout. In 2019, the partnership also involved piloting Ericsson’s private network solution for Elisa’s enterprise customers.

Ericsson currently serves over 80 cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core customers, and its 5G Core solutions support 19 customers with live 5G SA networks globally. In total, Ericsson powers 145 live 5G networks, including 24 live 5G SA networks, through its core networks and RAN business.

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ABOUT ERICSSON:

Ericsson enables communications service providers and enterprises to capture the full value of connectivity. The company’s portfolio spans the following business areas: Networks, Cloud Software and Services, Enterprise Wireless Solutions, Global Communications Platform, and Technologies and New Businesses. It is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson’s innovation investments have delivered the benefits of mobility and mobile broadband to billions of people globally. Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York. www.ericsson.com

ABOUT ELISA:

Elisa’s mission is a sustainable future through digitalisation. We are a pioneer in telecommunications and digital services, and in 5G. We provide sustainable solutions for over 2.8 million consumer, corporate and public administration customers in our core markets of Finland and Estonia, as well as in over 100 countries internationally. In Finland, Elisa is a market leader in telecommunications, and our international cooperation partners include e.g. Vodafone and Tele2. Elisa is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. In 2022, our revenue was EUR 2.1 billion and we employed 5,600 people in more than 20 countries. Elisa is a carbon-neutral company. elisa.com

SOURCE:  Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson