Microsoft and AT&T added more power to their strategic partnership announced in July by revealing plans to offer Azure services on AT&T’s growing 5G networks. The companies are also looking forward to making the preview available for Network Edge Compute (NEC) technology. It will help weave Microsoft Azure cloud services into AT&T’s network edge locations, which are closer to customers.
In essence, AT&T’s 5G core is now ready to deliver Azure services. And the companies’ initial plan is to make NEC available in Dallas for a limited set of customers. Next in the line is their target for Los Angeles and Atlanta’s select set of customers.
Early this year, Microsoft and AT&T joined hands and stole the show from IBM that had broadcasted about a similar deal with AT&T the day before.
While the operator will make use of Microsoft’s technology, it will be a preferred non-network application. The 2 tech giants mentioned several opportunities offered through 5G & edge. Mobile gaming tops the priority list apart from the use of drones for virtual and augmented reality.
AT&T’s cloud journey talks about turning to public cloud providers by committing migration of a host of non-network workloads by 2024.
Corey Sanders, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Solutions, added, “We are helping AT&T light up a wide range of unique solutions powered by Microsoft’s cloud, both for its business and our mutual customers in a secure and trusted way.”
The collaboration spreads across AT&T and brings the hyperscale of Microsoft Azure with AT&T’s network to revolutionize the power of 5G and network edge computing across a wide range of industries.
Another important aspect of AT&T’s strategy is to empower its workforce with Microsoft 365, in areas such as cloud-connected Office apps on Windows 10, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and OneDrive. AT&T has already begun rolling out such solutions for thousands of employees.
The tech alliance is all set to create newer technologies to benefit everyone.
