As technology advances in the telecommunications business, Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) must seek new solutions to improve operational efficiency, scalability, and service delivery. From traditional to open-source software, cloud-native software is a hosting solution that has piqued the interest of many businesses in recent years, and we will explain why and what benefits it offers.
Choosing how to host and manage your operations and business demands is dependent on a variety of factors, including investment decisions, personnel, the proper partner, and timing. Cloud-native software refers to applications and services designed to perform well in cloud settings. Unlike traditional applications, cloud-native software is intended to capitalise on the inherent benefits of cloud computing, such as flexibility, scalability, and resilience.
For MVNOs, embracing cloud-native software presents a myriad of benefits and opportunities. Let’s analyse in detail these key advantages.
1. Scalability
Cloud-native architectures enable MVNOs to flexibly scale their infrastructure up and down in response to changing demand patterns. Whether dealing with abrupt spikes in user traffic or expecting subscriber expansion, MVNOs may automatically alter resources to ensure optimal performance and resource usage, all without requiring major upfront hardware or infrastructure investments.
2. Agility and Flexibility
Using microservices design and containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes, MVNOs can modularize their systems into smaller, independently deployable parts. This enables the rapid creation, testing, and deployment of new services or features, shortening time-to-market and increasing responsiveness to client needs. Cloud-native setups also facilitate multi-tenanted setups, where the MNO can manage MVNOs from a single instance, while providing each MVNO a tenant with their own features like service control, specific rules and APIs.
3. Cost-effectiveness
On-premises infrastructure needs considerable upfront investments in hardware, maintenance, and provisioning. In contrast, cloud-native systems use a pay-as-you-go model, allowing MVNOs to grow resources based on actual consumption and demand. By removing the need for overprovisioning and optimizing resource allocation, MVNOs can drastically cut operating expenses and achieve long-term cost efficiency.
4. Reliability and Resilience
In the case of hardware failures or network outages, cloud-native applications can automatically reroute traffic and preserve service continuity, delivering a consistent user experience while minimizing revenue loss for MVNOs.
5. Streamlined Operations and DevOps Practices
Automated deployment pipelines, as well as continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, enable MVNOs to deliver high-quality services faster, decrease manual errors, and improve operational efficiency.
6. Innovation and Competitive Advantage
The agility and flexibility provided by cloud-native software allow MVNOs to experiment with new services, business models, and collaborations, thereby fostering innovation and establishing unique value propositions for their clients. This way MVNOs can differentiate themselves in the market.
However, it's essential for MVNOs to carefully evaluate their specific requirements and operational constraints before migrating to a cloud-native environment. While the benefits of scalability, agility, and cost efficiency are undeniable, the transition to cloud-native software may entail challenges such as legacy system integration, data security, compliance, and capital investment.
Additionally, MVNOs must consider the vendor landscape and select cloud-native solutions that align with their business objectives and technical capabilities. Partnering with experienced vendors who offer comprehensive support and robust service-level agreements (SLAs) is crucial for ensuring a smooth migration and ongoing operational excellence. For instance, Lifecycle recently partnered with Microsoft to produce everything in the cloud via Azure. As with any company, we faced some challenges, such as building trust with current customers for a smooth cloud migration and ensuring data security and integrity during the migration, to achieve the larger goal of creating scalable and greater projects. If you want to begin on a successful cloud journey, our advise is to build a cloud-first mindset inside your business, prioritize the initial design and planning phase, maintain open communication throughout the migration, and make the best use of available resources. With this attitude, we were able to create a cloud-native platform, a new product that is now available and designed for success. If you wish to learn more about our MVNE Platform, Nexus, click here.
In conclusion, we talk to MVNOs every single day to try to understand their pain points and goals and we can state that cloud-native software holds immense promise for Mobile Virtual Network Operators seeking to optimize their operations and deliver superior services in a rapidly evolving market landscape. By embracing cloud-native architecture, MVNOs can unlock scalability, agility, and cost efficiency while fostering innovation and driving business growth in the digital era.
If you are eager to learn more about our cloud journey you can watch our podcast with Microsoft where we address this matter or you can book a free consultation with our team below.
